Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer: 

Essay 2: Writing to Inform

Using any or all of the 3 article databases in the APUS Online Library (Proquest, EBSCO, and/or the LexisNexis) research the topic you have chosen in Week 3, and write an essay in which you inform the reader about the topic. Do not, however, write the essay in the first person. Instead, write in the third person—i.e., “Astronomy is an innately interesting field of study,” not “I am extremely interested in astronomy.”

We generally use third person exclusively in academic or scholarly writing, unless we are specifically directed to use first person. In Essay #2, you will need to be aware of what person you are in, and take out first and second person. Here is an example:

I love my country because it represents liberty and justice. This is first person. You do not want to write this in academic writing unless you are directed to write in first person.

You love your country because it represents liberty and justice. This is second person. You do not want to write this in academic writing unless you are allowed to use second person.

Americans love their country because it represents liberty and justice. This is third person. This is the preferred voice for academic writing.

Third person lends authority to your writing. Look at the difference between these two sentences:



I believe Hemingway brought a powerful masculine voice to American literature.
Hemingway brought a powerful masculine voice to American literature.


The second sentence sounds more authoritative, doesn’t it?

For Essay 2, you will need to integrate a minimum of 2 sources from any or all of the three article databases. Remember that an informative essay does not include the writer's feelings or opinions, but simply informs the reader about the topic. All essays should be in MLA format. Your essay should be between 500-750 words.

See Week 3 Assignment Materials for a sample essay that may be used as a template. 

In your essay feedback it may be recommended that you use the tutoring services available through the library portal. Students who have utilized this resource have significantly improved their writing and raised their grades. You can find more about tutoring from the APUS Online Library homepage.

All essays will be automatically submitted to Turnitin.com when you submit your essay.