The descriptive essay is a type of essay in which you are tasked to describe something, such as an item, a person, a location, an experience, an emotion or a scenario. The key to writing a successful descriptive essay is to delve deeply into the five senses pertaining to your essay topic. For example, if your essay is on a walk in the park, you may concentrate on touch, smell, hearing and sight rather than taste.
It’s a good idea to remember this as a basis: If the reader can’t clearly get an impression of the item you’re describing, try, try again!
Daunted by writing your descriptive essay? Here are 5 tips to help you through it:
- Plan it out
The blank paper is the scariest part of starting an essay. To avoid getting overwhelmed and help yourself with starting the process, try coming up with a list of words and phrases that may be used to describe your topic in each of the five senses. This allows you to begin imagining or recreating the event in your head, complete with the appropriate words to express it to your readers. Plan the main points of each paragraph and make an outline that organises them in a logical order.
- Show, don’t tell
Follow the plan while writing the first draft of a descriptive essay, but keep in mind that the objective is to provide the reader with a deep experience of the subject. The most crucial rule to remember while writing a descriptive essay is to show, not tell. Using all the senses pertaining to the topic is one of the most effective methods to unfold the story.
- Choose dynamic words
Use literary tools like metaphors, similes, personification and descriptive adjectives to make the most of your English literature studies. Choose words such as ‘jovial’ instead of ‘happy’ or ‘exuberant’ instead of ‘excited’. Except for the word restriction, there is no limit to how much descriptive and metaphorical language you can use to explain the subject.
- Editing the essay
At this point of writing, your drafts are complete. But, that is not the end. Editing takes place when writers proofread and correct errors in grammar and mechanics. It’s also the time to improve style and clarity. Watch out for clichés and loading up on adjectives and adverbs. Having another person read the essay helps see parts that can be improved. In doing so, you would be able to edit with a fresh perspective.
- Publishing the essay
It may be frightening to share a descriptive essay with the rest of the class. Keep an open mind when someone gives you critiques. Recognise that no matter how badly they are presented or how furious they make you at first, you must have an open mind. The most essential thing is to learn from your mistakes and use any comments you receive to improve your future essay.
What are your experiences with writing descriptive essays?
