Descriptive Essay

Descriptive Essay Definition

As the name suggests, when writing a descriptive essay, you aim to describe something thoroughly from a personal, formal, or impressionistic perspective. Descriptive essays share some characteristics with narrative essays, but descriptive and narrative essays' end goals are different.

Descriptive Essay Formats

You can categorize a descriptive essay as a:

1. Personal Essay: a description of a personal experience that affected your life.
2. Formal Description: an impersonal, precise report of the subject's characteristics — you are like a camera.
3. Impressionistic Description: using descriptive language to create an emotional response in the reader.

Sensory Details

Sensory details refer to the features of the five senses — taste, touch, sight, sound, and smell. When you use sensory details appropriately to describe your subject, you create a moving experience for the audience. As a result, they become emotionally invested and eager to read more. There are a couple of points to keep in mind when using sensory details:

• Make sure your sensory details have a purpose: As you write, ask yourself whether the component you are including is necessary. If it does not add to the point of the essay, leave it out. Too many descriptive details can make your essay sound muddled.

• Follow a consistent pattern in your description: For example, if you describe a flower, choose a starting point and work your way outward. Bouncing around from the stem to the stamen and then back to the leaves creates a disjointed image — similar to a cubist Picasso painting.

Fig. 2 - Use disjunction only for artistic purposes.

Showing Versus Telling

Which is more engaging: Sandburg's creative description of fog or a lengthy, scientific explanation of fog? Where appropriate, using figurative language to communicate the subject of your essay to the reader can create more interest than simply explaining the idea.

Examples of figurative language include:

• Metaphor: substituting one thing for another to draw an association (e.g., "love is a battlefield").

• Simile: compares two things using "like" or "as" (e.g., "as happy as a clam").

• Personification: gives an object human-like characteristics (e.g., "the wind whispered in the trees").

• Hyperbole: an exaggerated description (e.g., "he was hungry enough to eat a horse").

• Symbolism: an object that represents something else (e.g., using a red rose to represent love).

Descriptive Essay Topics

You will be describing the topic of your descriptive paper in minute detail, so it's crucial to pick one that excites you. Here are a few example descriptive essay categories and topics:

An Object

• Your favorite childhood toy.
• An object that reminds you of a loved one.
• A tree that always catches your eye.

A Place

• Your favorite hangout.
• Your favorite vacation destination.
• Your room.

An Event

• Your first day of high school.
• Losing your first tooth.
• Your first concert.

A Person/Animal

• Someone you admire.
• Someone you love.
• Your pet.

Descriptive Essay Structure

Structure your descriptive essay into a traditional essay format with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction

Open your essay with a hook to get the reader's attention by choosing a thought-provoking quote or statistic related to your topic or asking a question. Then, introduce the subject by relating it to the hook. Finally, include your thesis statement in the last sentence of the introduction.

Body Paragraphs

The number of body paragraphs you include will depend on the topic and breadth of your essay, but usually, you should include at least three. Focus each body paragraph on a specific feature of your thesis. At the end of each body paragraph, wind down with a transition sentence that carries the subject to the next element or the conclusion.

Conclusion

Wrap up the essay by rewording your subject's thesis and central points. Don't introduce new ideas. The conclusion is the final impression, so keep the energy level consistent.

Descriptive Essay Outline

Before you sketch your outline, give some thought to researching your essay topic. Sources are not usually required for descriptive essays, but pictures, letters, text messages, and conversations can provide vivid details. In addition, brainstorming helps you decide which features make the most sense to include in the essay and how to include them. Experiment with the description's sequence when you write the outline.

Once you have everything figured out, your outline should look something like this:

I. Introduction

A. Hook (e.g., a statistic or quote)

B. Connection between the topic and hook

C. Thesis statement

II. Body paragraphs (number of paragraphs will vary)

A. Main point of the paragraph

B. Description of the main point

C. Transition to the next paragraph or conclusion

III. Conclusion

A. summary of the thesis

B. Summary of the main points

C. Final impression

Descriptive Essay Example

The following example of an abbreviated descriptive essay will give you an idea of what a completed descriptive essay assignment could look like:

Have a look at some of the author's techniques:

The descriptive essay example is personal and impressionistic. It discusses an event that affected the author's life in a way that attempts to make the audience feel something. The long sentence structure mimics the feeling of racing thoughts. The words "buzz" and "pops" are examples of onomatopoeia. The metaphors and simile develop images in the reader's mind. Hyperbole expresses the physical sensation and irrational thoughts.

Fig. 3 - Descriptive essays are like blank instant photographs waiting to be developed by your words.

¹ Sandburg, Carl. "Fog." Chicago Poems. 1916.

² "Panic Disorder." Cleveland Clinic. 2020.