2. Drafting a Descriptive Essay
When creating the initial draft of a descriptive essay, follow the outline, but remember, the goal is to give the reader a rich experience of the subject. Keep in mind, the most important watchword of writing a descriptive essay is show, don’t tell. One of the best ways to show is to involve all of the senses—not just sight, but also hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Write so the reader will see the sunset, hear the song, smell the flowers, taste the pie, or feel the touch of a hand.
- Does the essay unfold in a way that helps the reader fully appreciate the subject? Do any paragraphs confuse more than describe?
- Does the word choice and figurative language involve the five senses and convey emotion and meaning?
- Are there enough details to give the reader a complete picture?
- Has a connection been made between the description and its meaning to the writer? Will the reader be able to identify with the conclusion made?
If readers come away from a descriptive essay with the feeling that they have really met a person, gone to a particular place, or held a certain object, the writer has done a good job. If readers also feel an emotional connection and deep appreciation for the subject’s significance, the writer has done a great job.
Use descriptive and figurative language, as well as concrete images to describe the subject. Similes and metaphors work well. Here are some examples:
Telling
3. Revising a Descriptive Essay
In the revision phase, students review, modify, and reorganize their work with the goal of making it the best it can be. In revising a descriptive essay, students should reread their work with these considerations in mind:
Once a topic is chosen, students should spend time thinking about the qualities they want to describe. Brainstorm about all the details associated with the topic. Even when not writing about a place, reflect on the surroundings. Where is the object located? Where does the person live? Consider not just physical characteristics, but also what memories, feelings, and ideas the subject evokes. Memory and emotion play an important role in conveying the subject’s significance. Plan the focus of each paragraph and create an outline that puts these details into a logical sequence.
4. Editing a Descriptive Essay
At this point in the writing process, writers proofread and correct errors in grammar and mechanics. It’s also the time to improve style and clarity. Watch out for clichés and loading up on adjectives and adverbs. Having a friend read the essay helps writers see trouble spots and edit with a fresh perspective.
Always keep the reader in mind from opening to concluding paragraph. A descriptive essay must be precise in its detail, yet not get ahead of itself. It’s better to go from the general to the specific. Otherwise, the reader will have trouble building the image in their mind’s eye. For example, don’t describe a glossy coat of fur before telling the reader the essay is about a dog!
It not only states the essay’s purpose but also doubles as a guide for the entire essay. It should be in the introduction and also restated in the concluding paragraph.
Metaphors allow for comparison of one thing with another. They help you to show the reader your thoughts about the topic. For example, using metaphors can help you say that your mother sacrificed a lot for you. You could say: “My mom is a workhorse. She rarely takes a vacation”.
A descriptive essay refers to a category of essays that requires students to describe something. It could be a person, an experience, an object, or a place among other things. Descriptive essays encourage students to give a written account of a specific experience. Also, it gives you a lot of artistic freedom.
Your professor or instructor will usually tell you how many paragraphs they want your essay to be or if you are free to use sections.
Write an Outline of Your Essay
Another idea is to use adjectives that can connect senses. These include words like “rough”, “hefty”, “pungent”, and “bright” among other things.
Creating a brief outline goes a long way to organize your work. The best way is to do it in sections. These are the introduction, body, and finally, conclusion.
Feel free to express your emotions as you write your essay. When describing your feelings, use the first person (I, we, and us). Does the subject disgusts you, saddens you, or angers you? Show your emotional response to the subject.
A descriptive essay is often referred to as parent essay type. Other essays like an argumentative essay, narrative essay, and expository essay fall into the category of descriptive essays. Also, this essay helps the student to enhance his/her ability to imagine the whole scene in mind by appealing to the senses of the reader.
Examples make an understanding of things better. But before moving on to the examples, let us have a quick look at how to write a good descriptive essay.
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Descriptive Essay Examples
Here is an example of a descriptive essay written for grade10. If you are also a student of this grade, this example might help you to complete your assignment.
Here is one of the best descriptive essay examples for grade 7. If you are a student and need an example guide to write such an essay, use this example and VOILA!
Writing a descriptive essay is a time-consuming yet tricky task. It needs some very strong writing, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Also, this is a type of essay that a student can not avoid and bypass.
- Describing the experience of swimming in the azure sea in summer
- Explaining your favourite movie and its impact on you
- Reflecting on your birthday and all the things that have shaped you in the past
For further information on how to write a thesis for a descriptive essay, check out the examples below.
When thinking about descriptive essay writing, remember that a structured paper outline is your golden ticket. Not only does it help you organize thoughts, but it will also help your essays flow better.
According to the descriptive essay format, your conclusion should be a summary of all of the main points in the body text. It is a good idea to write a final sentence that relates to the main point of your paper. Once this is done, the paper is now complete. We advise that you proofread your descriptive essay to correct any grammatical errors.
The Issues that Could be Described in Your Paper
As with any college paper, a descriptive essay introduction must contain the following points:
This type of descriptive writing resembles an argumentative essay. Your main goal should be communicating a set of key points or describing something in detail—according to a clear structure. Rather than focusing on your own experience, you need to use specific categories of information to provide the fullest possible portrait of what you are describing. This approach can also be engaging, especially when the reader is more curious about the subject of the paper than the writer's response to it. Still, try not to make it dull with too formal language.
Let’s talk in detail about the final step here: reviewing your paper. After you finish writing, take a break. It’s always best to clear your mind before editing your paper.
The statement will be the most prominent idea in your essay. The statement will set the perspective and framework of your essay as well as control the information you convey
There are common mistakes often overlooked while writing that can lower your grade. It’s important you avoid them if you intend to produce an exceptional piece of writing. They include:
Review your work and proofread it for any grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes before you submit it
Not utilizing similes and metaphors in the description of the essay by over-relying on adjectives alone
Choose a topic
Common mistakes you should avoid while writing a descriptive essay
You should choose a topic that sparks your creativity and this will come in handy as you paint a picture in the reader’s mind. As you introduce the topic, incorporate the right words which will set the tone and direction of the essay. Convey all your main ideas in your introductory paragraph in an engaging manner
Descriptive essays tend to take an open and relaxed writing approach and as such, the flow of thoughts can be incoherent making it hard for the reader to follow and visualize your object of description