Informative text: what it is, characteristics, structure, types and more

What is an informative text?

Within the non-literary text types, we find informative texts, which, as their name indicates, are intended to provide information regarding a situation or fact of the present or the past, or a topic that appears in various media formats, for example.

An informative text is mainly characterized by the presentation of information such as descriptions or concrete data about reality. It is possible to identify informative texts from its exposition in a punctual and objective way, so that it leaves aside any kind of subjectivity regarding opinions, points of view or arguments. It is one of the most frequent types of text in human life.

Main characteristics of the informative text

Let’s close this section with a series of key features within this type of texts that we must identify and know when writing or finding this type of texts to recognize them. These characteristics are the following:

Presentation of information

One of the most important features of this type of text is the presentation of the information to be transmitted to the reader or sender. It is a presentation that must have a correct organization that includes clear and precisely explained ideas that facilitate the general understanding of all the information.

Resources and elements

In order to build an efficient informative text, authors must resort to different elements that will allow them to achieve it. Thus, among the elements that can be used are references, bibliographic sources, and the use of examples, among others. In addition to this, a correct writing and spelling, since the use of words and their meanings is essential for a proper interpretation, as well as communication with other types of text of different characters.

Vocabulary according to the subject matter

Another main characteristic of this type of text has to do with the vocabulary used in its construction. It is important that the vocabulary used is directly related to the subject matter of the text, so that the correct words are used in the context in which it is developed so that the reader can perceive the same information presented.

Structure of informative texts

Let us see below the general way in which this type of text is organized. It is important to consider that some may include another series of elements required for their composition and comprehension.

Introduction

In this first part, the reader is presented with partial but contextual information required to get a general idea of the topic to be developed in its content. The topic is presented and at the same time some terms can be explained in order to prepare the reader for the next content.

Development of the text

In the center of the structure we find the space where most of the information is kept. Here, in a clear way, all the ideas related to the topic are explained in an organized manner. In addition to this, it is necessary to add in this section all the data that will be transmitted to the public.

Conclusion

In the closing part of the informative text, a summary of all the most important ideas developed throughout the text is presented. Here the main considerations of the information presented should be highlighted, so that the reader can easily access a general and final overview of what was discussed.

Types of an informative text

As for the forms of classification of this type of texts, we find two very important modalities. These are:

Informative informative text

This type of text gathers all those that have a language that can be easily understood by anyone, so that it is accessible to a large number of people. It is characterized by the fact that it does not require specialized knowledge for its comprehension and includes different text formats.

Specialized informative text

Unlike the previous type, this type of text implies a previous knowledge of the reader to be able to correctly understand the information presented, and thus access the content. This is due to the fact that this type of text includes technical and, in many cases, academic language, which requires preparatory learning.

Tips for the preparation of an informative text

We end this section with a series of keys that should be taken into account when preparing this type of text, taking into account the structure and the main features that compose it. Let’s see:

Use of the narrator

This type of text involves using a narrator that allows the development of information in the third person, so that the entire text should be written using this person in each of the sections.

Short sentences

Ideally, the information to be conveyed should be as clear as possible, so a good way to write this type of text is to use short sentences. To present short ideas, separated by periods, facilitates the reading and with it, the understanding of each one of the moments of the text. In this way, the author can also better organize the information available, giving it continuity and connection.

Delimitation of the subject matter

Although it is a matter of bringing a content to inform, it is necessary that the author tries to delimit very well the subject matter to be developed in the informative text. That is, write the aspects that are part of this particular fact, leaving aside all those that divert attention from the central axis of the content.

Audience identification

We know that this type of text can be developed in a wide variety of fields, so it is recommended that the author first identifies to whom the text will be addressed in general, this will also allow him to find a suitable language with which to present his information, in addition to focusing the topic of interest to this type of reader.

To learn more about other types of non-literary texts, or other categories of texts, in our literature section you will find much more information that will be very useful to continue learning about the literary world.