12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

Characteristics of a Descriptive Essay

DEVON WILLIS

A descriptive essay provides a good platform for a writer to express his or her
feelings on a subject. As the name suggests, the essay is a description of an
object, person, location, or experience. The essay generally includes an
introduction, body and conclusion centered on a chosen theme. The writing
style is expressive and may include descriptions, opinions, comparisons,
personal perceptions and sensory perceptions. The main objective of a
descriptive essay is to relate the unique qualities of the person, object, etc.
vividly and comprehensively.

EXPLORE THIS ARTICLE

1 Capture Readers' Interest

A descriptive essay should make for interesting reading. To make the essay
appealing, the writer needs to consider audience preferences, and use words
and descriptions that pique readers' interest. For example, a descriptive essay
about a car, written for potential customers, would describe technical and
design specifications but would place greater emphasis on aspects that are
×

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 1/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

more likely to concern or interest customers, such as gas mileage, speed,

comfort, special features like a sun roof or add-on features like LCD screens.

2 Visualization

Descriptive essays are based more on "show" than "tell" -- giving readers a
visual idea of the subject. For example, a "tell" sentence would be, "The sun
disappeared into the water." The same sentence in "show" mode might read,
"The setting sun disappeared in a blaze of red and gold glory, swallowed up, it
would seem, by the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean." Through vivid
depictions, the writer conveys to readers individual impressions based on
emotions or perceptions.

3 Sensory Experience

Descriptive essays make use of the five senses. The writer effectively conveys
personal perceptions on the subject through the use of sensory details and
figurative details. Sensory details are those that appeal to the five senses
while figurative details involve the use of similes and metaphors to describe
the subject. The use of sensory details makes the essay more vibrant and
appealing to the readers' imagination. For example, graphic descriptions of
odors -- pleasant or unpleasant -- allows readers to "experience" smells.

4 Objective vs. Subjective Viewpoint

A descriptive essay can be either objective (concrete, factual) or subjective

(personal). The type of essay that a writer creates will be determined by the
kind of emotion that the writer wants to elicit from readers. Presenting a purely
objective can be difficult. Conversely, a writer can reduce subjectivity in an
essay by including more objective factors, like size, color, shape and distance,
exhausting them before injecting personal opinions or feelings.

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 2/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

REFERENCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FEEDBACK

RELATED ARTICLES

What Is a Directions for What Is the Goal of Impo

Descriptive Essay? Writing a Writing a First- Esse
Descriptive Essay Person Essay? Writin
in Middle... Desc

What Is a Descriptive Essay?

KATE COEN

Essay assignments include different forms of the genre, including expository,

descriptive, narrative and persuasive. In a descriptive essay, the student
describes a person, memory, situation, place, experience or any object. In ×

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 3/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

contrast to other types of essays, the descriptive essay allows the writer to
use many figures of speech, enabling him to create a powerful image of what
he is describing.

EXPLORE THIS ARTICLE

1 Structure

While the descriptive essay does not have a set structure, well-organized
writing generally produces a better reader response than a list of incoherent or
unrelated descriptions. As with other essay forms, the simplest structure of a
descriptive essay consists of an introduction, the body of the essay and
conclusions.

2 The Senses

The senses play a major role in a descriptive essay. The writer appeals to the
senses of the reader, describing in as great detail as possible how the object
looks, feels, sounds and smells. Visualizing what he is describing allows the
writer to make the visual image sharper and easier for the reader to imagine.

3 Vivid Language

All well-written descriptive essays rely on the rich descriptive vocabulary of the
English language. To make the descriptive essay more interesting, the writer
spices up his prose with vivid words. He may use "stallion" instead of "horse,"
for example, or write "the city of light" when referring to Paris. Other literary
devices the writer can employ include the metaphor, descriptive adjectives,
the analogy and oxymoron -- putting together two words that contradict each
other, such as "bittersweet." The wording of descriptive essays is concise and
the writer uses vivid language only where it adds to the description and does
not make it confusing.

4 Emotions and Feelings

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 4/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

Emotions and feelings distinguish descriptive essays from what reads like a
news article or a dictionary entry, transforming the essay into a work of
literature. To add an emotional dimension to his essay, the student employs a
range of literary devices, including exclamation marks, hyperbole and puns,
while taking care to avoid allowing emotion to carry the reader away from a
clear understanding of the object of description.

REFERENCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FEEDBACK

RELATED ARTICLES

Important Characteristics of a How to Write a What

Essentials to Descriptive Essay Descriptive Essay Resp
Writing a on an Epic Hero
Descriptive Essay

Directions for Writing a Descriptive Essay in

Middle School
KAREN LOBELLO

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 5/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay
...

A descriptive essay paints a vivid picture in the reader's mind. It requires

meticulous observation and recollection. When you write a descriptive essay,
you create a detailed image of a person, place, object, experience, memory or
situation. Choose a topic that means something to you and utilize powerful,
colorful language to create an effective description that brings your subject to
life for readers.

EXPLORE THIS ARTICLE

1 Prewrite

Prewriting is an important step in writing description. It helps you get your

initial thoughts about a subject on paper. Spend time brainstorming. Make a
list of the important points or qualities that you'll focus on in your essay. Jot
down any words related to those points. If you're describing your best friend,
you might brainstorm words such as personality, quirks and physical
appearance and then write a variety of related words and phrases in each
category. You could orally describe your subject to a friend and then, while it's
still fresh in your mind, write down words and phrases you used in your
description.

2 Organize

A methodical essay leads the reader from one point to the next in a fluid
manner. Develop a strong introductory paragraph that tells the reader what to
expect. Include three or four well-detailed body paragraphs that include
different aspects of your description. If you're writing about your bedroom,
your body paragraphs might detail the furniture, the memorabilia you display
and the flooring. Include all pertinent details and don't add unnecessary tidbits
×

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 6/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

that aren't vital to the description and might confuse the reader. Your
concluding paragraph should briefly review what you've described.

3 Use Colorful Language

You need to “show” readers rather than “tell” them about your subject. If you
say, “It was a hot day,” you're telling. Embellish that idea and show your
readers how hot it was: “Beads of sweat trickled from my forehead, and I
could feel the sun scorching my body.” Draw your readers in with specific,
relevant vocabulary. The reader has an idea what blue eyes look like;
however, aquamarine eyes are more precise. If a person is funny, you can
more effectively describe her as hilarious or witty. Your friend isn't just nice,
she's personable or outgoing. Figurative language, such as similes and
metaphors, add depth to a descriptive essay. For example, perhaps the boy
jumped in the air like a kangaroo in an open field.

4 Tap the Senses

Sensory details tell the reader how something smells, tastes, looks, sounds
and feels. Use only the senses that make sense -- don't force it. Instead of
saying the taco was hot, you might say, “The spicy, crimson sauce made me
break out in a sweat and run for the nearest water fountain.” The reader
should have vivid pictures in her mind. She should taste the sponge cake
melting in her mouth, feel the fluffy, velvety coat of the dog and hear the
clanging of the church bell. When you add your own sensory reactions in
relation to the topic, it takes your reader to a deeper level.

5 Make a Clear Impression

Your reader will appreciate the significance of your subject when you write an
enticing description of it. He'll walk away from your essay craving the cake you
described, wanting to meet your mother or making plans to visit your favorite
spot. A descriptive essay should deeply involve the reader, making it a vivid
experience for him.

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 7/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

REFERENCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FEEDBACK

RELATED ARTICLES

Tips on Writing How to Write a How to Write an What

Descriptive Sense-of-Place Essay About Your Desc
Paragraphs Essay Special Place for S

What Is the Goal of Writing a First-Person

Essay?
KRISTINE TUCKER

...

The goal of a first-person essay is to connect with your reader, so she can
visualize and understand your perspective. The first-person voice adds
×

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 8/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

credibility and believability to your experiences, enabling the words on the

page to come to life. This natural writing style is easy to read and flows
smoothly, so transitioning to new topics isn't difficult. If you want your essay to
have a personal touch, the first-person writing style works best.

EXPLORE THIS ARTICLE

1 Personal

The goal of a first-person essay is to write in a real and personal way, so the
reader feels genuinely connected to the author. Even if you don't choose to
use the personal pronoun "I" throughout your essay, your first-person writing
style suggests that you're the main protagonist, or at least you're writing from
that view point. According to the website, Writer's Digest, the best personal
essays are written like a conversation with an intelligent, provocative friend.
First-person essays are individualistic, intimate and revealing, so they draw
the reader into your personal world.

2 Engaging

A first-person essay is engaging, so candid details, humorous experiences

and intimate feelings are readily expressed. Dry language, irrelevant details
and non-descriptive wording can bog down a first-person essay, making it feel
like a boring documentary. A first-person essay should read more like a
flavorful journal entry than a science report. Writer's Digest states that the key
to an engaging first-person essay is to make sure your writing style is direct
and penetrating.

3 Understandable

A major goal of a first-person essay is to ensure that the content is written in a

style that's straightforward and understandable. The University of North
Carolina's Writing Center recommends using the first person if you want your
essay to have clarity. First-person essays are clearly constructed, so there are
no awkward phrases or vague references. For example, an effective first-
person sentence might read, "I felt the shudder of silence as I closed the door
×

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 9/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

for the last time." Or, "My heart beat so rapidly that it took my breath away."
The language is simple, coherent and concise.

4 Revealing

First-person essays are revealing because personal references establish the

time period, historical relevance, setting, theme and mood. For example, a
first-person sentence might read, "My heart swelled as I walked along the
harbor, staring in awe at the wooden tea crates as they bounced across the
water." That one sentence reveals that the time period is the American
Revolution during the Boston tea party, and the protagonist is proud and
overcome by the event. It would be difficult to disclose that much information
in one sentence using the second- or third- person points of view.

REFERENCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FEEDBACK

RELATED ARTICLES

How to Write a Characteristics of a English Grammar Lang

Braided Descriptive Essay and the Structure for W
Segmented Essay of a Narrative Refle
Paragraph

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 10/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive

Essay
MICHAEL MASON

...

The goal of a descriptive essay is to provide the reader with a vivid image of
the topic being described. By including some essential elements, a writer can
more easily convey the visual image desired. These elements prompt the
writer to include more specific descriptors which can assist the reader in
understanding the topic.

EXPLORE THIS ARTICLE

1 Brainstorm

There are a multitude of methods for brainstorming. Purdue University

recommends jotting down words that come to mind as soon as the prompts
are given. Another brainstorming idea is a thought-web, recommended by the
University of Texas, in which a writer take the list of brainstormed words and
brainstorms each of those words individually. In essence, the writer is creating
an informal outline that will only need to be converted into complete sentences
and pieced together into a recognizable format.

2 The Senses

We experience the world through our senses: vision, hearing, touch, taste,
and smell. When a writer attempts to describe something, he should use as
many of those sensory details as possible to solidify the object in the reader's
mind. One possible method of organizing a narrative would be by senses.

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 11/12
12/12/2020 Important Essentials to Writing a Descriptive Essay

Writers could ask themselves, could the reader describe the sound, the smell,
the taste, the sight, and the feel of the object after reading the essay?

3 Emotions

Sometimes it's helpful to not only describe using the five senses from above,
but to also use emotions. While a writer might be able to describe how dark,
secluded, and overgrown a forest may be, it would add to the reader's mental
image if he could also include adjectives such as ominous or foreboding.

4 Concise Language

A lot can be said with few words. The greater a writer's skill with vocabulary,
the more vivid of a picture he can paint. Words that have very similar
denotations can often have very different connotations. Saying that a boy
loves a girl has a different connotation that saying that the boy lusts after a
girl. Or that he is in puppy-love. Is the ex-boyfriend mad, or is he furious? Or
is he livid? Words that have strong connotations can be extremely effective in
a descriptive essay.

https://classroom.synonym.com/important-essentials-writing-descriptive-essay-11892.html 12/12