A Descriptive Essay gives details of how something looks, feels, tastes, smells, sounds, or makes one feel. It can also describe what something is, or how something happened. A descriptive essay can be either subjective (with a personal touch), or objective (precise and clinical in approach). Whatever it is that is to be described has to be purposeful and something of consequence.
The things to keep in mind when writing a descriptive essay are:
- Give plenty of concrete, sensory details (involving all the five senses) so the reader can visualize the things being described.
- Give all the details first, and then build the impressions around them.
- Present the details in such a way that the reader is enticed into reading without stopping.
- Write chronologically, from the beginning to end.
- Give logical pattern to the details – important and broader details coming before the minor ones.
- Use active verbs as they help the reader to visualize.
- Set the tone of the essay in the introduction then gradually build it into one strong emotion.
- Depending on the content, give different aspects of the details in different paragraphs.
Remember, a good descriptive essay is one which succeeds in arousing the reader’s senses and is able to capture the reader’s attention and retain it till the end.
Other essay types:
- Narrative Essay
- Explanatory/Expository Essay
- Cause and Effect Essay
- Argumentative/Persuasive Essay
- Comparison and Contrast Essay
- Definition Essay
- Process Essay
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