the meaning of descriptive essay

How to Take Descriptive Writing to the Next Level

Sometimes, writing feels like you’re climbing up a hill. A slippery, muddy hill. During a rainstorm. 

Even when the words are there, it can be tough to get the feeling onto the page. You might have listed the events you’re covering and presented all the facts clearly and logically, but when your writing doesn’t feel engaging, something’s missing. That something is descriptive writing. 

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Descriptive writing consists of a variety of techniques and choices you make in an effort to give your reader an accurate, three-dimensional impression of the subject you’re writing about. It’s part word choice , part figurative language, part comparison, and part knowing what to include and what to leave out of your writing to set just the right mood .

When to use descriptive writing

Use descriptive writing almost anywhere your writing can benefit from immersive scene-setting. Most kinds of writing can benefit from a little bit of descriptive writing. Some, like fiction, poetry, and memoir, can benefit from a lot of it. 

Instead of listing all the types of writing that can benefit from descriptive words, phrases, and sentences, here is the short list of the kinds of writing where this type of content is not appropriate:

• Technical writing
• Academic writing
• Professional emails and other correspondences

Descriptive writing is juicy. It evokes the reader’s senses. It’s the perfect tool for accurately communicating something that isn’t tangible, and that’s precisely why it’s not appropriate for the more formal, objective kinds of writing listed above. 

Use descriptive writing when your goal is for the reader to feel like they’re standing in your shoes. The most effective way to write about the euphoric feeling of affection you felt when you adopted your puppy may be to use descriptive writing techniques to make the reader feel like they’re the one seeing Fluffy wag her tail and feeling her lick your hand, rather than simply listing her physical features. Descriptive writing promotes empathy in your reader and personalizes your work. 

Descriptive writing techniques

There are lots of different ways you can make your writing more descriptive. Here are a few of the most common descriptive writing techniques:

A metaphor is a descriptive technique that likens one thing to another. Take a look at these examples of common metaphors:

• My child is the light of my life.
• He’s the black sheep of our family. 
• She’s a tornado that destroys everything in her path.

By stating that one object is another, you’re saying they share certain traits. You aren’t saying they’re indistinguishable or that they’re actually the same object; you’re expressing that the reader will encounter these specific traits in a very similar way in both objects. 

A simile is like a metaphor . And yes, that was a simile. 

Just like a metaphor, a simile describes something by comparing it to something else. The difference between the two is that a simile uses the word “like,” “so,” “than,” or “as” to make the comparison. For example:

• The building was as tall as Mt. Fuji.
• She drives faster than a NASCAR racer.
• They ate like a bunch of vultures.

With a simile, the comparison typically isn’t literal—it’s hyperbole that emphasizes the statement being made, much like it does with a metaphor. If you aren’t familiar with the term “hyperbole,” don’t fret—we’re covering it later on in this section.  

Sensory writing

Sensory writing depicts a scene through your senses. Take a look at these examples:

• When the cool water splashed my face, the contrast made me realize just how red-hot my skin had gotten. 
• Their home always smelled like freshly baked cookies; a constant cloud of chocolatey, sweet warmth wafted through the house. 
• The sticky substance reached every centimeter of my skin, oozing into my pores and gluing my fingers and toes together.

As you can see, sensory writing typically incorporates other kinds of descriptive writing, like similes, metaphors, and hyperbole. 

Freewriting is a great way to channel your senses and craft some spot-on sensory writing. Just open your word processor or notebook and start writing what you think, feel, or have experienced. There are no rules, no restrictions—just move everything that’s happening in your mind onto the page, walking through sensations like how you feel, what you hear, what you see, and what these sensations are driving you to do.  

When you use an extreme statement to make a point, you’re using hyperbole . Here are a few quick examples:

• It was a million degrees out yesterday.
• I haven’t heard that name in a hundred years. 
• He was the sweetest boyfriend ever.

You know it wasn’t actually a million degrees, you most likely haven’t been alive long enough to not have heard a specific name in the past century, and surely there are many other boyfriends who are kind and thoughtful. But when you say things like this, you aren’t confusing or lying to your listener—you’re intentionally exaggerating to express just how extreme something was: It was very hot outside, you haven’t heard that name in a long time, and your boyfriend was very romantic. 

Personification

It was a joyful bouquet. Each flower had a distinct, vibrant face and together, they were a happy choir of enthusiastic friends, ready to break into song at any moment. 

We’re talking about flowers here and, as you know, flowers don’t have faces, voices, or friendships. But see how giving the flowers in this description human qualities like faces, voices, and interpersonal bonds gives you a clear image of the bouquet being described? It’s not just a collection of flowers; it’s a coherent group of fresh, healthy, colorful flowers. 

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia are words for specific sounds. If you’ve ever watched the live Batman TV show from the 1960s, you’ve seen such onomatopoeia as “bam!” and “thwap!” flash across the screen during the fight scenes, creating a comic book-like feel. That’s what onomatopoeia does—it immerses you in the scene by giving it a “soundtrack.” 

What is a descriptive essay?

A descriptive essay is an essay focused on describing something. That “something” can be anything, such as an event, a place, an experience, an object, or even a person. Descriptive essays aren’t exactly the same as other kinds of essays , though you might find yourself using descriptive writing in other essay types to strengthen your argument. 

In a descriptive essay, your goal is to make the reader feel like they’re experiencing the subject you’re describing firsthand. For example, let’s say you’ve been assigned to write a descriptive essay about the role pizza plays in your campus culture. 

Your descriptive essay might include lines and passages like: 

Sweet relief came over me when I got that notification text saying my pizza had arrived. My stomach was roaring; it was 2:00 a.m. and I hadn’t eaten since dinner at 6:00. Unlike my roommate, whose study habits and time management allowed her to go to bed at midnight, I was up working on a paper that was due in about eight hours. Thick socks on my feet, I quietly stepped away from my desk and out into the hallway to meet the driver at the door. The pizza was already paid for, so all I needed to do was take my hot pie of cheesy stamina from his nocturnal hands and get back to work. While walking back to my room, the garlicky smell emanating from the box lulled me into a state of relieved relaxation, but this relaxation was gone in a flash when I realized where my key was: not in my pocket, but sitting on my desk. 

Compare this to a cause-and-effect essay on the same topic. Instead of trying to make your reader’s mouth water, you’d instead craft a narrative of the effect the local pizza shop has had on your campus culture. You might start by discussing the food options you had before it opened and how the pizza shop upgraded students’ access to delicious food and changed their approach to ordering out. In a persuasive essay , your goal might be to convince the reader that adding the pizza shop to the list of local vendors who accept meal plan credits is a good idea, and in an analytical essay, you’d state a specific position about the pizza shop (for instance, how it’s an inextricable part of campus life). And you’d defend that position with clear evidence (more than half of the pizza shop’s deliveries are to campus, the shop regularly hires students, and the shop caters a significant number of events on campus, for example). 

Give your writing extra polish

Crafting a compelling piece of descriptive writing can be tough, especially if descriptive writing is new to you. The two keys to becoming a pro at descriptive writing are to read a wide variety of writing types and practice, practice, practice. This doesn’t mean you have to write an immersive novel or start cranking out poems by the page—you can train your descriptive writing muscles by working a little bit into each of your future assignments. Maybe you add a metaphor to your next history essay’s intro or work some similes into your upcoming economics presentation. 

Wherever you’re working on descriptive writing, Grammarly is here to help. Before you hit “send” or “submit,” have Grammarly give your writing a once-over to catch any spelling mistakes , punctuation errors , and even instances where your tone is less than perfect for your writing’s goals. No matter what you’re aiming to achieve with your writing, Grammarly can help you achieve your goals. 

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Descriptive Essays

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The Modes of Discourse—Exposition, Description, Narration, Argumentation (EDNA)—are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these approaches and students’ need to understand and produce them.

What is a descriptive essay?

The descriptive essay is a genre of essay that asks the student to describe something—object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc. This genre encourages the student’s ability to create a written account of a particular experience. What is more, this genre allows for a great deal of artistic freedom (the goal of which is to paint an image that is vivid and moving in the mind of the reader).

One might benefit from keeping in mind this simple maxim: If the reader is unable to clearly form an impression of the thing that you are describing, try, try again!

Here are some guidelines for writing a descriptive essay.

• Take time to brainstorm

If your instructor asks you to describe your favorite food, make sure that you jot down some ideas before you begin describing it. For instance, if you choose pizza, you might start by writing down a few words: sauce, cheese, crust, pepperoni, sausage, spices, hot, melted, etc. Once you have written down some words, you can begin by compiling descriptive lists for each one.

• Use clear and concise language.

This means that words are chosen carefully, particularly for their relevancy in relation to that which you are intending to describe.

• Choose vivid language.

Why use horse when you can choose stallion ? Why not use tempestuous instead of violent ? Or why not miserly in place of cheap ? Such choices form a firmer image in the mind of the reader and often times offer nuanced meanings that serve better one’s purpose.

• Use your senses!

Remember, if you are describing something, you need to be appealing to the senses of the reader. Explain how the thing smelled, felt, sounded, tasted, or looked. Embellish the moment with senses.

• What were you thinking?!

If you can describe emotions or feelings related to your topic, you will connect with the reader on a deeper level. Many have felt crushing loss in their lives, or ecstatic joy, or mild complacency. Tap into this emotional reservoir in order to achieve your full descriptive potential.

• Leave the reader with a clear impression.

One of your goals is to evoke a strong sense of familiarity and appreciation in the reader. If your reader can walk away from the essay craving the very pizza you just described, you are on your way to writing effective descriptive essays.

• Be organized!

It is easy to fall into an incoherent rambling of emotions and senses when writing a descriptive essay. However, you must strive to present an organized and logical description if the reader is to come away from the essay with a cogent sense of what it is you are attempting to describe.

Descriptive Essay

Definition of descriptive essay.

A descriptive essay , as the name implies, is a form of essay that describes something. In this genre , students are assigned the task of describing objects, things, places, experiences, persons, and situations. The students use sensory information to enable readers to use their five senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight to understand the topic of the essay.

Qualities of a Descriptive Essay

• Clear and Concise
• Use of Images
• Use of Five Senses

As far as clear and concise language is concerned, it is necessary to describe things precisely. Imagery is used to make things seem real and remarkable. The use of the five senses creates the imagery, or a mental picture, for each reader.

Difference Between a Description and a Descriptive Essay

A description could be just a paragraph, or it could be longer, as needed to fully describe the thing. However, a descriptive essay has five paragraphs. It is written in a coherent way with a good thesis statement at the end of the introduction , three body paragraphs , and a conclusion .

Examples of Descriptive Essays in Literature

Example #1:  the corner store (by eudora welty).

“Our Little Store rose right up from the sidewalk; standing in a street of family houses, it alone hadn’t any yard in front, any tree or flower bed. It was a plain frame building covered over with brick. Above the door, a little railed porch ran across on an upstairs level and four windows with shades were looking out. But I didn’t catch on to those. Running in out of the sun, you met what seemed total obscurity inside. There were almost tangible smells — licorice recently sucked in a child’s cheek, dill pickle brine1 that had leaked through a paper sack in a fresh trail across the wooden floor, ammonia-loaded ice that had been hoisted from wet croker sacks and slammed into the icebox with its sweet butter at the door, and perhaps the smell of still untrapped mice.”

This description of the “Little Store” is not only clear and concise, but also has images and sensory information about the store building.

Example #2: And the Orchestra Played On (by Joanne Lipman)

“The hinges creaked when I opened the decrepit case. I was greeted by a cascade of loose horsehair — my bow a victim of mites, the repairman later explained. It was pure agony to twist my fingers into position. But to my astonishment and that of my teenage children — who had never heard me play — I could still manage a sound. “It turned out, a few days later, that there were 100 people just like me. When I showed up at a local school for rehearsal, there they were: five decades worth of former students. There were doctors and accountants, engineers and college professors. There were people who hadn’t played in decades, sitting alongside professionals like Mr. K.’s daughter Melanie, now a violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. There were generations of music teachers.”

In the first paragraph of this descriptive excerpt, the author clearly describes the decrepit nature of the violin case, as well as the damage time has done to the bow. The second paragraph is a description of the characters , and their similarities.  Both use sensory information for effective descriptions.

Example #3: Yarn (by Koyoko Mori)

“The yellow mittens I made in seventh-grade home economics proved that I dreamed in color. For the unit on knitting, we were 1 supposed to turn in a pair of mittens. The two hands had to be precisely the same size so that when we held them together, palm to palm, no extra stitches would stick out from the thumb, the tip of the fingers, or the cuff. Somewhere between making the fourth and the fifth mitten to fulfill this requirement, I dreamed that the ball of yellow yarn in my bag had turned green. Chartreuse, leaf, Granny Smith, lime, neon, acid green. The brightness was electric. I woke up knowing that I was, once again, doomed for a D in home ec.”

See the use of colors in this paragraph by Koyoko Mori. This is called “pure description,” in that the description appeals to the senses. The use of word “brightness” in the last line is striking one.

Example #4: The Taj Mahal (by Salman Rushdie)

“And this, finally, is why the Taj Mahal must be seen: to remind us that the world is real, that the sound is truer than the echo, the original more forceful than its image in a mirror. The beauty of beautiful things is still able, in these image-saturated times, to transcend imitations. And the Taj Mahal is, beyond the power of words to say it, a lovely thing, perhaps the loveliest of things.”

Check this short description of the Taj Mahal by Salman Rushdie. This description presents a different picture of the Taj Mahal.

Function of Descriptive Essay

A descriptive essay presents a person, place, or thing, in a way that readers feel as if it is in front of their eyes, or that they are tasting it, or that they can hear it, or that they can smell it. Writers use sensory information to describe object . The object of the writer is to present a picture of something as honestly as he can.

Related posts:

• Elements of an Essay
• Narrative Essay
• Definition Essay
• Types of Essay
• Analytical Essay
• Argumentative Essay
• Cause and Effect Essay
• Critical Essay
• Expository Essay
• Persuasive Essay
• Process Essay
• Explicatory Essay
• An Essay on Man: Epistle I
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• The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.

Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type. 

In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.

Table of contents

Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.

An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.

Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

• The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement
• The body presents your evidence and arguments
• The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance

The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.

Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.

The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.

A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.

Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.

A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.

Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.

Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.

A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.

Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.

On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.

My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.

With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…

Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

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Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.

Rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.

The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.

The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.

The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

Literary analysis

A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.

Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.

The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.

Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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• Descriptive Essay

You ever read a really good travel essay? It makes you believe that you are there with the writer, it paints a vivid picture. This is because the essay is so descriptive, that it appeals to our senses. As a result, our brain starts imagining it. Let’s learn more about a descriptive essay.

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What is a descriptive essay.

Our brain is so powerful that it can easily imagine scenarios and make use of our senses. The job of such an essay is to appeal to our senses in a way that it creates an image in our minds. Hence a descriptive essay plays with at least one of our five senses (touch, smell, taste, hearing, sight).

In other words, the description of the person, place or thing in an essay should be really vivid. This means it after reading the essay, the reader should be left feeling like they actually know the person, have held the object or have visited the place.

In the light of the above-mentioned things, it is comfortable to say that a descriptive essay provides for artistic freedom. For example, assume you’re writing about a house.

Instead of simply stating that the house was beautiful, you should talk about the color of the house, the garden in front of it i.e. all the details about the house. In that way, the readers would be able to imagine the house because of a nicely written essay.

Contents of a Descriptive Essay

As it is with most of the written forms of English literature, the basic structure of a descriptive essay also comprises of an introduction, a body, and the conclusion.

• The introduction of a descriptive essay should be interesting enough to catch a reader’s attention. The introduction should be all about creating a base or a background for the person, place or thing you’re going to describe in your essay.
• Next, the main body of a descriptive essay should appeal to the reader’s senses. This includes unfolding the information by creating images in the reader’s mind. A trick to achieving this is to explain how the subject about which you’re writing in your descriptive essay, appeals to your senses.
• Lastly, the conclusion should summarize the whole essay. Along with again going over the main details about the essay’s subject, you should end the essay in a way that it gives a sense of completion.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay?

Before starting off with a descriptive essay, thinking about the subject in detail will be your best bet. Just take some time off and imagine about the subject. This means to imagine how the subject appeals to your senses- how does it smell, looks like and so on.

Further, if the subject is related to a past experience think about how it felt or your experience with the subject. Next, express all of these on the paper right in front of you. You can also take some time to think about how you want your essay to unfold. Lastly, a revision of the essay provides a great opportunity for improvements and small tweaks. Remember that a descriptive essay is all about teasing the reader’s senses.

A Solved Example For You

Q:   A descriptive essay should:

• Narrate a story.
• Appeal to the reader’s senses.
• Present an argument
• None of the above

Ans:   The correct option is ‘B’. A descriptive essay should appeal to the reader’s senses in such a way that the reader feels at one with the subject of the essay.

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• Story: Characters

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How to Write a Descriptive Essay: Full Guide With Tips

In this article, we examine the descriptive essay and present a step-by-step writing guide. Stick around for helpful writing tips near the end! Also, check out custom writers at EssayPro — political science essay service, if you need private tutoring or essay editing.

What is a Descriptive Essay?

The definition of a descriptive essay is a type of composition or paper which describes an object, person, process, or event. The writer’s goal is to create a vivid reading experience, or to show instead of tell (metaphorically).

Descriptive writing usually appeals to the five senses: taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight. (Ex: Jack’s coffee mug exploded into tiny shards of glass, catching the attention of everyone at the office.) Always appealing to the senses is key to writing a good descriptive essay.

When writing a descriptive essay, your goal will be to paint a comprehensive picture for the reader by appealing to the five senses. Last but not least, your work should have a purpose. It could be anything from a lesson you learned from an experience, to a story of how an object impacted your life. It’s all about making your bright ideas come to life.

Difference Between a Description and a Descriptive Essay

When writing this type of paper, you should know the difference between a description and a descriptive essay. A description can be just a simple paragraph, or several ones with no specific structure, meanwhile, a descriptive essay has five or more paragraphs and a clear and complete structure. A descriptive essay is usually written coherently, has a good thesis statement at the end of the introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. A description however, does not necessarily have a structure. Its main purpose is to just describe an object, or something else, without having any extra academic layers.

The Issues that Could be Described in Your Paper

• A person. In this paper, you can talk about a person. It can range from simply writing about their appearance to more complex descriptions like actions, behaviours, mood, and qualities of your chosen individual.
• A place. The main thing you should do when describing a place in your work is to describe it interestingly and originally. Your reader(s) should feel, for example, the beauty of your chosen cities—perhaps New York or Rome.
• An event. Here you need to describe the story of what happened. It can be your last vacation, concert, wedding, anniversary, summer music festival, graduation day, or so on.
• An animal. In this type, you need to describe the animal. It may be its appearance, behaviour, or biology.
• An occupation. Here you need to write about a job or occupation.
• A behaviour. This is the type of descriptive writing you should go for if you would like to write about someone’s behaviour. Perhaps you want to describe the strange behaviour of your friend, or highlight how certain people act under different conditions.

Two Classic Approaches to the Descriptive Essay

1. Personal Essay

Here you need to describe an experience using your feelings and responses. This work can awake empathy in readers. It can also be vague and disorganized. If you want to write a good personal essay, you should try to focus only on those aspects that most fully express your experience. Do not shy away from vivid, evocative language in this type of assignment.

A few examples of personal essay topics might be:

• 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

2. Formal Description

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.

Topics for formal descriptions can include:

• A descriptive essay about climate change, politics, or historical events.
• A news story that provides a summary of an event or information about the place where it occurred.

Descriptive Essay Topics & Ideas

Finding descriptive essay topics isn’t hard. You can describe pretty much anything—from your favourite car to today’s weather. We’ve gathered some ideas to help you get started. Hopefully, you’ll find good descriptive essay topics to spark your imagination.

Descriptive Essay Topics: People

Exploring the essence of individuals through this type of writing can be both engaging and insightful. Here are ten distinctive essay topics centered on people that go beyond the ordinary:

• The Eccentric Street Performer Who Danced with Shadows
• A Glimpse into the Daily Routine of a Lighthouse Keeper
• The Mysterious Antique Shop Owner: Guardian of Forgotten Tales
• A Day in the Life of a Vintage Jazz Club's Bartender
• The Tattooed Wanderer: Stories Etched in Ink
• A Conversation with the Urban Gardener Transforming Cityscapes
• Portrait of a Silent Mime Artist: Communicating Without Words
• A Chef's Culinary Odyssey: Exploring Flavor on a Plate
• The Whimsical World of a Puppeteer: Strings of Imagination
• Life Beneath the Spotlight: A Theatrical Makeup Artist's Secrets

Descriptive Essay Topics: Place

Places possess a unique ability to evoke emotions and tell their own stories through descriptive essay writing. To transport your readers to captivating destinations, consider these ten distinct topics, each offering a glimpse into a one-of-a-kind locale:

• The Forgotten Underground Catacombs: A Subterranean Labyrinth of Secrets
• Serenity by the Secluded Cliffside Cottage: Echoes of Solitude
• A Day in the Life of an Abandoned Amusement Park: Whispers of Laughter
• The Enchanted Forest: A Realm of Ancient Mysteries
• A Fishing Village Frozen in Time: Life on the Shores of Nostalgia
• The Rooftop Gardens of Babylon: Urban Oases in the Sky
• The Hidden Café of Lost Conversations: Where Coffee and Stories Brew
• A Night at the Desert Oasis: Starlit Mirages and Mirage Stars
• The Echoing Halls of the Sunken Ship: A Submerged Voyage into History
• The Neon Glow of the Midnight Arcade: Dreams Illuminated in Pixels

Descriptive Essay Topics: Memories

Memories offer a rich tapestry of experiences waiting to be woven into your descriptive essays. Dive into the realms of nostalgia and introspection with these topics, each drawing upon the power of recollection:

• The Unfading Echoes of Childhood Hideouts: Adventures in the Past
• A Forgotten Diary's Pages: Secrets of Lost Sentiments
• The Last Summer Before College: Sunsets of Transition
• The Old Family Recipe Book: Savoring Generations in Every Dish
• Ghosts of Prom Nights Past: The Dance of Teenage Dreams
• The Antique Music Box: Tunes That Unravel Time's Veil
• Letters from the Front Lines: Ink-Stained Testaments of Courage
• The Forgotten Album of Polaroids: Snapshots of Precious Moments
• Ancestral Attic Treasures: Relics of Heritage and Identity
• The Whispers of a Childhood Blanket: Comfort Woven in Threads

Creating a Descriptive Essay Outline

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.

A descriptive essay outline is composed of the following:

• An introduction
• Hook sentence
• Context/Background information
• Thesis statement
• Body paragraphs
• Topic sentence
• Sensory details
• Actual details
• A conclusion
• Summary of all main points
• Clincher Statement

It is important to spend enough time considering the victim of description because all of your illustrations will be based around it.

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Introduction

The introduction serves to introduce your subject to the reader and give them enough context to fully understand your work—but keep it brief and interesting for the reader(s). When learning how to write a descriptive essay introduction, remember – the first paragraph of your paper is the part that can make your descriptive essay stand out from the others.

As with any college paper, a descriptive essay introduction must contain the following points:

• Hook Sentence: Although the entire paper should be full of exciting and vivid descriptions, grabbing the reader's attention from the very beginning is ideal.
• Context/Background Information: Tell the reader what you’re about to describe and explain why it is crucial to you. Give them a brief context for your paper.
• Thesis Statement: The descriptive essay thesis should be a short yet concise summary of the work. It must include the subject of your description, and your purpose for describing it.

For further information on how to write a thesis for a descriptive essay, check out the examples below.

Place. If you were to write about Buckingham Palace: “Even though the monarchy is long gone, Buckingham Palace serves to remind us of the aesthetic beauty which that era had built.” Person. For describing Spider-Man: “The defining characteristics of Spider-Man are his youthfulness, New York City, and the fact that he talks to himself more than Hamlet.” Emotion. A piece about a personal experience of fear: “For many reasons, the dark forest is my greatest fear, though not a fear which I would necessarily like to venture into.”

Body Paragraph(s)

There are usually three body paragraphs in a paper. They cover three different points or arguments. How many body paragraphs to include in your descriptive essay is entirely up to you—or your professor. Sometimes it only takes a paragraph to tell a story, while other times it takes books.

How to write a body paragraph:

• Start with a topic sentence. ex. The orange looks familiar; it is a round citrus fruit whose colour matches its name.
• Add sensory details. When describing the orange, appeal to relatable senses.
• Include actual details. Always include descriptive information within your body paragraphs. Finish a body paragraph by introducing the next. Transition sentences are essential because they create immersion within your writing. Your writing will become better and it won’t appear as if you are reading a list of facts.

The descriptive essay is one type of 5 paragraph essay , which is the most common type of essay a student may encounter.

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.

Try to incorporate the following into your conclusion:

• The first thing to do at the end is to reflect on the initial purpose of the work. Spill the beans on why you decided to write about this subject, and how this subject has affected your life. An article about reflection paper may also be helpful to you.
• Signify the Importance of the Details: Go over some key moments of the paper. Give a summary of what you have covered, and prepare the audience for the clincher statement.
• Clincher Statement: The clincher is the final sentence that reinforces your paper’s overall purpose or leaves your audience with an intriguing thought, question, or quote. You’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking of a hook to pull the audience in. Do not allow the paper to escape your audience’s thoughts right after they have finish reading it.

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Writing and Reviewing Your Descriptive Paper Writing

Writing the paper consists of the following stages:

• Pre-writing stage. Here you need to examine all of the sources you have and define if they all offer important information on the topic of your choice.
• Writing the beginning. You should start your paper with a powerful, engaging hook that will grab the readers' attention. It may include an unusual metaphor or an interesting literary quote.
• Creating the first draft of your descriptive essay. Here is where you just need to write down all of the words that come to your mind; you'll have a chance to narrow down your ideas later.
• Adding details to your paper with the help of enriched English vocabulary and online dictionaries. Use your English vocabulary to add missing feelings, like hearing, to help make the descriptive essay leave a lasting impression.
• Revising and editing the paper with the help of different free online grammar checking tools.

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.

When you come back to your descriptive essay, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Have you provided enough context in the introduction?
• Is the paper easy to read?
• Does the thesis relate to the content of the paper?
• Does the paper feature vivid, descriptive language?
• Will the clincher statement leave a lasting impact?
• Are there enough details to make it possible for your readers to obtain a full and vivid perception of your description?
• Does each section of your work focus on one aspect of your description?
• Does your paper possess any unnecessary details in your description that can be thrown away or replaced by more meaningful information?
• Overall, if you were the reader, does this paper make sense to you?
• Are there any problems with grammar and punctuation?

Sometimes web applications like Grammarly or the Hemingway app can help you sort your grammar. However, it’s always best to master the rules of grammar yourself and become the best writer you can be. Once you’re convinced you have the final draft, read it out loud or give it to a friend to read. Sometimes you need some constructive criticism to tie up loose ends in your writing. You can also trust the professionals and buy cheap essay on EssayPro service.

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Descriptive Essay Examples

Embracing the art of descriptive writing isn't always a natural gift for everyone. For those seeking inspiration and guidance, we prepared an example of a descriptive essay which is a valuable resource. Meanwhile, we acknowledge that not everyone may possess the innate talent for painting vivid word pictures. If you find yourself in need of assistance with more intricate endeavors, such as dissertations, rest assured that our team comprises writers who possess the innate ability to weave eloquent prose that breathes life into your ideas.

Example 1: 'The Enchanted Library: A Gateway to Forgotten Realms'

In this descriptive essay example, the author masterfully employs a wide array of descriptive tools, deftly painting a vivid picture of 'Bibliotheca Mirabilis.' Through metaphor, personification, and sensory details, the library comes to life, almost becoming a character within the narrative. The author's choice of words and careful descriptions immerses the reader in the enchanting setting, creating a captivating journey through the realms of imagination.

The writer of this descriptive essay example explains how there was a lot of life before humans existed. The world was full of Blue Jays and North Cardinal birds that most probably ate pansy seeds as a stable diet. In this example, it is clear that the writer has put himself/herself in the perspective of someone in the far future. He/she describes how we were in the 21st century, and how we used the poles as communication portals.

Example 2: 'The Forgotten Watchmaker: Crafting Timepieces of Elegance'

In this essay, the author adeptly employs a variety of descriptive tools to transport the reader into the heart of the potter's workshop. Through carefully chosen words, the workshop's ambiance, from the earthy scent of clay to the warmth of the kiln, becomes palpable. The rustic charm and ceramics in different stages of creation evoke a strong sense of tradition and dedication. The potter emerges as a central figure, their expertise and passion clearly portrayed. This essay immerses the reader in a world of craftsmanship, where each piece of pottery carries a unique narrative, and the art of creation is celebrated with profound reverence.

In the eyes of the untrained, a rugby game is just a bunch of huge individuals senselessly fighting one another, struggling to move an oval ball inch by inch down a field full of mud towards the goal line of the opposing team. Players don’t put on pads or get a timeout in the event of injuries. Yet rugby is a different thing, a gentleman’s sport—to those who understand it. While rugby appears rough, its players maintain good respect toward both teammates and opponents.

For those who may find writing a challenging endeavor, rest assured that it's a skill that can be developed over time. If you're looking for expert guidance or assistance with your academic life, our team includes experienced wordsmiths who can even help with dissertation writing. Whether you're working on essays, stories, or any writing project, we're here to support your creative journey and help you convey your ideas more effectively.

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Descriptive Essay: Definition, Examples & Tips for Writing a Descriptive Essay

When you are asked to write an essay , there are many different types to choose from. One such type is the descriptive essay which is favoured by a lot of authors. In this article, we are going to be looking at the descriptive essay in a little more detail such as what they are used for and how you can write a good descriptive essay yourself. We are also going to take a look at an example of a well written descriptive essay and a selection of topics about which you could write.

Table of Contents

What Is A Descriptive Essay?

A descriptive essay is one which is used in order to describe something. These essays can describe anything from a person or place to an item or idea. The idea of the descriptive essay is to give the author a chance to hone their writing skills by way of description. On top of this, the descriptive essay is a great chance for the author to use their creative skills – the more vivid the description, the more the reader can picture clearly what is being talked about. This means that the writer should employ all their skills to paint an image for the audience.

How To Write A Good Descriptive Essay

Now that we have a good understanding of what a descriptive essay is, we are going to take a look at some handy tips for how to write one and the process that should be followed in order to create a convincing descriptive essay.

Choose A Topic

Any essay requires an engaging topic and the descriptive essay is no exception to this rule. When choosing a topic, you should choose something which you have an interest in as this will make you more passionate about your writing. There are a whole host of things you could write about so let’s take a look at some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

• Describe a summer holiday.
• Describe your oldest memory.
• Describe a member of your family .
• Describe a book you have read.
• Describe a movie you have seen.
• Describe an invention.
• Describe a place that means a lot to you.
• Describe your ideal home or room.
• Describe something from your imagination.
• Describe an outfit or an item of clothing.
• Describe a piece of jewellery.

Create An Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is used to lay out the purpose of the essay and should be referred back to at varying points throughout your writing. It should be included in the introduction so that your readers are clear on what the essay is about.

Speak To The Senses

When planning your essay it is important to remember that a descriptive essay should appeal to the senses. When describing your subject you should include how it looks, smells, how things taste, what can be heard and how something feels. It is important to lay out these senses in your essay outline as using these will create a much clearer picture for the reader.

Create Your Essay Outline

An essay outline is used to order your ideas and make rough notes of anything that is to be included in the work. Every essay should be written with the assistance of an essay outline, and it should look something like this:

• Introduction -Include your thesis statement, a hook to grab the attention of the reader (this could be a personal story, anecdote , joke or fact) and a little bit about the purpose of the essay.
• Body 1st paragraph -This section will detail the first point of your essay. In the case of a descriptive essay, you might detail how something looks in the first paragraph. A traditional essay is made up of three body paragraphs and each of these should be outlined too. That being said, there is some leeway when writing an essay and you can write more or less body paragraphs depending on what you need.
• Conclusion -This final part of your essay outline should refer back to the thesis statement and sum up all the ideas which have been presented throughout the essay.

Further Tips For Writing A Descriptive Essay

In order to write a clear, concise and easy to read descriptive essay, there are some more points that you should consider whilst writing. These tips will help you to construct an essay which will be well received and credited.

• Make sure that you take the time to properly brainstorm before you begin writing your descriptive essay. This is important because it will help you to make sure that you include all of your ideas and miss nothing out.
• The language that you use within your essay should be concise and clear, making it easy for the reader to get a grasp of. Whilst you want to use colourful descriptions that easily paint a picture, you do not want to over-complicate the language and therefore make the essay unreadable.
• Consider using synonyms (understandable ones) to make your writing sound more intelligent and creative. These will also add to the descriptive flair of this type of essay.

Example Of A Descriptive Essay

In order to gain a greater understanding of what a well written descriptive essay looks like, we are now going to take a look at an extract from a descriptive essay called ‘Yarn’ written by Kyoko Mori .

Those yellow mittens which I had made in 7th grade home ec had proven that I dreamt in colour. For the section about knitting, we were 1) meant to create a pair of mittens and 2) the hands must be the same size, so when they were held together, none of the stitches would stick out of the thumb, the fingers or from the cuff. Somewhere, in between the making of the 4th and the 5th mitten to meet this requirement, I dreamt that the yellow ball of yarn which was in my bag turned green. It was so bright, it was eclectic, I awoke in the knowledge that, once again, I was doomed for a D in that class.

Descriptive Essay Infographic

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Descriptive Essay

Descriptive Essay Examples

Descriptive Essay Examples & Writing Tips

12 min read

Published on: Aug 22, 2018

Last updated on: Oct 16, 2023

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Struggling to write a descriptive essay that engages your reader? It can be frustrating to spend hours writing, only to feel like your essay is not meeting your expectations.

Relax, you're not alone! Many students find it difficult to capture readers' attention through descriptive writing.

But don't worry! Our examples of descriptive essays are here to help. These examples provide you with the perfect starting point, helping you to understand how to structure your essay to make it memorable. 

Don't let your descriptive essay fall flat. Explore our examples and learn how to write an essay that your readers won't be able to forget.

Let's dive in to learn more.

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What is a Descriptive Essay?

A descriptive essay is a type of essay in which a writer describes a specific subject in detail. The writer takes help from vivid language to paint a picture in the reader’s mind by engaging the human senses. 

Whether you are writing about a person or an event, use strong adjectives and adverbs to present sensory details. The main objective of writing a descriptive essay is to describe a particular subject, person, place, or situation. 

It is written in a way to make the reader feel the same way as you do. It is like a narrative essay where you provide a detailed description of the subject. 

To understand descriptive writing, good and handy descriptive essay samples work best. It is a fact that we learn better with examples. This is why we have added some amazing examples of descriptive essays.

These samples will help you understand the dos and don’ts of a good descriptive essay. Move forward and go through the writing samples below.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay - Example

Don't know how to write a descriptive essay? We understand! Here is an example that might help you.

Introduction of a Descriptive Essay - Examples

How to Start a Descriptive Essay - Examples

How to End a Descriptive Essay - Examples

Subjective Descriptive Essay Example

Subjective descriptive essays are written based on personal experiences. Take a look at the below example to understand this format better.

Objective Descriptive Essay Example

The objective descriptive essay is a type of descriptive essay in which you describe a person, place, or thing without any emotions or opinions. Take a look at the below examples to understand this format better.

Descriptive Essay Example About an Object

Personal Descriptive Essay Example

Descriptive essay example about a person.

Descriptive Essay Example About A Place

Describing a place can be tricky. If you want to write a descriptive essay about a place, it is even more difficult. To understand this format better, let's take a look at the below example.

Good Descriptive Essay Example

Struggling to write a good descriptive essay? Understandable!

Writing an impressive essay in a descriptive tone is not everyone's cup of tea. Observe the below example to get an idea of how to craft a good descriptive essay. 

Short Descriptive Essay Example

Many students fail to understand the essence of writing a short descriptive essay. If you are one of them, here is an example that will help you get an idea of how to write it. 

Narrative Descriptive Essay Example

A narrative descriptive essay is a type of descriptive essay where you narrate a story in an interesting manner. Take a look at the below example to understand how to write this type of essay. 

Descriptive Essay Example for Middle School

Middle school students often struggle to write essays. Descriptive essay assignments might even prove to be more difficult. Here is an example that will help middle schoolers understand this format better.

Descriptive Essay Example for Middle School Students

Descriptive Essay Example for Grade 6

Descriptive Essay Example for High School

High school students face similar challenges as middle schoolers when it comes to descriptive writing. It is difficult to describe something without being generic. If you're going through something similar, here are some examples for you.

Descriptive Essay Example for High School Students

Descriptive Essay Example for Grade 10

Descriptive Essay Example for Grade 12

Descriptive Essay Example for University and College

College and University students have to deal with complex and more challenging descriptive essay topics. Mostly, they don't have time to write such lengthy essays. Here are some examples that can help them understand such essays better.

Descriptive Essay Example for University Students

Descriptive Essay Example College

Thesis for Descriptive Essay Example

How to Write a Descriptive Essay?

There are many elements to an amazing descriptive essay. For starters, it's important that the writer stays focused on one point. Also, uses figurative language so readers can imagine what they're reading about in their minds.

Below are some steps that you should follow for writing a great descriptive essay.

The best way to make an interesting essay is by choosing a unique topic. It will allow you the freedom of creativity. Be careful not to choose something familiar because it might get boring quickly for readers.

It is the most important part of any essay. When you are planning a descriptive essay, you need to come up with a strong thesis statement .

A thesis statement is usually one or two sentences that explain the whole point of your essay to the reader.

To write a good essay, you need relevant information supporting your thesis statement. Make sure that you get your information from reliable sources.

An essay outline is a way to organize your thoughts and plan what you will say in your essay. In the outline, you should have an introduction, a thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Don’t know how to make an outline? Visit our descriptive essay outline blog and learn to create impressive outlines for your descriptive essays.

Proofreading is the process of looking for and correcting any spelling or grammatical errors in a written essay. Proofreading makes a document look more professional, so it is important to do it before submission.

Tips to Write a Good Descriptive Essay

Writing a good descriptive essay is both a difficult and easy task. Here we have listed some useful descriptive writing tips that will make your writing process easy and simple.

• Choose the Topic:  Choosing a topic to write your essay is the very first step in any essay writing process. Make a list of the  descriptive essay topics  that you like and choose one from them.

Short on descriptive topic ideas? Check out our extensive list of descriptive essay topics to get inspiration.

• Preplanning:  Before you start writing, plan your essay, and write all the essential details. Please do not think that you will remember it just because you know something; it does not happen this way. Write down all the details and assemble them all in one place.
• Create an Outline:  Creating a descriptive essay outline before starting the essay will keep you focused on the essay topic. Include what you will add to each of the sections. Divide it into the introductory paragraph, thesis statement, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
• Edit and Revise:  No writing process is complete without thorough editing and proofreading. Spelling and grammar checking the essay for plagiarism are the main steps before the final submission of the essay.

Want more tips to improve your descriptive writing skills? Here is a short video clip to help you out. 

If you are not sure that you could write the essay yourself, let the experts at MyPerfectWords.com help you out. Our  descriptive essay writing service can craft custom-tailored, original, and high-quality essays in no time.

We specialize in providing custom papers and essays for various academic levels and subjects. So if you are thinking, "I want to pay to write my essay ," we are your top choice! 

Order your essay now and get the best value for your money.

Caleb S. (Literature, Marketing)

Caleb S. has been providing writing services for over five years and has a Masters degree from Oxford University. He is an expert in his craft and takes great pride in helping students achieve their academic goals. Caleb is a dedicated professional who always puts his clients first.

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How to Write a Descriptive Essay

Last Updated: February 8, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,491,196 times.

A good descriptive essay creates a vivid picture of the topic in the reader’s mind. You may need to write a descriptive essay as a class assignment or you may decide to write one as a fun writing challenge. Start by brainstorming ideas for the essay. Then, outline and write the essay using vivid sensory details and strong descriptions. Always polish your essay and proofread it so it is at its best.

Brainstorming Ideas for the Essay

• You could also choose a fictional person to write about, such as a character in a book, a story, or a play. You could write about a character on your favorite TV show or video game.

• Another take on this option is to write about a made-up place or object, such as the fantastical school in your favorite book or the magic wand from your favorite TV show.

• You could also choose a more specific emotion, such as brotherly love or self-hatred. These emotions can make for powerful descriptive essays.

• For example, if you were writing about a person like your mother, you may write down under “sound” : “soft voice at night, clack of her shoes on the floor tiles, bang of the spoon when she cooks.”

Writing the Essay

• If you are writing the essay for a class, your instructor should specify if they want a five paragraph essay or if you have the freedom to use sections instead.

• For example, if you were writing a descriptive essay about your mother, you may have a thesis statement like: “In many ways, my mother is the reigning queen of our house, full of contradictions that we are too afraid to question.”

• For example, if you were writing the essay about your mom, you may start with: “My mother is not like other mothers. She is a fierce protector and a mysterious woman to my sisters and I.”
• If you were writing an essay about an object, you may start with: "Try as I might, I had a hard time keeping my pet rock alive."

• You can also use adjectives that connect to the senses, such “rotting,” “bright,” “hefty,” “rough,” and “pungent.”
• For example, you may describe your mother as "bright," "tough," and "scented with jasmine."

• You can also use similes, where you use “like” or “as” to compare one thing to another. For example, you may write, “My mother is like a fierce warrior in battle, if the battlefield were PTA meetings and the checkout line at the grocery store.”

• For example, you may write about your complicated feelings about your mother. You may note that you feel sadness about your mother’s sacrifices for the family and joy for the privileges you have in your life because of her.

• For example, you may end a descriptive essay about your mother by noting, “In all that she has sacrificed for us, I see her strength, courage, and fierce love for her family, traits I hope to emulate in my own life.”

Polishing the Essay

• You can also read the essay aloud to others to get their feedback. Ask them to let you know if there are any unclear or vague sentences in the essay.

• Be open to constructive criticism and feedback from others. This will only make your essay stronger.

• If you have a word count requirement for the essay, make sure you meet it. Add more detail to the paper or take unnecessary content out to reach the word count.

Outline for a Descriptive Essay

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.writeexpress.com/descriptive-essay.html
• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
• ↑ https://www.iup.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/organization-and-structure/descriptive-writing.html
• ↑ https://spcollege.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=10168248
• ↑ http://www.butte.edu/departments/cas/tipsheets/style_purpose_strategy/descriptive_essay.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/descriptive_essays.html
• ↑ https://vln.school.nz/groupcms/view/845349/descriptive-writing

About This Article

To write a descriptive essay, start by choosing a topic, like a person, place, or specific emotion. Next, write down a list of sensory details about the topic, like how it sounds, smells, and feels. After this brainstorming session, outline the essay, dividing it into an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Open with a vivid introduction that uses sensory details, then introduce your thesis statement, which the rest of your essay should support. Strengthen your essay further by using metaphors and similes to describe your topic, and the emotions it evokes. To learn how to put the finishing touches on your essay, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Descriptive Writing

The primary purpose of descriptive writing is to describe a person, place or thing in such a way that a picture is formed in the reader’s mind. Capturing an event through descriptive writing involves paying close attention to the details by using all of your five senses. Teaching students to write more descriptively will improve their writing by making it more interesting and engaging to read.

Key Information

Appropriate group size, what is descriptive writing.

Descriptive writing helps the reader visualize the person, place, thing, or situation being described. When a text conjures a vivid, sensory impression in the reader’s mind, not only does it make the writing more interesting to read; it helps the reader understand the text better and recognize the author’s intention more clearly.

Why teach descriptive writing?

• It helps students make their writing more interesting and engaging to read.
• It creates opportunities for students to practice using new words in meaningful contexts, a key strategy for building vocabulary.
• Descriptive writing tends to include figurative language, such as simile, metaphor, and onomatopoeia. Noticing figurative language in mentor texts and incorporating it into their own writing help students build critical verbal reasoning skills. To find out more about verbal reasoning and other components of language comprehension, see the “In Depth” section from the Comprehension module of our Reading 101 Course.
• It encourages students to learn from—and be metacognitive about—the techniques other authors use to write vivid descriptions.  
• It can help students clarify their understanding of new subject matter material and remember more of what they learn.

How to teach descriptive writing

If only descriptive writing were as simple as “show, don’t tell”! Descriptive writing is a skill — and a craft — that takes instruction, practice, and time to learn. The good news is that it can be explicitly taught. An understanding of the characteristics of effective descriptive writing, combined with a toolkit of structures and strategies to scaffold learning and practice, can enhance students’ development as authors of vivid, evocative writing.

What effective descriptive writing looks like

Authors of descriptive writing use a variety of styles and techniques to connect with readers, but effective descriptive writing often shares these characteristics:

• Vivid details. Specific details paint a picture in the reader’s mind and appeal to the reader’s senses. Descriptive writing may also go beyond creating a strong sensory impression to give the reader a “picture” of the feelings the description evokes in the writer.
• Figurative language. Tools of the writer’s craft such as analogy, simile, and metaphor  add depth to authors’ descriptions.
• Precise language. General adjectives, nouns, and passive verbs are used sparingly. Instead, specific adjectives and nouns and strong action verbs give life to the picture being painted in the reader’s mind.
• Thoughtful organization. Some ways to organize descriptive writing include: chronological (time), spatial (location), and order of importance. Descriptive writing about a person might begin with a physical description, followed by how the person thinks, feels and acts.

What effective instruction in descriptive writing looks like

There isn’t one right approach to teaching descriptive writing, but effective instruction often includes:

• Mentor texts. Reading aloud and analyzing high-quality mentor texts to help students understand how authors use descriptive writing to connect with readers.
• Focus on the five senses. Helping students make the connection between sensory input (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) and descriptive writing.
• Teacher modeling. Modeling different ways to generate descriptive writing.
• Guided practice. Repeated, structured practice scaffolded to meet students’ needs.
• Feedback and revision. Cycles of constructive teacher and peer feedback followed by thoughtful revision. 

Watch a demonstration: show NOT tell using your 5 senses

In this virtual lesson, the teacher models generating written descriptions of a hot day using the five senses as a framework.

Watch a classroom lesson: five senses graphic organizer

Students use their five senses and a graphic organizer to brainstorm ideas for writing a report on a recent school event and to help them think about interesting words to include in their report. See the lesson plan (opens in a new window) .

Watch a classroom discussion: writer’s workshop

Writer’s Workshop connects great children’s literature with children’s own writing experiences. In this video clip from our Launching Young Readers PBS series , Lynn Reichle’s second graders practice their use of descriptive writing.

Collect resources

Here are some routines and structures for teaching descriptive writing:

The RAFT strategy encourages descriptive writing and supports writing in general by encouraging students to think through the writer’s Role, the Audience, the Format, and the Topic. ReadWriteThink offers this RAFT Writing Template .

This Sense Chart (opens in a new window)  — organized into sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch categories — helps students capture sensory details related to a topic. The Describing Wheel (opens in a new window) offers a more open-ended format for capturing and organizing descriptive language.

The Show-Me Sentences (opens in a new window) lesson plan from ReadWriteThink was created for students in grades 6-12. However, elementary teachers can modify the Show-Me sentences to make them interesting for younger students.

This lesson plan from Utah Education Network (opens in a new window) guides students through the process of writing about a favorite place using descriptive language. 

This lesson plan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art (opens in a new window) has students work collaboratively to generate descriptive writing about works of art. It is intended for upper elementary and middle grades but can be adapted for lower grades.

Teacher Laura Torres created a lesson plan that uses images to jumpstart vivid writing: Three Descriptive Writing Picture Prompts .

Differentiated instruction

For second language learners, students of varying reading skill, and younger learners.

• Use dictation as a way to help capture students thoughts and ideas.
• Provide sentence frames for writing descriptive sentences or paragraphs.
• Use pictures and other sensory prompts.
• Provide budding writers with real-life or virtual experiences that give them something to write about. Trips to a relative’s house, playground or grocery store provide real-life experiences that can be recorded by a new writer.
• Encourage students to work with a buddy or in a small group to develop first drafts .
• Work with students to brainstorm a word bank of interesting and descriptive words students can incorporate into their writing.

Extend the learning

This resource from Greenville County Schools in South Carolina provides several ideas for writing in math class . Writing and mathematics are similar in that they both require gathering, organizing, and clarifying thoughts. Writing can support math instruction by helping students make sense of important concepts and procedures.

Descriptive writing in science can help students capture observations and scientific phenomena with greater precision, and can help them comprehend new material by explaining it in their own words. Fazio and Gallagher propose two instructional strategies to assist teachers and student when writing in science: a mnemonic acronym (POWER) and an editing checklist.

Social Studies

In social studies, descriptive writing can help students describe an important historical figure or event more clearly. Writing rich in detail will create vivid depictions of people and places and help make history come alive.

Related strategies

• RAFT helps students understand their roles as writers, the audience they will address, the varied formats for writing, and the topic they’ll be writing about.
• Revision teaches students about the characteristics of good writing, which will carry over into their future writing. Revision skills complement reading skills; revision requires that writers distance themselves from the writing and critically evaluate a text.
• Writing Conferences give students a chance to share their writing and and receive feedback from peers or the teacher.
• Think-alouds can be used for writing as well as reading instruction

Learn more about building writing skills in our self-paced module Reading 101: Writing .

See the research that supports this strategy

Akerson, V. L., & Young, T.A. (2005). Science the ‘write’ way. Science and Children , 43(3), 38-41.

MacArthur, C., Graham, S., & Fitzgerald, J. (2016). Handbook of research on writing (2nd Edition). NY: Guilford.

Miller, R.G., & Calfee, R.C. (2004). Making thinking visible: A method to encourage science writing in upper elementary grades. Science and Children , (42)3, 20-25.

Mitchell, D. (1996). Writing to learn across the curriculum and the English teacher. English Journal , 85, 93-97.

Children’s books to use with this strategy

This boy’s curse begins when his teacher suggests that the “poetry of science” can be heard everywhere. From Moore to Frost, familiar poems are parodied and turned into science verse. Again art and illustration are inseparable as are the laughs in this offbeat look at science.

Science Verse

When Louis’ uncle sends a tadpole from a certain lake in Scotland, the small tadpole grows to enormous proportions. With the help of a resourceful librarian, Louis figures out a way to feed his large and ever-hungry Alphonse as well as determine a permanent solution. Humor abounds in this contemporary classic.

The Mysterious Tadpole

Martin Luther King Jr. grew up fascinated by big words. He would later go on to use these words to inspire a nation and call people to action. In this award-winning book, powerful portraits of King show how he used words, not weapons, to fight injustice.

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

At One Hoppin’ Place, the countdown to bedtime is about to begin when a family of hamsters — a mother and father with nine kids and a baby all wearing numbered striped jerseys — arrives at the front door.

10 Minutes Till Bedtime

Every day children around the world awake to begin their days having breakfast, going to school, coming home to families. A poetic text combines with photographs from myriad countries to visually highlight the richness of the world and its people.

One World, One Day

If all of the 300 million people were simply one village of 100 people, its diversity is easier to understand. That’s just what the author has done to make the complex make-up of the U.S. residents (in terms of languages spoken, ages, and more). Colorful illustrations accompany the understandable text. Additional resources complete the book. If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World’s People (opens in a new window) , also by Smith, looks at the inhabitants of the world as a village to allow its diversity to become more understandable for adults and children.

If America Were a Village: A Book About the People of the United States

Relive the journey of the Apollo 11 where the first people stepped on the Moon’s surface and saw Earth from a very different perspective. Eloquent language and illustrations combine to present this historical event in a unique, unforgettable way.

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

Two machines captivated young Philo Farnsworth: a telephone and a phonograph. Both had cranks and both connected people with others (one in real time, the other through music). These and other inspirations motivated young Philo to invent what was to become known as the television. His early story is fascinatingly told and well illustrated.

The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth

Ted Williams never flinched at hard work or a challenge. In his last season with the Boston Red Sox, Williams had to decide if he wanted to take the chance and lose his rare .400 average or go to bat. Williams’ decision creates a riveting read in this handsome and thoughtful look at one man’s ethics and the times in which he lived.

No Easy Way: The Story of Ted Williams and the Last .400 Season

A mother and her child get the ingredients for soup on a snowy day and then add everything to the pot. The pair plays snug and warm while the soup simmers until Dad comes home when they enjoy soup together. Crisp collage and a simple text make for a cozy read.

The traditional tale of a boy who planted magic beans is reimagined as a city story of a spell broken. Illustrations are photographs that have been manipulated for good effect.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Benny’s Pennies

Children are encouraged to observe as experiment as they learn about wind and air as well as practice science writing by describing their findings.

I Face the Wind

26 Letters and 99 Cents

Arresting photographs of water in various states not only introduces water but also weather, solids and liquids, and more. The sophisticated text further encourages experimentation and observation, although is not necessary to use the entire book with younger children.

A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder

Each Orange Had 8 Slices: A Counting Book

Cinderella stories are found around the world; here, they have been fused into one tale with special characteristics in text and illustrations that reflect the different origins. Expand parts of the story to echo the traditions of the culture and its history from which it comes. It may be possible to develop a map of tales (e.g., ancient vs. modern countries, or as a visual as to where it is/was told).

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella

Read a Rhyme, Write a Rhyme 

The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) 

Scieszka and Smith set sights on creating fresh fables — short traditional tales intended to teach a moral lesson. With humorous twists and take-offs, new, different and wacky fables are presented for readers’ edification and amusement.

Squids Will Be Squids

Liked it share it, topics this strategy is especially helpful for.

Descriptive Essay | Purpose, Elements and Descriptive Essay Meaning

Descriptive Essay: An essay is a piece of writing that gives a view of the author. The definition is somewhat vague as it overlaps with the definition of a letter, pamphlet, story, and article. Essays are classified into formal and informal types. The formal ones are written with the serious purpose of dignity, local organization, and strength, whereas the informal ones are personal ones.

A descriptive essay is a form of essay writing. As the name already suggests, descriptive essays are those essays that describe something. In this genre of essay writing, writers have to describe anything, be it a place, a thing, a person, an experience, or even a situation. There are many examples in English literature of descriptive essays to read, such as ‘The Taj Mahal’ by Salman Rushdie, ‘Yarn’ by Koyoko Mori, and many others.

In this article, we will also go into details about the process of descriptive essay writing. This article will help students improve their essay writing skills and give them a clear look at the basics of the process. Many descriptive essay pdf is available online, which helps students read them and learn more about essays.

Descriptive Essay Writing

• What is a Descriptive Essay?

Guidelines for writing a Descriptive Essay

Elements of a descriptive essay, purpose of writing a descriptive essay.

• Takeaway from this article

What is Descriptive Essay?

An essay that gives a detailed description of the topic and paints a picture in the mind of the readers. The topic can be anything an object, a memory, a person, or even a place or an experience. The definition may seem similar to that of narrative essays, but in reality, descriptive essays are very different from narrative ones as they present a different perspective.

A descriptive essay is the most expressive form of an essay. Descriptive essay helps sharpen students’ analytical skills, which is helpful for them in their future studies. This is the reason why descriptive essays are given to students of high school and college. This encourages the students and their ability to create an image by appealing to the readers’ senses.

When assigned with writing a descriptive essay the writer is often provided with a specific topic or a choice of topics. Usually the range of topics vary from personal descriptive essay prompts which includes describing something from their own experience. Imaginative descriptive essay prompts demands the writer to describe something out of their experience using the help of imagination. Conceptual descriptive essay prompts the writer to describe about something which is vague such as an emotion.

An effective descriptive essay requires selecting a good topic, creating an outline, organization of ideas, and adding useful, relevant information to the essay.

Selecting a topic

The selection of a good topic is essential. The topic should be attractive enough to keep the reader stuck throughout the essay. The writer should write down the points which he is going to elaborate. For instance, if the writer chooses a topic of say mountains then he should first jot down the points such has the weather up there, the view from the mountains during sunset, the snowfall, etc.

The list once completed then the writer can go on describing the each topic on the list one by one. In this way the writer should be able to give a good description of the topic given to them by their instructors or the topic chosen by themselves.

Organization

Keeping the ideas of the essay organized is very important. The writer can fall into an incoherent rambling of emotions and senses. Still, the writer has to maintain a proper and organized structure of the essay. If a descriptive essay comes unorganized, then the reader will not stick to it till the end. But an organized essay will leave the reader with a clear sense of what the writer was trying to say.

Choice of Language

The writer’s choice of words should be necessary. Better use of words will help the writer create a better image in the mind of the readers. Instead of using common words like cheap and violent, the writer should go for words like miserably and tempestuous, respectively. The use of better words often has various nuanced meanings, which helps the writer.

The writer should be meticulous about their choice of words. They need to maintain a clear connection between the relevancy of words used and the idea of the essay. The writer should be effective in his use of adjectives, adverbs, verbs and even nouns. Writers are often preferred to use better words for description instead of clichés because clichés often provide a conventional description of the subject.

Clichés donot allow the writer to describe the subject in their own unique way.

A Good Introduction and Conclusion

A good introduction at the beginning of the essay is critical. It introduces the idea or the characters of the essay and gives an overview of what the essay will be. A good introduction will get the reader hooked up with the essay.

The conclusion is the last chance for the writer to impress the reader. The conclusion should summarise the entire essay. The last line of the conclusion is where the main aim of writing the essay is finalized, and it leaves a long-lasting impression in the mind of the readers.

Clear Impression in the mind of the Reader

One of the primary goals of writing a descriptive essay is to create a connection between the subject and the reader; if the reader starts looking at the subject in the same way as the writer after reading the latter’s essay, then the essay can be termed as an excellent descriptive essay.

Informative Thesis Statement

This statement decides the purpose of the essay. The writer should use descriptive words and be creative while writing the thesis statement. The statement should be clear and precise as it is the soul of the writing. Creating suspense around the thesis statement helps in attracting readers toward the essay.

There are precisely five essential elements needed in a descriptive essay. These are :

• Sensory Details : Descriptive essay involves giving minute details about the subject to arouse the reader’s emotions and associate them with the essay. A picture of the subject is painted in the mind of the readers, involving the senses of touch, sight, and others. Even if the subject is abstract the writer might incorporate senses metamorphically. It is always useful for the writer to explore it’s subject more than just what it looks like. Bringing in sensory minute details helps in creating a image of the subject in the reader’s mind which cannot be achieved by just describing how the subject looks.
• Figurative Langauge : One of the main elements of descriptive essay writing is figurative language. The use of similes, adjectives, and metaphors helps create a sketch of the subject in the mind of the readers. This helps the readers connect with the writers and helps them look into the subject from the same light as the writer.
• Central Theme : The central theme of the essay directs the essay and the contents. The central theme should be based on a single point and be well-detailed. A loose central theme will affect the essence of the essay.
• Precise Language : The type of language used in the essay is very important. The essence of the essay depends on the words that are used. It is always advised to use sound and good words rather than using ambiguous and vague words. The words of the essay should be in apparent connection with the idea of the essay.
• Organisation of Ideas : Another essential element of descriptive essays is the organization of the ideas. The chronology and spatial location of the essay should be maintained to acquire the readers’ interest until the end. The ideas if not well organized, the readers won’t find any interest in reading the article.

The primary and sole purpose of a descriptive essay is to describe the subject of the essay. The subject can be anything or anyone. The essay gives a clear image of the subject in the mind of the readers, and for this to happen, the writer has to use vivid language. This helps in carrying the message of the essay.

The essay doesn’t necessarily focus on giving factual information as it is not for convincing anyone about anybody or anything. This is where descriptive essay writing becomes different from argumentative ones. Instead, a descriptive essay focuses on giving out minute details about the subject, which helps the reader see the subject in the same light as the writer.

The Takeaways from this article

The article will be helpful for students in improving their writing skills, especially their essay writing skills. It will help them differentiate between different forms of essay and will be helpful for them if they pursue literature shortly. The article will also be helpful for the likes of budding writers and will improve their way of writing and the type of English they use.

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Descriptive Essay -3 parts, 3 Components and 6 steps in writing Descriptive Essay

• July 25, 2022
• Posted by: IGBAJI UGABI
• Category: Academic Writing Guide

The idea of what “description” entails must have been imbibed in you while you were coming of age, but for the sake of one and sundry that weren’t informed, what it meant while the distinctive features of Roosevelt were being highlighted or what many supposed was what appeared to be Richard wrights bigger Thomas from native son is in similitude what the entire meaning of a descriptive essay contains.

Content Outline

In layman’s language, a descriptive essay is an essay that inspires you, the writer, to give a real test of a situation, environment, person, or adventure, you are expected to fine-tune text till it generates a mental image of what the supposed is all about.

A descriptive essay is a long piece of writing which demands a thorough, vivid and realistic description of a particular subject matter. The term ‘subject matter’ in this context could refer to a place, an object, a meal or even an abstract subject like empathy. In other words, a descriptive essay can be defined as a form of essay which requires the proper description of a particular subject matter.

The aim of a descriptive essay in academia is to ascertain the creative capabilities and abilities of the student. A descriptive essay demands nothing short of creativity from its writer and thus, it tends to be a lot more flexible and even more fun to write than other types of essays.

As fore mentioned in the text, descriptive essays are related to the description of specific subject matters. The term ‘Description’ in this context refers to the representation of a specific subject matter in writing. Thus, the question format for a descriptive essay is quite easy to spot. If one is asked to represent a specific subject matter in words or give a detailed account of a particular thing, it is a descriptive essay.

Does this really have importance? What purpose does a descriptive essay have?

One key factor you should grope while pondering over the whole concept of a descriptive essay is that; the major objective of this essay is to overhaul the ability of a writer to express himself (herself) while detailing down experiences whether chimerically engineered or tailor-fitted by reality. It hones the mentality of students to needlepoint—this would further lead to the expansion of knowledge in various fields of the profession which is why a descriptive essay has been made an essential element of learning.

This unlike an argumentative essay is not bent on convincing or persuading or even arising factual data for any purpose rather it just paints a vivid picture in detail with words for the reason of displaying important details of chosen subject to readers to broaden the subject and make comprehension valid.

Is that understood? Are things getting clearer?

For you to develop an awestricken descriptive essay it should be an incentive to master the act of narration this is typical as it goes in line with the conjecture, description, as they say, goes hand in hand with narration.

You should be able to relay every aspect engulfed around your area of concentration, subject, and topic without omitting any vital information.  The quality of what you deem a descriptive essay rest upon your ability to time warp your reader to the episode of what you have described, every point must contain clarity and be uniquely imprinted in your signature- it must be central to your text style of writing.

But before you hallmark the containment of a blank sheet as a descriptive essay, be sure it contains these 5 fundamental components;

•   Sensory details: sensory details? This involves you capitalising on Aristotle’s perception of what sense are, and building up sensory details you are required to create images that arouse emotion and intertwines your reader’s mindset with yours—with what you have painted down, this would help the readers engage well and perceive what you are going about. Take the excerpt below as an example

“…As they waltzed through the cave, Isabelle couldn’t help but twitch her nose, the environment was dank and musty and from the thick wet walls emitted a pungent odour that could disorient an effectively trained Doberman. It wasn’t long before a howl filled the environment —a hellish cry that brought them to a halt, and it didn’t take much longer before a 6 ft. creature appeared, it was hairy with an elongated neck that seemed to want to fall off each time it moved, a brief section of it was covered with a mane. It was bony and it had a large head that suffered the entire structure of its body, its eyes were glimmering under the dark atmosphere, as it cautiously licked its discoloured teeth, it marched towards them gingerly using its four limbs as a mechanism for movement, ‘wooooollllllfffff’ Emmanuel cried out.”

As the above has indicated, it is already evident that the scenario painted was one that hinged on sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste.

Example of keywords to look out for when identifying a descriptive essay includes:

• Give a detailed account of..
• Give a vivid/thorough description of..

Examples of descriptive essay topics include:

• Give a detailed account of the experiences doctors face when they lose patients.
• Describe the feeling of empathy.
• Give a thorough description of your previous experience at the Governor’s house.

Oftentimes, the questions given to writers of descriptive essays do not necessarily depict places or experiences that they have faced directly. One would have to use his/her imagination to make the piece of writing look persuasive and realistic. This is basically what the readers or teachers look out for when going through the written work.

3 important parts of a Descriptive Essay

A well-structured descriptive essay consists of three basic elements namely:

• The introduction.
• The body of the essay
• The conclusion.

THE INTRODUCTION.

The introductory part of the essay introduces the topic of the essay is its first point of reference. It ought to consist of the following elements:

• A proper definition of the main word constitutes the subject matter of the essay.
• A topic sentence which introduces the essay topic.
• More sentences to support or surround the topic sentence.

For example, if one is asked to write a descriptive essay about his/her last experience at the park, the essay ought to begin with a definition of the main subject matter in the essay, which is the term ‘Park’. After that, the writer could either go ahead and give the reader a brief history regarding how parks, in general, came to be or the writer can state its uses in an intricate but brief way.

The next step would be to state the name of the last park which was visited and a brief summary of the events which occurred in the park. These events which will be briefed in the introduction will serve as topic sentences for the body of the paragraph.

Recommended:   How to write an expository essay; Components and approach to expository essay

THE BODY OF THE ESSAY.

The body of the essay constitutes paragraphs which are basically an extension of the events or points that were briefly summarized in the introduction of the essay. Depending on the length and nature of the essay, these paragraphs will tend to vary. However, an ideal descriptive essay ought to contain a minimum of three paragraphs.

Each paragraph will begin with a topic sentence, and the rest of the paragraph will be dedicated to further explanations of the topic sentence. The writer is permitted to commence these paragraphs with words like Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, Similarly or the topic sentence as it is, in its most formal and organized tone.

THE CONCLUSION.

As the name implies, the aim of the conclusion in an essay is to round up the essay. This is done by compiling all the topic sentences in the paragraph in the most summarized way possible. The writer is not permitted to introduce new points in the conclusion.

However, he/she can chip in how the overall experience or particular take on the subject matter was/is. Since it is the conclusion, it ought not to be as broad or lengthy as the body paragraphs in the essay, hence, it ought to be summarized like the introduction.

Also Read :  Writing Essay Introduction -5 steps to Write a Catchy Introduction for your Essay

3 main components of a descriptive essay

The components discussed here include figurative language, lingua, organisation,

Figurative language

This is one of the most vital components of a descriptive essay. The application of metaphors, and extended metaphors, similes and analogies, etc. helps to outline characters and sketch out subjects. This outline would help marginalize the reader’s mindset with the vision of what is intended e.g.

• “…he was bulked in the body to divine perfection, but  yet he fought like a wounded lion…”
• “Chinanza has been accused falsely, she is not a person known to be economical with the truth. She wears her heart on her sleeves.”
•   “Tinubu has the heart of a lion.”
• Central theme

This regulates the direction in which the entire essay is expected to go, it helps to organize details and as such should be seamed out carefully and must focus on a single point.

The effect of what you are trying to paint with words depends on how precise your wordings are. Always remember clarity is key, there is no downside to being straightforward and transparent. If by reasons beyond human autonomy you decide to bombard your essay with heavy dictions how certain are you that your message would be received? Work to make your work understandable before anything else. Always bear in mind that what can’t be read, doesn’t deserve to be read.

Organization

Appropriating the skeletal structure of your work would enable the flow of knowledge and information. For the benefit of simple and complex-minded individuals employ the use of an outline so as to align your thoughts and enable readers to feed off them, this cannot be overemphasized; things distorted would have a hard time receiving tributes.

Is there a formal approach to descriptive writing/essay that involves all these?

Frankly, yes there is in fact an approach that cumulates all the above components, this approach involves; the selection of a topic, organization of ideas, outlining, introduction, thesis statement, paragraphing, and conclusion.

6 Steps to writing a Descriptive Essay

Selection of topics for descriptive essay.

The manner in which emphasis has been laid upon this specific factor is absolute essentiality.  Before you elect to begin, settle down on a singular idea. As much as it would prove a half-hearted endeavour to narrow down what you have in mind to paint a thesis statement.

At this point, the thesis statement shouldn’t voice your personal two cents but rather dispense information that would deliver a prevailing impression in the mind of readers. Also put in mind that you would need to tackle what can be tackled, don’t break your back trying to explain something that would impair your mind—select a topic that you can handle, that is if you wield the prerogative authority to make that decision.

Once you have resolved that proceed to compile all information unearthed by the above process. The best kind of descriptive essay is also combusting with novel names, background names, physiques, and sensory information that would make avail opportunities to plant in your concepts into the mind of readers.

Here are some topics you can go with

• “Depict the London castle in your own words”
• “Make a description of what the Eiffel tower looks like”
• “Portray George Weah as a role model”
• “Describe your favourite teacher”

This is the crucial point where you line up all concepts to unfold in sequential order. See it as something sharing similarities with a storyline; this is to be the frame structure of your work—how it would begin and how it ends. For the single of abating confusion, it is needful to employ the use of an outline

Write an introduction

Like every written work, there must be an introduction that would usher in the main topic and parade potent points before the attention of the reader is taken down to other points. The introduction entails a brief overview of what would be discussed in the contents.

Create a thesis statement  

The thesis statement of a descriptive essay is expected to define the scope and objective of the entire essay. It is a slender subject line that is expected to be precise and clear. This for the reason of it being for a descriptive essay should be lettered down in a creative manner.

Paragraphing

First off, one of the major significance of paragraphing is that it clothes the entire piece upon first sight with understanding, depending on how you chose to go about it can paint your work in the mind of the reader as attractive or not.

Take an article, essay , or story, for example, one that is devoid of proper spacing and paragraphing would surely discourage you from reading on owning to its disarranged and grungy appearance. So for that purpose alone the beating need for paragraphing cannot be overstressed.

While paragraphing, be sure to act accordingly as detailed in your outline, effect transitioning with new points while explaining your thesis statement.

Conclusion  

This is the final bus stop and ending point of your essay. Once more if conjecture is anything to go by, this is where you get your final opportunity to leave a positive imprint on the face of your reader.

While concluding your essay, it demands that you letter down appropriate wordings. It would be obtuse to write “firstly” or “before I begin” and stamp it as a final remark.  You can blatantly write “before I conclude”, “In conclusion”, “lastly”, “finally”.  The final paragraphs of written works are mostly perceived as enforcers of thesis statements, yours should follow in similitude.

Important points to note while writing a descriptive essay

In order to come up with a well-mannered and composing descriptive essay, the writer ought to adhere to the following instructions;

• Make use of figurative language

A figurative language is a literal form of writing which requires the use of figures of speech as a means of making the words more effective and insightful. It can also be defined as a form of literal writing which requires the comparison of words side by side in order to paint more effective or insightful imagery in the mind of the reader. Examples of figures of speech which can be used as figurative language include Metaphor, Oxymorons, Synecdoche, Personification and so on.

The main aim of figurative language in a descriptive essay is to create a more pictorial setting of the object being described for the reader(s). That way, it will sound more persuasive and realistic even if the object or event being described is unreal.

An ideal example of figurative language includes:

The subtle melody which emanated from the violin danced around the building, putting everyone in a sober mood.

Make room for extra creativity

Oftentimes, students are asked to write descriptive essays on abstract objects or things that they have not experienced first-hand before. This makes such type of essay seem tasking or demanding especially when posed during an exam. This is so because students try to restrict their imaginative capacity to only academic-related themes or settings.

It should be noted that the main issue which teachers examine, apart from one’s proper use of English, is the capability to create something persuasive and realistic within a short period of time. Hence, students are advised to be a little more creative when composing a descriptive essay. Compile your daydreams in a formal tone and write them down if possible.

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Can someone edit and revise my argumentative essay about why smoking should be illegal then, tell me what you did.

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📚 Related Questions

I’m really really dumb lol this is hard to meh (21-25) It a lot to do so....

Explanation:

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Driving ED SEGEGEMT 1

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Details : Driving ED SEGEGEMT 1

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Define the following: -allusion -metaphor -personification -simile -hyperbole -irony -paradox _____________ what is an absolute phrase?

FIGURES OF SPEECH

» Allusion : A reference to something else, such as a work of literature, specifically Declaration of Independence.

» Metaphor : A comparison of two different things that show how they're the same; they do NOT use the words 'like' or 'as'.

» Personification: A type of metaphor in which nonliving and nonhuman things are given human characteristics/abilities.

» Simile : A comparison of two different things that use the words 'like' or 'as' to show how they're similar.

» Hyperbole : Figure of speech that uses exaggeration for emphasis.

» Irony : A figure of speech in which words convey the opposite of their literal meaning of a situation contrary to what one would expect.

» Paradox : A statement that appears to contradict itself but can be true.

ABSOLUTE PHRASE

» An absolute phrase is a descriptive phrase that modifies an entire clause.

noun + participle + other modifiers

VI.20.0 ?o and Juliet. What causes the servant to ask for Romeo's help? I read? The servant needs directions. The servant cannot see. The servant needs to pray bok: but, 1 The servant cannot read. ge ing to go.]

The servant cannot read.

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A. A police officer giving expert testimony at a trial

Details : Which option would be considered a persuasive appeal?OA. A police

What theme is present in the following excerpt? "Mr. Hyde broke out of all bounds, and clubbed him to the earth. And next moment, with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot, and hailing down a storm of blows, under which the bones were audibly shattered and the body jumped upon the roadway

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Ice covered the roads. Therefore, the meeting was cancelled.

Self explanatory. The others just sound a bit wrong.

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Details : Which phrase best describes the character Mr. Enfield in The Strange

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A- subordinate conjunction

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Which detail from the monkeys paw is an example of conflict

                                    CORRECT ANSWER = A

You may go to Ken's house after you mow the grass.

"after" is a subordinate conjunction.

It links two clauses together.

Details : Identify the type of conjunction in the following sentence."You may

Identify the prepositional phrase in the following sentence. "If you look on the table, you’ll see the library books I brought home." A) if you look B) on the table C) the library books D) I brought home IF YOU ANSWER NONSENCE AND NOT SERIOUS ANSWERS YOU WILL BE REPORTED

on the table

B- On the table

a prepositional phrase consists of a preposition + a noun or a gerund

Choose the correct answer. __________ conjunctions connect dependent and independent clauses. A) Subordinate B) Coordinating C) Correlative

A. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

read the excerpt from Jackie Robinson‘s letter to president Eisenhower which best explains why Robinson includes this description of African-Americans

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Love beyond ethnicities and cultures..

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The central idea of ​​Smith's text and the purpose of his report. The purpose of his explanation was to make him and his actions look more brave and selfless than they were . He also wanted to tell people what was happening and they would find it and try to stop the king from keeping it all to himself.

What are the guiding principles?

What is your core idea? CENTRAL IDEA refers to what the text is primarily about. The central idea is not a text topic. Central ideas can usually be expressed in a single sentence .

How do you identify important ideas?

Identifying the "central idea" of the text means understanding the author's point or message on the topic.

1 Look up the title and tagline before the text.

2 Pay close attention to the start and end paragraphs.

3 What is the topic?

For more information on core ideas, see

https://brainly.com/question/1914190

Details : what are the central ideas of smith's text and what is the purpose

Does this make sense: 'your eyes would never cease to blink'. Many thanks.

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B. the repetition of words and phrases

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Its probably late but may still help someone

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According to his manner of speech he seems to be taken seriously.

Answer: Taken seriously

Details : Read this passage from Robert E. Lee's "Letter to His Son." What

Please answer this correctly

1 and 2 are the correct answers

1 and 2 is correct

Bc the other two answers doesn't make any sense at all.

I did not mean to do this

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B) "almost", "later", "very", and "inside"

Examples of adverbs that do NOT end in "-ly" are "almost", "later", "very", and "inside" .

witch ending makes the fragment a complete sentence my cat plays with the yarn using colorful wool yarn a scarf for one of my friends or crochet something​

my cat plays with the yarn.

Details : witch ending makes the fragment a complete sentence my cat plays

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Descriptive Essay Writing

Descriptive Essay Examples

Amazing Descriptive Essay Examples for Your Help

Published on: Jun 21, 2023

Last updated on: Sep 1, 2023

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Descriptive essays are very commonly assigned essays. This type of essay enhances students' writing skills and allows them to think critically. 

A descriptive essay is often referred to as the parent essay type. Other essays like argumentative essays, narrative essays, and expository essays fall into descriptive essays. Also, this essay helps the student enhance their ability to imagine the whole scene in mind by appealing senses.

It is assigned to high school students and all other students at different academic levels. Students make use of the human senses like touch, smell, etc., to make the descriptive essay more engaging for the readers. 

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Examples make it easy for readers to understand things in a better way. Also, in a descriptive essay, different types of descriptions can be discussed. 

Here are some amazing examples of a descriptive essay to make the concept easier for you. 

Descriptive Essay Example 5 Paragraph

5 paragraphs essay writing format is the most common method of composing an essay. This format has 5 paragraphs in total. The sequence of the paragraphs is as follows;

• Introduction
• Body Paragraph 1
• Body Paragraph 2 
• Body Paragraph 3
• Conclusion 

Following is an example of a descriptive essay written using the famous 5 paragraph method. 

5 Paragraph Descriptive Essay

Descriptive Essay Example About A Person

Descriptive essays are the best option when it comes to describing and writing about a person.  A descriptive essay is written using the five human senses. It helps in creating a vivid image in the reader’s mind and understanding what the writer is trying to convey. 

Here is one of the best descriptive essay examples about a person. Read it thoroughly and try to understand how a good descriptive essay is written on someone’s personality.

Descriptive Essay Example About a Person

Descriptive Essay Example About A Place

If you have visited a good holiday spot or any other place and want to let your friends know about it. A descriptive essay can help you explain every detail and moment you had at that place. 

Here is one of the good descriptive essay examples about a place. Use it as a sample and learn how you can write such an essay. 

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Descriptive Essay Example for Grade 6

Descriptive essays are frequently assigned to school students. This type of essay helps the students enhance their writing skills and helps them see things in a more analytical way.

If you are a 6 grader and looking for a good descriptive essay example, you are in the right place.  

Descriptive Essay Example for Grade 7

Here is one of the best descriptive essay examples for grade 7. 

Descriptive Essay Example for Grade 8

If you are looking for some amazing descriptive essay examples for grade 8, you have already found one. Look at the given example and see what a well-written descriptive essay looks like. 

Descriptive Essay Example for Grade 10

Essay writing is an inevitable part of a student's academic life . No matter your grade, you will get to write some sort of essay at least once. 

Here is an example of a descriptive essay writing for grade10. If you are also a student of this grade, this example might help you to complete your assignment.

Descriptive Essay Example for Grade 12

If you are a senior student and looking for some essay examples, you are exactly where you should be. 

Use the below-mentioned example and learn how to write a good essay according to the instructions given to you. 

Descriptive Essay Example College

Descriptive essays are a great way to teach students how they can become better writers. Writing a descriptive essay encourages them to see the world more analytically.

Below is an example that will help you and make your writing process easy.

College Descriptive Essay Example

Descriptive Essay Example for University

Descriptive essays are assigned to students at all academic levels. University students are also assigned descriptive essay writing assignments. As they are students of higher educational levels, they are often given a bit of difficult and more descriptive topics. 

See the example below and know what a descriptive essay at the university level looks like. 

Short Descriptive Essay Example

Every time a descriptive essay isn't written in detail. It depends on the topic of how long the essay will be.  

For instance, look at one of the short descriptive essay examples given below. See how the writer has conveyed the concept in a composed way. 

Objective Descriptive Essay Example

When writing an objective description essay, you focus on describing the object without conveying your emotions, feelings, or personal reactions. The writer uses sight, sound, or touch for readers' minds to bring life into pictures that were painted by words.

Here is an example that you can use for your help. 

Narrative and Descriptive Essay Example

A narrative descriptive essay can be a great way to share your experiences with others. It is a story that teaches a lesson you have learned. The following is an example of a perfect narrative descriptive essay to help you get started.

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How to Start a Descriptive Essay? - Example

If you don't know how to start your descriptive essay, check this example and create a perfect one. 

How to Start a Descriptive Essay - Example

Subjective Descriptive Essay Example

It is a common concept that a descriptive essay revolves around one subject. Be it a place, person, event, or any other object you can think of. 

Following is one of the subjective descriptive, easy examples. Use it as a guide to writing an effective descriptive essay yourself. 

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. 

But if you think wisely, work smart, and stay calm, you can get over it easily. Learn how to write a descriptive essay from a short guide given below. 

How to Write a Descriptive Essay?

A writer writes a descriptive essay from their knowledge and imaginative mind. In this essay, the writer describes what he has seen or experienced, or ever heard from someone. For a descriptive essay, it is important to stay focused on one point. Also, the writer should use figurative language so that the reader can imagine the situation in mind. 

The following are some very basic yet important steps that can help you write an amazing descriptive essay easily. 

• Choose a Topic

For a descriptive essay, you must choose a vast topic to allow you to express yourself freely. Also, make sure that the descriptive essay topic you choose is not overdone. An overdone will not grab the attention of your intended audience. 

• Create a Strong Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is the essence of any academic writing. When you select the descriptive essay topic, then you create a strong thesis statement for your essay.  

A thesis statement is a sentence or two that explains the whole idea of your essay to the reader. It is stated in the introductory paragraph of the essay. The word choice for creating the thesis statement must be very expressive, composed, and meaningful. Also, use vivid language for the thesis statement.  

• Collect the Necessary Information

Once you have created the thesis statement and are done writing your essay introduction . Now, it's time to move toward the body paragraphs. 

Collect all necessary information related to your topic. You would be adding this information to your essay to support your thesis statement. Make sure that you collect information from authentic sources. 

To enhance your essay, make use of some adjectives and adverbs. To make your descriptive essay more vivid, try to incorporate sensory details like touch, taste, sight, and smell.

• Create a Descriptive Essay Outline

An outline is yet another necessary element of your college essay. By reading the descriptive essay outline , the reader feels a sense of logic and a guide for the essay. 

In the outline, you need to write an introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs and end up with a formal conclusion.

Proofreading is a simple procedure in which the writer revises the written essay. This is done in order to rectify the document for any kind of spelling or grammatical mistakes. Thus, proofreading makes high-quality content and gives a professional touch to it. 

You might be uncertain about writing a good enough descriptive essay and impress your teacher. However, it is very common, so you do not need to stress out. 

Hit us up at CollegeEssay.org and get an essay written by our professional descriptive essay writers. We aim to facilitate the students in every way possible and ease their stress. Get in touch with our customer support team, and they will take care of all your queries related to your writing. 

You can always enhance your writing skills by leveraging the power of our AI essay writing tools .

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Barbara P (Literature)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

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