Intro to the Informational Essay

A Guide to Choosing Your Topic

Choose Your Own Adventure

Informational Essay

What do I write about?

Research a famous historical event or figure that interests you and that you do not know much about. Then write an informational essay in which you describe your topic and provide details. Explain why you think your topic is an important part of history and why it is important to remember, using evidence from three to five credible, relevant sources. Use MLA style to properly cite your sources, both in the text and on a Works Cited page.

What is the Prompt?

You want to show that events are just as important to history as people. What made this event special? Why should we think about it today?

What changed history?

Option 2: Historical Event

Who changed history?

Option 1: Historical Person

You want to write about someone who influenced history. Maybe they were a leader, maybe they were an inventor, maybe they were a pop culture icon...

What Do You want to Write About?

Click Here For Suggested Topics

What Should I Reasearch?

Body Paragraph 1: What was this person’s early life like? Body Paragraph 2: What was this person’s adult life like? Body Paragraph 3: Why it is important that this person is remembered? You will be getting a more detailed outline next week, having this information will prepare you to fill it out.

Who Changed History?

Option 1: Historical Person

Remember: You can always choose a different Person

Famous Pop Culture Icons

• Murasaki Shikibu (Japanese poet and novelist)
• Stan Lee (Father of Marvel Superheroes)
• Princess Diana (UK Royal)
• Walt Disney (Founder of Disney)
• Elvis Presley (American Singer)
• Lucille Ball (American Comedian)

Famous Inventors and Business People

• Andrew Carnegie (business leader)
• John D. Rockefeller (business leader)
• Madam CJ Walker (inventor and business leader)
• Nikola Tesla (inventor)
• George Washington Carver (inventor)
• Alexander Graham Bell (inventor)

Famous Government Workers

• George Mason (American Founding Father)
• Henry Knox (Revolutionary War General)
• John Hancock (American Founding Father)
• Robert Smalls (Civil War hero)
• Virginia Hall (WWII Spy)
• Frederick Douglas (civil rights activist)
• Alice Paul (women’s rights activist)

Research Quickly If You Want Information to Make A Decision

Option 1: Historical Person

Click Here for Suggested Topics

What Should I Research?

Body Paragraph 1: What is the lead up to this event? Body Paragraph 2: What happened during this event? Body Paragraph 3: Why it is important that this event is remembered? You will be getting a more detailed outline next week, having this information will help you fill it out

What Changed History?

Option 2: Historical Event

Remember: You can always choose a different event

Significant Events

• 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
• Chernobyl Nuclear Meltdown
• Stock Market Crash (1929)
• Watergate Scandal
• Jim Crow Laws
• The Carolina Gold Rush of 1799

Cultural Events

• Chicago World's Fair (1933)
• New York World's Fair (1964)

• Invention of Jazz Music (1920's)
• The Harlem Renaissance
• Invention of sound in Film (1927)
• The Copyright Act (1909)

War Events

• Navajo Code Talkers
• Japanese Internment Camps during World War II
• The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
• Battle of New Orleans (1815)

Research Quickly If You Want Information to Make A Decision

Option 2: Historical Event

Let's See Your Decisions

In the Chat Box, answer the following:

• Who did you choose to write about?
• Why did you choose to write about them?
• What do you know about this person?
• What do you hope to learn about them?

Who Changed History?

Option 1: Historical Person

Let's See Your Decisions

In the Chat Box, answer the following:

• What event did you choose?
• Why did you choose it?
• What do you already know about the event?
• What do you hope to learn about it?

What changed history?

Option 2: Historical Event