Informative Writing Guide

[A TART]

Spoiler

Please correct me if I am wrong anywhere in this guide!

Informative writing is concerned with presenting information to the audience. It is not to be confused with Evaluative writing as it does not analyse an issue, rather, it analyses a place, object or event (ie: 春节-Chinese New Year/Spring Festival)

Introduction:

Introduce the subject and its importance. Give background information.

Body:

Like all essays, you should focus on at least three factors/components of the subject.

1.Food
Symbolism of food
ie: Fish (鱼) meaning “年年有余” (A play on the character "yu", meaning “in abundance/excess every year";"plentiful".

Round Dumplings (汤圆), symbolising “团团圆圆” (Another play on words (I know, Chinese people love puns) meaning "a close nuclear family").

2.Activities
- Setting off fire crackers (鞭炮) and hanging red Lanterns (灯笼), a custom to scare away the "年兽” (Nian monster) through loud noises and the colour red.

3.Children in the festival
-Red money bags (红包), a gift to ensure that the child is well in the following year （“岁岁平安”）
-New clothing

Unlike evaluative writing, personal opinions are allowed depending on the context. (Ie: Diary and letter, anything from the first person point of view). However, I would recommend avoiding this if you are unsure of the correct context.

Example:
虽然新衣服很诱人，我最期待的还是红包！
(Although new clothing is appealing, I look more forward to receiving red money bags!)

Conclusion:

Wrap things up with a broader idea. ("Look at the bigger picture" like an English essay.)

Sample Essay:

Bold=Idiom/Saying [EXTRA MARKS!]

春节习俗

春节是每个中国人都盼望已久的节日，也是一年中最重要的日子。历史悠久的春节有着各种各样的传统习俗。

过年的时候，家家户户都会贴满带来好运的装饰品。就如写着对来年的愿望，具有诗意的对联；还有倒挂着的“副”字，代表着“福气到来”。五颜六色的灯笼 和精致优美的剪纸，街头巷尾都看得到。这些装饰品加深了浓浓的年味儿。

春节也是小朋友们最开心的日子。期盼了整整一年的孩子们都会穿着新衣。迫不及待地从长辈们哪儿收住他们“岁岁平安”的压岁钱。从孩子们的笑声中就可以感到春节的踪影。

春节最重要的习俗就是吃年夜饭。儿女们会风雨无助，千里迢迢地赶回家乡和家人团圆。为了欢饮儿女们回家，庆祝一家团圆和来往的新的一年，年夜饭时最丰盛的一餐。从山珍海味到大鱼大肉，自由想不到的，俄密友你吃不到的。这些菜不光美味可口， 且还有这吉祥的意义。就比如：团团圆圆的汤圆，年年有余的鱼肉，等等。这些香气迷人的美食想散也散不掉，让人们在春节后还回味无穷，口水直流。难怪年夜饭是一个过好年的重要标志。
 

门前贴着吉祥的对联，头上挂着如意的大灯笼，天上放着五彩兵分的烟火，和家人吃着年夜饭。这些传统习俗使这个节日更美好。 这就是春节。

Translation:

Chinese New Year Customs and Traditions

Chinese New Year is something that all Chinese people look forward to, it is also the most important day of the lunar calendar. This age old festival has various customs and traditions.

During Chinese New Year, every household will decorate their houses with ornaments symbolic of good will, such as poetic antithetical couplets and the ‘Good luck” character placed up-side-down which is believed to bring prosperity. Colourful lanterns and intricate paper cutouts are also ubiquitous. These decorations bring a strong sense of excitement.

Chinese New Year is also the most exciting festival for children. Children who have long awaited this day would wear their new clothes and yearn for red money bags from their elders-symbolic of good luck and safety. Just from their laughter, a sense of festivity can be felt.
The most important component of Chinese New Year is family. Sons and daughters will travel back home no matter what distance or obstacles they face to unite with their family. To celebrate such occasion, the most rich and sumptuous meal will be made. From treasured delicacies in both land and sea to all sorts of meats, there’s only foods that you can’t think of. These food aren’t just delicious, they are also symbolic of good luck and prosperity, such as fish, which mean “in abundance every year” and Round Dumplings which symbolise “a reunited nuclear family”. The aroma of these food would linger even after the festival has finished, leaving everyone nostalgic of such fine delicacies. No wonder such feast is symbolic of a good upcoming New Year.

With antithetical couplets stuck to your door frame, luck-bringing red lanterns hanging above your head, colourful fireworks in the sky and a delicious feast with your family; these customs have the festival as enjoyable as ever. This is Chinese New Year.