The descriptive
essay is a genre of essay that asks the student to describe something—object,
person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc. This genre encourages the
student’s ability to create a written account of a particular experience. What
is more, this genre allows for a great deal of artistic freedom (the goal of
which is to paint an image that is vivid and moving in the mind of the reader).
Brainstorm
If you are asked
you to describe your favourite food, make sure that you write down some ideas
before you begin describing it. For instance, if you choose pizza, you might
start by writing down a few words: sauce, cheese, crust, pepperoni, sausage,
spices, hot, melted, etc. Once you have written down some words, you can begin
by compiling descriptive lists for each one.
Use Clear and Concise Language
This means
that words are chosen carefully, particularly for their relevancy in relation
to that which you are intending to describe.
Use Your Senses
If you are describing something, you need to
be appealing to the senses of the reader. Explain how the thing smelled, felt,
sounded, tasted, or looked. Add extra details with senses.
Engage Your Thoughts
Describe
emotions or feelings related to your topic, this will make you connect with the
reader on a deeper level. Many have felt crushing loss in their lives, or ecstatic
joy, or great satisfaction at an achievement. Tap into this emotional reservoir
in order to achieve your full descriptive potential.
Leave the reader with a clear
impression
Your goal is
to evoke a strong sense of familiarity and appreciation in the reader. Let your
reader walk away from the essay craving the very pizza you just described. You
are then on your way to writing effective descriptive essays.
Be Organized
It is easy to
fall into an incoherent rambling of emotions and senses when writing a descriptive
essay. Strive to present an organized and logical description.
