Essays are essential to education. They are gauntlets for testing and elevating several critical cognitive & academic skills. Dedication, diligence, and a clear understanding of a particular essay type are key to developing an excellent write-up.
And while the first two factors are entirely subjective, we, at MyAssignmenthelp.com, can help you out with the latter. This article is a comprehensive essay writing guide & contains expert insights into each & every aspect of academic essay writing.
Our focus today is on descriptive essays. Read on to learn everything you need to write an awesome descriptive essay.
The Need For Descriptive Essay Writing
So, what is descriptive writing? Why do we need to write descriptive essays? What do teachers look for in them?
Well, the primary purpose of any descriptive writing is to provide an opportunity for writers t showcase their illustrative & expressive abilities. Teachers want to find out the following:
- How well you can express your thoughts & ideas in words,
- How do you include different kinds of sensory information to paint your thoughts on paper,
- How expansive your vocabulary is & how well you can use it to craft accurate, vibrant, & engaging descriptions,
- The impunity of your essay writing skills as well as your grasp on grammar,
- Your understanding & perspective on a topic,
- Your research, analytical, and time management skills,
- How good of an essay writer and student you are
The objectives of academic descriptive essay writing should provide enough inkling about its characteristics. Nevertheless, if we had to list the features of a descriptive essay, then it would look something like this.
The Features of A Good Descriptive Essay
The very definition of a descriptive essay should tell you that it’s all about delivering apt, accurate, and aesthetic descriptions.
- The right diction, precise & striking descriptions laced with the most appropriate adjectives, striking sensory details, figurative language, effective transitions, and a smooth & seamless narrative – are essential aspects of a distinctly descriptive essay.
- A writer’s ability to develop an overall dominant expressionis the crux of a cohesive descriptive essay. Dominant expressions are key to any description. It is what the writer wants readers to understand and feel. It can be a mood, perspective, or an encompassing idea about the topic or subject. Naturally, diction & vocabulary, and content characteristics such as sentence & paragraph structure, clarity & flow of ideas, transition, & cohesion play central roles in making a descriptive essay successful.
- Evocative sensory details, strong verbs, apt comparisons, precise language, figurative languageand accurate hyperboles elevate the quality of any descriptive write-up. For a description to connect, the essay should also involve the reader. Your explanations must be clear enough to invoke emotions instantly. Make
- Teachers look for an honest accountof the writer’s experiences. It is important to keep things unexaggerated, original, and concise. At the same time, descriptive essays offer substantial artistic freedom when expressing oneself. The key goal is to provide arresting descriptions that evoke the reader’s senses & stirs their emotions. As long as you are not making up things, you can make your descriptions as dramatic & scintillating as possible.
- Descriptions can be subjective, objective, or entirely figurative. Essays that require facts, statistics, & wry, straightforward descriptions require an objective approach. Descriptions, laced with a writer’s emotive thoughts, opinions, & reactions, are subjective descriptive essays, while figurative essays draw apt comparisons and likenesses to put things into precise perspectives. It is entirely up to the writer (and, obviously, the instructions & guidelines) how they wish to shape their descriptions. An objective approach creates a formal & sombre mood, while symbolic and subjective approaches lend an emotional aspect to the essay.
Your ability to craft an essay that exhibits all of the above features decides what impression it makes upon the audience and how much your score. These features define the quality of one’s descriptive essay writingskills and several other crucial cognitive skills.
So, how do you begin writing a descriptive essay? What is the roadmap for developing engaging descriptions delivered through a cohesive write-up? The next section elaborates.
A Complete Rubric For Crafting A Descriptive Essay
Step 1: Research Near Exhaustively
Think deeply about the topic. Dwell into its minute details and take note of those that stand out & describe the subject the way you want to. If you are NOT writing from experience, then thorough research is all the more necessary.
Note down all intricate details & features from all available sources. Books, articles, your own experiences or that of others, essays by others – anything can be a source of information.
Step 2: Express Your Thoughts, Perceptions, & Emotions Uninhibitedly
Vibrant, evocative descriptions delivered with sensory details – this is the very essence of the dominant expression of a descriptive essay.
- Once you have a clear enough idea about what you want to describe, it is time to inject feelings & emotions into your description.
- Your perceptions, perspectives, thoughts, feelings, & reactions- put all these into your descriptions to make them engaging & expressive. Think about how your mind recollects it, the emotions it evokes, and how it makes you feel.
- Use rich vocabulary, figurative language, and accurate & evocative comparisons to help readers visualize vividly.
- You will need to tap into your emotions to realize the full potential of your descriptive abilities. On the other hand, if you take an objective approach, you must deliver precise and to-the-point descriptions.
The dominant expression is the mood and viewpoint you want to establish and present while describing the essay subject. You must use the abovementioned tactics to help readers understand & grasp it easily. The dominant expression also serves as the thesis statement of the essay.
Here’s an excerpt
“The mansion loomed ahead of us, a gargantuan entity that invoked a sense of sombreness and reverence. The architecture, the discoloured texture of its outer surface, and its overall condition were enough to tell us that it was at least 100 years old and not frequently repaired.
“Well, now, that’s a drab old place.”, remarked my uncle Arthur. “It looks grand, a mix of neo-classical & Baroque architecture.”, said my father. He was a professional architect, and the house was quick to appeal to him. It attracted me to instil a sense of reverence and, simultaneously, melancholic feelings….”
Can you understand the writer’s feelings and how they want you to feel when reading the above? A sense of foreboding, reverence and antiquity is evoked through the sensory and emotional information presented.
Step 3: SHOW, DON’T TELL!
Every descriptive essay aims to provide readers with clear & arresting descriptions. Use your vocabulary, writing skills, and engaging content to help readers visualize. Add anecdotes or narrative pieces, dialogues, or talk directly to readers.
“The fighter jets at the air show zipped by faster than lightning.”,
“The forest was hotter than any steam bath I have visited.”,
“The playground was bristling with joyous activity, little ones running helter-skelter, colourful balloons & kites flying all around, dust clouds swirling around a bunch of teens playing soccer.”
“His heavily wrinkled face, stooped gesture, and creaking joints implied that Father Time has not been kind to him.”
Notice how sensory information and emotions make it easier to imagine the subjects. It’s not just about stating facts & describing the details. Your descriptions should be indulgent & expressive enough to help readers paint a clear mental picture. Show them what you have seen or are feeling through your words.
Step 4: Indulge in your Senses
SIGHT, SOUND, SMELL, TASTE, TOUCH – sensory details about the subject make for exceptionally striking descriptions. Think how the essay’s topic appealed to or put off your senses. Talk about the colours, textures, shapes, sizes, smells, etc., you experienced and how you reacted. Draw comparisons and use figurative language to make the details more evocative.
Besides adding an emotional element, enliven your writing with sensory details to enhance it further.
Step 5: A Cohesive Content is Crucial
No amount of minute detailing and figurative element will help if your essay is all over the place. Make sure there are proper transitions, descriptions that gel well with one another, ideas that connect seamlessly, and a seamless narrative that successfully puts across your dominant impression.
Read and revise time & time again to identify any defects & wrinkles. Ask your parents, friends, and others to go through and pay close attention to their feedback.
Step 6: Edit & Proofread For Flawlessness
Once you are done with the final draft, editing and proofreading are the next crucial steps. While you may have been writing & editing concurrently, a last edit is vital before submission. Edit minutely before submitting your work, and then proofread the essay to ensure absolute flawlessness.
The above six steps are central to the descriptive essay writing rubric. Understand them well, and remember them no matter what approach you take for your essay.
The Three Primary Approaches
Descriptive writing can be subjective, objective, or figurative.
- An objectiveapproach to descriptive essay writing is taken when you do not want to inject emotions and feelings into your descriptions. These essays are primarily factual and deliver intricate details in a cold, dry, and emotional manner.
“The table was of oakwood, around 90 inches long & 70 inches wide. It was brown and could seat about 12 people in total. The table had been our dining place for more than 18 years now and had seen many repairs. The metal bases of the leg ….
- Subjective approaches are how most descriptive essays are written. You must write what you think & feel about the subject, add substantial sensory information, and evoke emotions through your content.
“The table was made of oakwood and could be considered a family member. It had been our primary dining place for more than 18 years, having witnessed quarrels, get-togethers, and all the happiness & sadness our family experienced. The table had undergone many repairs but neither of my parents had ever considered selling it….”
- Figurative approaches heavily employ figurative language and overlap with the subjective approach.
“The table was as sturdy as the Black Panther’s vibranium or Wolverines’ adamantium, whichever was stronger. My father considered it family, and any thoughts of selling it would be akin to murder..”
Notice the differences among the three approaches? While they all describe the table, each description is different in its own right. How you wish to describe the essay’s subject is up to you and the essay guidelines/scoring rubric.
No matter how you approach the audience, a descriptive essay’s outline and overall structure remain similar, as given below in the next section.
The Outline And Structure of Descriptive Essay
The format of a descriptive essay structure does not differ from other essay types. Following is the general outline for a descriptive essay.
Introduction-
- Like all its other counterparts, hook your readers
- and then establish the context by adding generic background information & narrowing down your focus with specific statements.
Thesis Statement-
The thesis statement is the dominating expression of your essay. Lay out your point of view, feelings, and the overpowering emotion you associate with the subject. It sets the tone and mood of the article.
Body –
- Dig into specifics. Add sensory details, lay down your emotions, draw comparisons and everything necessary to deliver apt & appealing descriptions.
- Showcase your story using every paragraph to describe the subject in as many distinctive & intriguing ways as possible. You can add more than three body paragraphs if it helps you deliver your description better.
- Logical & seamless transitions and a smooth narrative flow are crucial.
- Follow a spatial, climactic, or chronological order when mentioning details.
- Ensure all the details, perspectives, emotions, and the like come together for an intriguing description.
Conclusion –
- Bring things to a closure gracefully.
- Restate the thesis statement/dominant expression and remember to stir the reader’s emotions.
- Summarize key aspects of your description.
- Leave a lasting impression.
Now that you know the steps & structure to write a good descriptive essay, let’s look at some dos and don’ts.
Some DOs & DON’Ts
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DOs
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DON’Ts
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Always start with an outline.
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Start without planning.
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Have a focused approach.
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Deliver a hodgepodge of details and descriptions.
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SHOW
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Ramble incoherently
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Use precise language.
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Be vague and all over the place.
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Be concise.
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Beat around the bush and take off tangentially.
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Make appropriate comparisons.
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Stuff as many adjectives as possible.
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Deliver a well-rounded description.
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Get stuck on minor details.
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Relay your feelings, emotions, and reactions.
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Become over-self-indulgent.
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The above tips, outline, and steps in this article will guide you as you craft an essay that will impress and evoke a positive response.
We wrap up this write-up with a look at some popular descriptive essay topics of these times and a sample descriptive essay.
Sample Questions And Solutions On Descriptive Essay
NUR112 Descriptive Essay And Nursing Practice
Question:
What does it mean to be a nurse? Discuss the core concepts that construct the professional identity of nursing.
Discuss some elements that construct nurses’ professional identity.
Effective communication is a core skill that nurses need, to provide high quality to care to their patients. Discuss the concepts of effective communication.
Discuss the different types of communications and how this can have an impact on patient care.
Answer:
Introduction
The essay brings about the discussion on the nursing concepts and practices, which includes the assessment of the health, illness, and health promotion for the individuals in the society. To discuss about the nursing concepts and the role it plays within society, it is first essential to understand the concepts and practices related to nursing or healthcare. Nursing refers to the profession within the healthcare sector that undertakes the responsibility of providing care to the individuals to help them maintain and recover the health and quality of life. Therefore, the essay will describe the importance of effective or therapeutic communication, essential to attain skills to ensure effective care and treatment to the patients…Read More
List Of More Samples On Descriptive Essay Topics
Descriptive Essay on Islamic ReligionAccording to the view point of few westernized circles about the authority of sacred prophet is set up by the Holy Quran from a long time to all generations. Read More…. |
Academic Essay WritingAcademic essay writing is regarded to be persuasive. Any academician is expected to attain a position and further present an argumentative position to convince the reader with the views and ideas that have been presented. Read More…. |
Essay on Collaborative PhysiotherapyAccording to Australian physiotherapy Council, a physiotherapist should promote and practice collaborative care and engage in a culturally responsive and client-centred model of practice (Brady, Veljanova & Chipchase, 2016). Read More…. |
V100 Introduction To History EssayThe essay aims at discussing the facts of history in the European Nations. During the period 1870 and 1900, there existed European diplomatic pressures, imperialist aggression, military invasions, colonization and eventual conquest on Africa. Read More…. |
Some Excellent Descriptive Essay Topics in 2023
Below are some popular & contemporary ideas for your descriptive essay topics.
- A Visit to an Abandoned Military Bunker.
- My Trip to a Lagoon
- An Excursion to an Ancient Mansion
- The Overrated Magic of Disneyland
- London Through a Tourist’s Eye
- My Grandfather, My Hero
- The Fields Where I Grew Up
- The Sights & Sounds of the Mardi Gras Festival
- Descriptions of the Side Characters in Harry Potter
- The Best Table in the World: The Dining Table At My House
And with that, we conclude this article. Here’s hoping this guide to descriptive essay writing acts as the perfect reference and guide in the future.
Most Important Frequently Asked Questions Searched By Students
Q.1 What are the key elements of a descriptive essay?
The key elements of this kind of essay are arresting & engaging descriptions of a subject, replete with sensory details, precise information, and emotional appeal, delivered in an appropriate context and through cohesive content.
Q.2 How do you write a good descriptive essay?
Careful research, gathering vital details, crafting acute descriptions peppered with substantial sensory information, personal perceptions, & emotions, and flawless, cohesive prose— these are the essential ingredients of a good descriptive essay.
If you can write it this way, you have an exceptional write-up.
Q.3 What is the structure of a descriptive essay?
They follow the generic essay structure. An introduction provides the context & crucial background information; the thesis statement sets the tone & atmosphere; the body paragraphs describe the subject in detail, while the conclusion leaves readers reminiscing about thought-provoking & evocative descriptions.
Q.4 What is the purpose of a descriptive essay?
The primary purpose is to test a writer’s creative writing abilities. How well they can imagine, how expressive their imaginations are, how lucidly they can pen their emotions on paper, and how successfully they can weave cohesive content & tell a story with their descriptions, details, perceptions, and emotions.
Q.5 What are some tips for writing a good descriptive essay?
- Do proper research on the topic.
- Add sensory details and convey your emotions in your descriptions.
- Use string
Q.6 How do you use sensory details in a descriptive essay?
Sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch – describe the subject using all your senses to deliver acute sensory details.
Q.7 Can you use dialogue in a descriptive essay?
If it makes your descriptions more detailed and your story more engaging, you can surely use them. Anecdotes with dialogues can be a great way to relay your perspective & feelings on a subject and what others think about it.
Q.8 How many paragraphs are in a descriptive essay?
Including the introduction, the conclusion, and a minimum of three body paragraphs, there should be at least five paragraphs in a descriptive essay.
Q.9 How long should a descriptive essay be?
High school descriptive essays are generally 600 to 100 words long. College application essays are typically shorter, around 300 to 650 words. Undergraduate and post-graduate college essays are usually longer, ranging between 1000 to 4000 words.
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