Before you start writing to inform, start a conversation with your classmates about something that interests you. Form small groups and choose a familiar subject (such as sports, family, your hometown, or the work of a favorite artist or musician). Take turns speaking while the other members of the group listen, respond, and ask questions. Your purpose is to inform the rest of the group, so try to present a fair and accurate view of your subject.

When you are finished, take a few minutes to reflect on the exercise. What did you learn about your audience? Did you have to adapt what you said based on their interest level and what they already knew? What kind of questions did they ask? What seemed to interest them the most about the subject?