What is a Descriptive Essay?

The word "descriptive" comes from the word "describe," which means "to tell about how
something looks, feels, smells, sounds, or tastes." A descriptive essay is a piece of writing that
describes something, such as an object, place, person, or event.
What is the Purpose of a Descriptive Essay?
A descriptive essay is meant to show the reader, through the use of illustrative language,
something that the writer has experienced. Writing teachers often instruct their students: "Show,
don't tell." This means that writers should strive to create a picture in the minds of their readers
rather than simply telling their readers about the setting, the characters, etc. For example, a writer
could directly tell the reader that it was raining, but it would be more effective to show the reader
that it was raining by using specific details and descriptive language. Good writers are able to
create such effective descriptions that their readers feel like they are experiencing the subject
matter firsthand.
 Telling: I got caught in the rain.
 Showing: My wet hair clung to my face, cold water dripped from my sodden clothes, and
my feet sloshed and squeaked in my shoes.

Characteristics of a Descriptive Essay

Writers "show" by using imagery, figurative language, and precise language.
An image is a representation of something. A photographer can take an image of a woman with a
camera, a painter can paint an image of a woman, and a writer can describe an image of a
woman. Imagery is language that creates an image in readers' minds by addressing the five
senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. Writers can make their readers see, smell, taste,
hear, and feel what it is like to go to the beach by using only words. They describe the sight of
the cloudless blue sky and sparkling turquoise water, the fishy smell of the breeze, the
salty taste of the sea air, the sound of seagulls squawking and waves crashing, and the feel of
hot, gritty sand under one's feet. The sensory details create a vivid image that shows the reader
what it is like to experience the beach.
Good writers can create an image using only their words.

Figurative language is language that makes a comparison between two unlike things. People
use figurative language every day without even realizing it. The phrase "You're on fire!" means
that someone's body temperature is high, but no one overhearing this would rush to grab a fire
extinguisher. It is widely understood that a phrase like this is a figure of speech and not literal.
Simile, metaphor, and personification are three types of figurative language.
 A simile is a type of figurative language that uses the words like, as, than,
or resembles to compare two unlike things. "Gloria's laugh sounded like the call of a wild
turkey" is a simile that compares two unlike things, Gloria's laugh and a turkey's call, to
create an effective description of a person's laugh.
 A metaphor is another type of figurative language that makes a comparison between two
unlike things, but it does not use a connective word such as like or as. Rather, a metaphor
declares that the thing being compared is something else. "This bedroom is a garbage
dump" is a metaphor that compares two unlike things, a bedroom and a garbage dump, to
describe a messy bedroom.
 A third form of figurative language is personification, which gives human qualities to a
nonhuman object, animal, or abstract idea. "The car's engine growled down the road" is
an example of personification. A car cannot really growl because it doesn't have a mouth
or vocal chords, but the language used gives a good description of what the car sounds
like.
Using precise language keeps writing more descriptive and interesting. Choose specific details
and relevant adjectives to describe a subject rather than merely listing its features. The language
and details used to describe a subject will create a specific mood or give the reader an impression
of how the writer feels about it. To describe a bedroom without using figurative language, one
could merely list details about it: My room is small and blue; it has a bed, dresser, and a desk.
But this would not be very descriptive, interesting, or make the reader feel anything. Using
precise language creates a more interesting, effective description while also projecting a mood or
feeling. For example: The serene blue walls of my modest yet cozy room are as calming as an
ocean view on a cloudless day.
Descriptive Essay Format
A descriptive essay should have three parts: beginning (introduction), middle (body), and end
(conclusion). The total number of paragraphs may vary.
Introduction:
 Get the reader's attention through the use of an attention getter or hook sentence.
 Identify the subject to be described.
 Include a thesis statement, which illustrates the main impression of, or feeling about, the
paper's subject based on the details that will be provided in the body paragraphs.
Body Paragraphs:
 Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence, which states the topic of the paragraph.
 Use transitions (next to, another, on top of, below, around) to guide the reader to "see"
the subject of the paper.
 Use imagery, figurative language, and precise language to describe the subject.
 End each body paragraph with a closing sentence, which concludes the current paragraph
and hints at what will be described in the next.
Conclusion:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an example of a descriptive essay?
Here is an example of a descriptive paragraph about a party:
"Pop music blared from the speakers near the dance floor, making it difficult to have a discussion
with anyone. Colored lights that had been strategically placed around the large room flashed
randomly, giving glimpses of the dancers in various poses. The rich, savory smell of the dinner
that would soon be served invaded my nose and my stomach grumbled in response."
What are the basic elements of a descriptive essay?
A descriptive essay describes an object, person, place, or event that the writer has experienced.
Writers use illustrative language to "show" the reader that topic that is described in the essay.
Through the use of imagery, figurative language, and precise language, a writer can create
effective descriptions that create images in the reader's mind while also conveying a certain
mood, or feeling, about the essay's subject.

Techniques to use in descriptive writing

To write a descriptive essay, choose a topic to describe: a place, object, person, or event.

Next, gather specific details about the topic and write them down.

Use imagery and figurative language to describe the details in a way that helps the reader "experience"
the topic.

Choose how to organize the details: spatially, chronologically, or from general to specific. Then, create
an outline of the essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Use the outline to write the essay while remembering to include specific details and illustrative
language about the topic,