Many students don’t know how to write a descriptive essay. When they sit down to compose one, their creativity seems to betray them time and again! Even with some descriptive essay samples, many are still unsure of what to do. Ready to summon the courage and take the bull by the horn? Let’s go!
So what is a descriptive essay? A descriptive essay is an essay where you have to portray a person, place, thing, etc., in a captivating way. This essay is usually a short paper which stimulates the student’s thought processes and ability to generate a written description of a particular idea or event. The essay genre allows for a great deal of artistic freedom. Your goal is to paint a vivid image that comes alive in the mind of the reader. With no needed proofs, argument, or comparisons, this is easily the most straightforward academic homework essay! A descriptive essay format is fundamentally different from that of other genres of essays. The golden rule in this type of essay is illustrating your ideas by weaving words into irresistible sentences.
Types of Descriptive Essays
Before writing a college essay, you have to lay the groundwork for the entire piece. What descriptive essay topics do you plan to write? A descriptive essay could be on a person, place, thing, emotion, etc. In essence, you can be asked to write on just about anything. Just make sure you explain in connected and concerted details. While making it sound artistic, it should also be official.
Here are some examples of common descriptive essay types.
- Human essay
It is essential to know how to write a descriptive essay about a person. The focal point in this type of descriptive essay is describing the person’s appearance, mood, actions, behaviors, qualities, and so on. Verbal and non-verbal communications are great canvases to paint this image on. Your reader must be able to follow the pattern of your train of thought. Learning to weave all the qualities and actions of that person seamlessly is a gold mine.
- Place essay
It is also essential to know how to write a descriptive essay about a place. This type of descriptive essay should describe your impressions and description of a particular area. Focus on breathtakingly describing the most impressive sights. For example, your reader should feel the air, hear the sounds, see the sights, and so on.
How to write a Descriptive Essay
So how do you write a descriptive essay? One of the most important cues to writing a descriptive essay is knowing that you have to project a compelling and captivating picture of your ideas to your readers. You can easily do this by engaging all five of their senses – sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. The rule remains valid for any descriptive essay topic. There are many ways to write a descriptive essay, but here are seven quick and easy tips to get you home and dry in record time! These tips will serve as a guide on how to write a thesis for a descriptive essay.
Ready to know how to start a descriptive essay? Let’s delve right in!
- Take time to brainstorm
Many descriptive essay ideas will naturally come to you if you take time to brainstorm. Effective brainstorming requires that you keep writing down ideas as they come in drips or torrents. At this stage, don’t worry about coherence. Jot the ideas as they come so that you don’t lose them.
- Use clear and concise language
In writing a descriptive essay, you need to choose words that will most express your thoughts. Avoid the use of unnecessary words to ensure that readers follow your description. As much as possible, steer clear from general descriptive adjectives like awful, good, bad, or beautiful.
- Choose vivid language
Be careful to choose adjectives, adverbs, and other descriptive words that are relevant to describe the subject/object of the essay. Also, adopt the use of compelling words such as tempestuous in place of violent, miserly in place of cheap, etc., forming a more memorable image in the mind of the reader. In a descriptive food essay, for example, descriptive words like buttery, chewy, creamy, will do much good.
- Engage the five senses
Endeavor to engage all the five senses when writing a descriptive essay. You may want to explain how the wind felt on your face, how the chocolate melted in your mouth, etc. If you don’t appeal to the senses of your reader or, they will find your essay uninteresting.
- Tap into the emotional reservoir
As much as possible, try to always engage your reader’s emotions by vividly describing relatable emotions or feelings. Doing this helps you to form a deeper connection with your reader.
- Leave the reader asking for more
Stimulating a sense of intimacy in your reader helps you to create a bond. If your reader can walk away craving the very apple pie you just described, then you have yourself a successful descriptive essay!
- Be organized
Sometimes, it is easy to fall into the temptation of incoherence when describing a thing with excitement. You must strive to submit an organized and logical descriptive essay for better overall comprehension.
Format of a Descriptive Essay
There are some specific elements that you should never ignore while writing an essay. All descriptive essays should include an introduction, main body, and conclusion.
- Introduction
Grasp the attention of your reader by briefly introducing the subject/object of the essay. Learn to present your write up engagingly and convincingly, such that your reader is prompted to read further.
- Main Body
In the main body, you explore the subject/object in greater detail. In this section, you use a vibrant mix of adjectives and adverbs to discuss whatever you consider essential. In this section, spice the essay with specific examples and allow the reader into your mind.
- Conclusion
The conclusion is a critical component in a descriptive essay. If the concluding part of your write up is weak, the last impression will stink! Ensure you share your concluding thoughts on the subject/object in a compellingly and vividly.
Are you ready to take your writing to a whole new level? Master this essay structure, and you’re on your way to an A+! Ensure you always edit your essay and proofread it thoroughly before turning it in. Remember to spend time practicing on different topics as they make you a better writer. Good luck!