Writing the Descriptive Essay

What is a Descriptive Essay?

A descriptive essay offers writers an opportunity to create a word-picture of persons, places, objects or emotions. By using carefully chosen details, readers will see what the writer visualized during an event or observation. It is as if a writer used a close-up lens to show you his/her experience.

How Do I Write a Descriptive Essay?

• Decide on a memorable subject

Initially, writers need to decide on a subject that is memorable. Typically, these memories have a certain element of fear, intrigue, or satisfaction. In this type of essay, you must pick only one or two elements of the experience to share.

For example:

Let’s say that you want to write about a memorable football game. Instead of writing down everything that happened, instead focus on the fans, the stadium, the cheerleaders, one player or the marching band. This will help the writing stay focused and concise.

• Brainstorm

Brainstorm sensory images and details that are significant to the event. It is important to write down everything you can recall. For instance, if there was music playing, try and think of the song, a line of lyrics or the artist. If there people were dressed in uniforms, try to recall the color, fabric, design and impression that you had.

• Select appropriate details

Not all the details that you come up with in your brainstorming session will be appropriate to your subject, so you may want to highlight those which will help enhance the mood or feeling to the reader. Keep in mind that you want to create a strong or dominant impression in your essay so using only those details which contribute to that impression will be important.

For example:

If you want to write about a marching band performance, details that will create a dominant impression will be the types of sound, movement of the band members, colors and styles of the uniforms, and fan reactions.

You would not include the taste of the hot dogs or how the weather was or whether or not you were in the marching band at one time.

• Use vivid descriptions

By using vivid descriptions, your essay will “pop” for readers and create a memorable impression. In order to achieve this, you must incorporate sensory images and figurative language devices.

Sensory Details:

Sight: Includes colors, textures, shapes and sizes

Hearing: Includes sounds both loud and soft

Smell: Often includes comparisons to familiar odors (flowers, foods, etc.)

Touch: Includes textures

Taste: Includes textures, sweetness, bitterness, saltiness and etc.

Figurative Language Devices:

Simile: a comparison using “like” or “as”

Example: "He looked like a gorilla through a jungle on his way to class."

Metaphor: a comparison NOT using “like” or “as”

Example: "She was an angry bull when she woke up in the morning."

Personification: using humanlike characteristics and emotions to inanimate objects, animals or abstract ideas.

Example: "The desk moaned as a student sat on top of it."

Hyperbole: an intentional exaggeration

Example: "The jet flew as fast as a rocket on its way to the moon."

Topic Ideas:

• Your best/worst job
• A favorite photo or work of art
• Your most treasured possession
• A holiday ritual
• Your first car
• A piece of clothing
• An unforgettable moment
• An act of heroism
• A crowded public place
• The inside of your closet or refrigerator