Descriptive Essay

Learn how you can compose a decent descriptive essay with our expert guide

It's best when your description is derived from your personal experience

Types of Description

• Objective Description: Objective description attempts to reveal a thing as it really is - how it would seem to anyone else. Objective description is more factual.
• Subjective Description: Subjective description includes the writer's particular point of view or emotional reaction - how things seem to the writer.

Many essays utilize both types of description.

Structure

Introduction:

• The introduction "hooks" the reader and makes him want to read on.
• The introduction leads into and announces your topic.
• The "thesis" of your descriptive essay will likely be in the introduction. It may not be as argumentative as the thesis of a research or analytical paper, but it should still define the importance of your unique point of view. What overall impression are you trying to convey? Ask yourself, "So what?" Your thesis should address the "so what?" of the essay.
• Like in other types of essays, it is often helpful to begin writing in general terms at the beginning of the introduction and then gradually become more and more specific.

Body:

• The body elaborates on your topic.
• There are a number of types of organizational strategies.
• Visual: organize your paper according to how something appears visually.
• Temporal: organize your paper in the order that an event happens.
• Main ideas: organize your paper by main ideas.

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Conclusion:

• The conclusion wraps up the piece.
• The conclusion reinforces the dominant emotion or desired reaction of the essay.

Descriptive Writing Tools

There are many important strategies that strengthen descriptive writing. Descriptive writing is engaging, powerful, and enticing. These tools can help you connect with your reader.

• Selection of Detail: You can't include everything in your essay, so it's important to select those details which most effectively convey your point.
• Imagery: Imagery appeals to the 5 senses. When you use imagery in your writing, you conjure up smells, sights, sounds, tastes, and textures.
• Showing vs. Telling: When you "show" your reader something, your reader is able to create a mental picture that you have prompted. It is often more powerful than telling. Consider these two examples: "My dad was angry" vs. "My dad clenched his jaw tightly and slowly crumpled up my report card. I could see his cheeks beginning to turn red." The second example is much more vivid. Words like "angry" are often empty on their own, and benefit from descriptive "showing."
• Figurative Language: The use of metaphors and similes can add personality and voice to your writing. Avoid clich�s, and be creative.
• Strong Verbs: Verbs can be more descriptive than adjectives and adverbs. Verbs are the center and action of a sentence, and while readers might skim over adjective lists, they can't ignore verbs. Be precise. Consider the differences caused by changing the verbs in these sentences: "My brother ran out the door." "My brother bolted out the door." "My brother trotted out the door." Use verbs to tailor the reader's reaction.
• Connotation: Words are not always neutral. Sometimes they carry emotional baggage. Use that to your advantage.

Examples of famous descriptive passages

From George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant": "When I pulled the trigger I did not hear the bang or feel the kick - one never does when a shot goes home - but I heard the devilish roar of glee that went up from the crowd. In that instant, in too short a time, one would have thought, even for the bullet to get there, a mysterious, terrible change had come over the elephant. He neither stirred nor fell, but every line of his body had altered. He looked suddenly stricken, shrunken, immensely old, as though the frightful impact of the bullet had paralyzed him without knocking him down. At last, after what seemed a long time - it might have been five seconds, I dare say - he sagged flabbily to his knees. His mouth slobbered..."

From Herman Melville's Moby Dick: "It was while gliding through these latter waters that one serene and moonlight night, when all the waves rolled by like scrolls of silver; and, by their soft, suffusing seethings, made what seemed a silvery silence, not a solitude: on such a silent night a silvery jet was seen far in advance of the white bubbles at the bow. Lit up by the moon, it looked celestial; seemed some plumed and glittering god uprising from the sea."

Having reviewed the above famous passages you now have an impression of what to strive to while writing your custom descriptive term paper or essay. Just keep practicing and a good writing result will not make you wait.