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Humanities LibreTexts

3.5: Descriptive Essays

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  • Page ID 107758

  • Kathryn Crowther et al.
  • Georgia Perimeter College via GALILEO Open Learning Materials

Writing a Description Essay

Choosing a subject is the first step in writing a description essay. Once you have chosen the person, place, or object you want to describe, your challenge is to write an effective thesis statement to guide your essay. The remainder of your essay describes your subject in a way that best expresses your thesis. Remember, you should have a strong sense of how you will organize your essay. Choose a strategy and stick to it. Every part of your essay should use vivid sensory details. The more you can appeal to your readers’ senses, the more they will be engaged in your essay. You can read two sample essays at the end of this section.

Sample Thesis Statement

Although Minnesota may seem drab and cold to outsiders, natives of the state find it a wonderful place to live.

We can see in this thesis statement that the writer will attempt to show the aspects of Minnesota that make it a great place to live. After detailing a thesis statement, you should come up with a list of sensory words that provide vivid detail and support the thesis. You may start by thinking about the five senses. How does your particular place look, smell, feel, taste, and sound like? How can you best describe these senses so the reader feels what you feel? By organizing the elements of descriptive language into easier to handle sections, like the five senses, you are able to more specifically engage in what elements of the description are most useful.

Order of Presentation

The writer in this case could choose to present the positive aspects of Minnesota in terms of the seasons and weather changes. The details could be presented linearly, starting with spring and going through the winter, highlighting the aspects of each season that most closely support the thesis, that Minnesota is a great place to live.

Prior to starting the essay, give some thought to the audience of your piece. Who is going to read the essay, and what effect would you like it to have upon the readers? An awareness of audience is important in choosing the level of formality you take with your writing. Knowing your audience will also help you distinguish which details to include throughout your essay. Assume that your audience knows very little or nothing about your subject matter, and include details that may seem obvious to you.

Example Audience: In this particular essay, the writer wants to show an outsider to the state why Minnesota natives are so happy to live there. The essay should help break down stereotypes for those outsiders about Minnesota’s cold weather and apparent drabness. Because the essay is designed for those who do not live in Minnesota, and maybe have never been there, it is important to include details about the state that may seem obvious to a native.

With the preparatory work complete, it is time now to begin writing your essay. Use your thesis statement to begin to construct an introductory paragraph. The introduction should set up the basis for your essay, and the thesis statement should state its purpose.

Example Introduction

Many who have not traveled to the state of Minnesota only hear of its cold weather and boring reputation. They are sure missing out on the great opportunities that Minnesota affords. Each season offers different senses that native Minnesotans and tourists know and love. Although Minnesota may seem drab and cold to outsiders, natives of the state find it a wonderful place to live.

With the introduction complete, it is time to start constructing the body paragraphs of your essay. Each body paragraph should have a central theme in itself, and that theme should be represented in a topic sentence. Consequently, each sentence of the paragraph should relate to and support the topic sentence. The body paragraphs are where the majority of the details should be given. When writing the first draft of your descriptive essay, include as many details as is reasonably possible. You can always eliminate the ones that do not serve the essay as well when you are revising your draft. In the case of the Minnesota nature essay, we have decided to set up the body paragraphs in terms of season, starting with spring.

Example Body Paragraph

Spring in Minnesota brings new life to the state after the long winter season. The rain washes the landscape clean, leaving its fresh aroma for all to enjoy. The flowers soak up the golden sun’s rays and begin to show their vibrant colors. The first birds can be seen and heard throughout the woods and fields, telling their stories in beautiful songs. The lakes begin to show their glossy finish as the ice melts away slowly under the heat of the season.

With the body paragraphs complete, it is time to bring the essay to a close with the conclusion. The conclusion should draw a conclusion based on what has been presented throughout the body of the essay. It needs to return to the thesis, but not in an overt way. The conclusion should give the reader a final sense of what the essay was meant to portray. Remember that there should not be any new material introduced in the conclusion, and the way it is worded should give the reader a sense of finality.

Example Conclusion

The variety of activities and distinct seasons found in Minnesota reveal diverse beauty of this state. As one considers the benefits of each season, it becomes clearer why so many native Minnesotans are content with their home state. Minnesota is truly a wonderful place to live.

With the essay complete, it is time to reread and revise your essay (also see revision sections of this textbook). Read your first draft and pinpoint all of the descriptor words you used. If possible, go back and add more after the ones you already used in the essay. If you can, read your essay aloud to a friend and have him/her tell you what images are vivid and what images need more development. Rework any images that are cloudy with more descriptions. Also, check to see if your descriptions have made use of all of the five senses: sound, smell, texture, sight, and taste. Repeat these steps as many times as necessary until you are happy with your product.

Sample Descriptive Essays

America's Pastime

As the sun hits my face and I breathe in the fresh air, I temporarily forget that I am at a sporting event. But, when I open my eyes and look around, I am reminded of all things American. From the national anthem to the international players on the field, all the sights and sounds of a baseball game come together like a slice of Americana pie.

First, the entrance turnstiles click and clank, and then a hallway of noise bombards me. All the fans’ voices coalesce in a chorus of sound, rising to a humming clamor. The occasional, “Programs, get your programs, here!” jumps out through the hum to get my attention. I navigate my way through the crowded walkways of the stadium, moving to the right of some people, and to the left of others, I eventually find the section number where my seat is located. As I approach my seat I hear the announcer’s voice echo around the ball park, “Attention fans. In honor of our country, please remove your caps for the singing of the national anthem.” His deep voice echoes around each angle of the park, and every word is heard again and again. The crowd sings and hums “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and I feel a surprising amount of national pride through the voices. I take my seat as the umpire shouts, “Play ball!” and the game begins.

In the fifth inning of the game, I decide to find a concessions stand. Few tastes are as American as hot dogs and soda pop, and they cannot be missed at a ball game. The smell of hot dogs carries through the park, down every aisle, and inside every concourse. They are always as unhealthy as possible, dripping in grease, while the buns are soft and always too small for the dog. The best way to wash down the Ball Park Frank is with a large soda pop, so I order both. Doing my best to balance the cold pop in one hand and the wrapped-up dog in the other, I find the nearest condiments stand to load up my hot dog. A dollop of bright green relish and chopped onions, along with two squirts of the ketchup and mustard complete the dog. As I continue the balancing act between the loaded hot dog and pop back to my seat, a cheering fan bumps into my pop hand. The pop splashes out of the cup and all over my shirt, leaving me drenched. I make direct eye contact with the man who bumped into me. He looks me in the eye, looks at my shirt, and tells me how sorry he is. I just shake my head and keep walking. “It’s all just part of the experience,” I tell myself.

Before I am able to get back to my seat, I hear the crack of a bat, followed by an uproar from the crowd. Everyone is standing, clapping, and cheering. I missed a home run. I find my aisle and ask everyone to excuse me as I slip past them to my seat. “Excuse me. Excuse me. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry,” is all I can say as I inch past each fan. Halfway to my seat I can hear discarded peanut shells crunch beneath my feet, and each step is marked with a pronounced crunch.

When I finally get to my seat I realize it is the start of the seventh inning stretch. I quickly eat my hot dog and wash it down with what is left of my soda pop. The organ starts playing and everyone begins to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” While singing the song, putting my arms around friends and family with me, I watch all the players taking the field. It is wonderful to see the overwhelming number of players on one team from around the world: Japan, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Canada, and Venezuela. I cannot help but feel a bit of national pride at this realization. Seeing the international representation on the field reminds me of the ways that Americans, though from many different backgrounds and places, still come together under common ideals. For these reasons and for the whole experience in general, going to a Major League Baseball game is the perfect way to glimpse a slice of Americana.

Student Essay

In the following student essay, notice how the writer uses sensory details to describe not only the visual appearance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s tomb, but also the experience of visiting such a historically significant and emotionally moving monument. Pay particular attention to the organization of the description; how does the author move us around the monument and describe its characteristics? Is it effective?

Professor Smith

English 1101

11 June 2014

The King’s Tomb

The water is always so beautiful, a hypnotic shade of baby blue, with a few autumn colored leaves floating in the ripples made by the wind. This isn’t a natural body of water. No wildlife swim in the shallow waves, but this water is as full of life as any ocean. In the middle of what is fittingly called the Reflecting Pool lies the closest thing African Americans have ever had to royalty. Here lie the remains of Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King.

Nestled between the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change and the original Ebenezer Baptist Church is a beautiful white marble monument, warmly bathed in the lights circling the tomb of our late civil rights leaders. Following Dr. King’s assassination in April 1968, he was first interred at South View Cemetery, a final resting place largely reserved for African Americans during that period. It took nearly a decade before he was exhumed and placed in the beautiful ivory stone structure that he now shares with his beloved wife Coretta. The tomb, erected in 1977, sits within the south end of the Reflecting Pool. Seemingly suspended on the bright blue water, the tomb displays scriptures that only capture a small portion of the legacy left by these great leaders. Engraved on Dr. King’s portion reads, “Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty I’m free at last!” from his pivotal “I Have a Dream” speech given during the March on Washington in 1963. I can’t help but attempt to recite the mantra in my head with the same bravado and conviction as Dr. King had when he gave the speech over fifty years ago. While the saying is a beautiful incantation, fit for a King, the cost at which that freedom was attained is still heartbreaking.

In a scene reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, who passed away in January 2006 after a prolonged illness, lies next to her slain husband. For a short period following her death Mrs. King was interred in a smaller yet equally beautiful tomb directly across from her late husband. Spectacular floral arrangements surrounded her tomb as scores of mourners came from afar to pay their respects to the First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement. In November 2006, she was laid to rest in a beautiful new tomb aside her husband. The words “And now abide Faith, Hope, Love, These Three, but the greatest of these is Love,” emblazon her final resting place. No truer instance could describe her legacy.

Auburn Avenue, shrouded in darkness, is void of people aside from the few vagrants that aimlessly roam the streets. Heat from the Eternal Flame warms my back as I stare off into space. The brilliant glow of the LED lights strategically placed around the tomb and the amber flicker of the Eternal Flame are the only lights that seem to suit this moment. Kneeling as if I’m preparing to pray, I take a moment to reflect. Through my clenched eyes I can hear the soft splashes of the water, the gas fueled roar of the Eternal Flame. The ambient noise of car horns, traffic and construction fade to nearly a whisper. I envision the March on Washington. I can feel the sting of water hoses pelting my black skin. I can hear the sharp sonics of police dogs barking. The feeling is overwhelming. My eyelashes clump together from the tears winning their battle against my eyelids. Nearby is a place of worship, a place where anyone can still feel the spirit of past congregations, a place where the walls hold almost as much history as any Smithsonian exhibit.

Just a few feet away sits the original Ebenezer Baptist Church, a beautiful, rustic old building left largely intact from the days of Atlanta’s past. Walking inside is like stepping into a time warp, instantly sending you to the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. With the exception of a few strategically placed speakers, the church is left in its pure form. Dr. King’s voice echoes through wooden pews playing his famous “Drum Major” speech, given during his final sermon at Ebenezer on February 4, 1968. With closed eyes, I have difficulty telling what era I am in. Given with almost Machiavellian prediction and passion, ten minutes engulfed with his powerful words makes me feel as though I’ve been baptized, born again.

Surrounded with reminders of our history’s darkest time, this place brings me peace. There’s an aura in this place. A powerful spirit that infiltrates my conscience with thoughts of struggle, loss and freedom. The reality of this place forces my mind to reevaluate my own mortality. Even with the knowledge of how Dr. King was vilified, degraded, and executed, his death serves as a shining beacon of light. A lone ray of sun through the seemingly endless cloud of racism and intolerance. Coretta’s grace, beauty and resilience in the face of unspeakable tragedy and injustice is incomparable. Her social work and philanthropy should be an influence to women of all walks of life.

The legacy that Dr. and Mrs. King leave behind is an unfulfilled one. Equality in America has improved since Dr. King’s assassination but his dream is still unrealized. There is turmoil within the King family regarding funding and management of the King Memorial, leaving the future of this serene place uncertain. Engraved on the Stone of Hope, a newly completed Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., reads, “Out of the Mountain of Despair, a Stone of Hope.” Although we still have a mountain to climb, The King’s Tomb is surely my Stone of Hope.

External Links

Checklist of Things to Consider ( https://tinyurl.com/y7zegezs ) when writing a description.

Susan Berne visits New York and describes her impressions in " Where Nothing Says Everything " ( https://tinyurl.com/yboc9m9s ), also called "Ground Zero." Another link to the story is here ( https://tinyurl.com/y99fchlw ).

Contributors and Attributions

Adapted from  Successful College Composition (Crowther et al.) . Sourced from  LibreTexts , licensed under  CC BY-NC-SA  .

Adapted from  Let's Get Writing (Browning, DeVries, Boylan, Kurtz and Burton) . Sourced from  LibreTexts , licensed under  CC BY-NC-SA  .

writing descriptive essays

Writing Descriptive Essays

Apr 04, 2019

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Writing Descriptive Essays. What, exactly, is a Descriptive Essay?. A descriptive essay is simply an essay that describes something or someone by appealing to the reader’s senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Steps to writing an effective Descriptive Essay:.

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What, exactly, is a Descriptive Essay? A descriptive essay is simply an essay that describes something or someone by appealing to the reader’s senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.

Steps to writing an effective Descriptive Essay: 1. Select a subject - Observation is the key to writing a good description. For example, if you are writing about a place, go there and take notes on the sights, sounds, and smells. A descriptive essay paints a picture for the reader, using descriptive devices and the senses.

Create a thesis statement – A thesis statement is simply a sentence that tells the reader what you are going to be talking about throughout the entire essay • You’re thesis statement should never begin with phrases like, “I am going to be talking about. . .”

Since this is a descriptive essay, create a thesis that informs the reader of who or what you will be describing. Ex: “My bedroom is an ocean sanctuary” Ex: “My family vacation to Disney World was a magical week of fun, laughter, and sun-filled happiness.

Select dominant details • Make sure you are only writing about things that specifically support your thesis. For example, if your thesis statement is talking about your sun-filled trip to the beach, don’t bore the reader with meaningless details about your swimsuit. . . You should be describing the beach itself, and perhaps some of the events that took place there (e.g. building a sandcastle, boogie-boarding, parasailing, etc.)

Use descriptive words – do not use vague words or generalities (such as good, nice, bad, or even beautiful). • Think about it. . . Which sounds better? “I ate a good dinner.” Or “I devoured a steaming hot, cheese-filled pepperoni pizza for dinner.” See the difference?

Provide sensory detail • Smells that are in the air (the aroma of freshly brewed coffee) • Sounds (traffic, honking horns, waves crashing) • Sights (“The sun scattered tiny diamonds across dew-covered grass as it peeked out from beyond the horizon.”) • Touch (“The texture of the adobe hut’s walls resembled coarse sandpaper.”) - Taste: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, tart (“Giant goose bumps formed on my tongue when I accidently bit into a sliver of lemon.”)

6. Draw a logical conclusion - The conclusion may also use descriptive words; however, make certain the conclusion is logical and relevant.

Now let’s practice! On a blank sheet of paper, look at the following images. Write down things you might hear, see, taste, smell, or feel/touch if you were “in” these pictures After you have compiled a brief list of sensory details, write a descriptive sentence about each picture.

The Narrative Essay • A narrative essay is a story written about a personal experience. • Writing a narrative essay provides an opportunity to get to know and understand yourself better. • Narratives provide human interest, spark our curiosity, and draw us close to the storyteller.

In addition, narratives can • Create a sense of shared history • Provide entertainment • Provide insight

Traits of a Narrative Essay • Usually written in first person – “I” • Usually rely on concrete, sensory details to convey their point • Usually include these story conventions: plot, setting, characters, climax, ending • ALWAYS make a point. You don’t tell a story just for the sake of telling…your story must make a point.

Show don’t Tell • What does show don’t tell mean? • Good writing tends to draw an image in the reader’s mind instead of just telling the reader what to think or believe.

Here’s a sentence that tells. • Mr. Bobweave was a fat, ungrateful old man. • That gets the information across, but it is BORING.

A sentence that shows… • Mr. Bobweave heaved himself out of the chair. As his feet spread under his apple-like frame and his arthritic knees popped and cracked in objection, he pounded the floor with his cane while cursing that dreadful girl who was late again with his coffee. • The writer didn’t tell Mr. Bobweave was fat, he showed it by saying his “apple-like” frame.

How can you show your ideas? • Use metaphors and similes: • She landed under the window like a falling leaf. • Use quoted language: bits of conversation can enliven your writing. • Know when to quit: If you think your readers would like a little more, write the little bit more and then delete it.

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Descriptive Essay

Definition of descriptive essay.

A descriptive essay , as the name implies, is a form of essay that describes something. In this genre , students are assigned the task of describing objects, things, places, experiences, persons, and situations. The students use sensory information to enable readers to use their five senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight to understand the topic of the essay.

Qualities of a Descriptive Essay

  • Clear and Concise
  • Use of Images
  • Use of Five Senses

As far as clear and concise language is concerned, it is necessary to describe things precisely. Imagery is used to make things seem real and remarkable. The use of the five senses creates the imagery, or a mental picture, for each reader.

Difference Between a Description and a Descriptive Essay

A description could be just a paragraph, or it could be longer, as needed to fully describe the thing. However, a descriptive essay has five paragraphs. It is written in a coherent way with a good thesis statement at the end of the introduction , three body paragraphs , and a conclusion .

Examples of Descriptive Essays in Literature

Example #1:  the corner store (by eudora welty).

“Our Little Store rose right up from the sidewalk; standing in a street of family houses, it alone hadn’t any yard in front, any tree or flower bed. It was a plain frame building covered over with brick. Above the door, a little railed porch ran across on an upstairs level and four windows with shades were looking out. But I didn’t catch on to those. Running in out of the sun, you met what seemed total obscurity inside. There were almost tangible smells — licorice recently sucked in a child’s cheek, dill pickle brine1 that had leaked through a paper sack in a fresh trail across the wooden floor, ammonia-loaded ice that had been hoisted from wet croker sacks and slammed into the icebox with its sweet butter at the door, and perhaps the smell of still untrapped mice.”

This description of the “Little Store” is not only clear and concise, but also has images and sensory information about the store building.

Example #2: And the Orchestra Played On (by Joanne Lipman)

“The hinges creaked when I opened the decrepit case. I was greeted by a cascade of loose horsehair — my bow a victim of mites, the repairman later explained. It was pure agony to twist my fingers into position. But to my astonishment and that of my teenage children — who had never heard me play — I could still manage a sound. “It turned out, a few days later, that there were 100 people just like me. When I showed up at a local school for rehearsal, there they were: five decades worth of former students. There were doctors and accountants, engineers and college professors. There were people who hadn’t played in decades, sitting alongside professionals like Mr. K.’s daughter Melanie, now a violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. There were generations of music teachers.”

In the first paragraph of this descriptive excerpt, the author clearly describes the decrepit nature of the violin case, as well as the damage time has done to the bow. The second paragraph is a description of the characters , and their similarities.  Both use sensory information for effective descriptions.

Example #3: Yarn (by Koyoko Mori)

“The yellow mittens I made in seventh-grade home economics proved that I dreamed in color. For the unit on knitting, we were 1 supposed to turn in a pair of mittens. The two hands had to be precisely the same size so that when we held them together, palm to palm, no extra stitches would stick out from the thumb, the tip of the fingers, or the cuff. Somewhere between making the fourth and the fifth mitten to fulfill this requirement, I dreamed that the ball of yellow yarn in my bag had turned green. Chartreuse, leaf, Granny Smith, lime, neon, acid green. The brightness was electric. I woke up knowing that I was, once again, doomed for a D in home ec.”

See the use of colors in this paragraph by Koyoko Mori. This is called “pure description,” in that the description appeals to the senses. The use of word “brightness” in the last line is striking one.

Example #4: The Taj Mahal (by Salman Rushdie)

“And this, finally, is why the Taj Mahal must be seen: to remind us that the world is real, that the sound is truer than the echo, the original more forceful than its image in a mirror. The beauty of beautiful things is still able, in these image-saturated times, to transcend imitations. And the Taj Mahal is, beyond the power of words to say it, a lovely thing, perhaps the loveliest of things.”

Check this short description of the Taj Mahal by Salman Rushdie. This description presents a different picture of the Taj Mahal.

Function of Descriptive Essay

A descriptive essay presents a person, place, or thing, in a way that readers feel as if it is in front of their eyes, or that they are tasting it, or that they can hear it, or that they can smell it. Writers use sensory information to describe object . The object of the writer is to present a picture of something as honestly as he can.

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How to Describe my Family

This essay about the descriptive words associated with family explores various terms that encapsulate the emotional, cultural, and functional aspects of familial relationships. It highlights words like **supportive**, reflecting the emotional and practical support provided within families, and **enduring**, emphasizing the long-lasting nature of family bonds. The term **complex** acknowledges the rich and sometimes challenging dynamics within families, while **adaptive** underscores their capacity to adjust to changes. **Nurturing** points to the role of families in fostering growth and development, and **inclusive** reflects the diversity and acceptance found in modern family structures. Lastly, **unconditional** describes the steadfast and unwavering love often present in familial relationships. These descriptors collectively reveal the multifaceted nature of families and the profound impact they have on individuals and society.

How it works

When discussing the concept of family, an array of descriptive words come to mind, each encapsulating different dimensions of familial relationships. These terms not only define family structures but also reflect the emotional, cultural, and functional attributes that families embody. Exploring these descriptors helps us understand the varied experiences and the profound impact family has on individuals and society.

**Supportive** is perhaps the first term that resonates with many when thinking of family. This word underscores the role of family members who provide emotional, physical, and financial support to each other.

In a supportive family environment, members feel secure and confident that they can turn to their loved ones in times of need, whether for advice, comfort, or practical help.

**Enduring** reflects the long-lasting nature of family bonds. Unlike many social relationships that may ebb and flow, family connections are often expected to last a lifetime. This endurance is celebrated in many cultural narratives and traditions, which emphasize the strength and permanence of family ties, even in the face of challenges and changes over time.

**Complex** is a word that captures the multifaceted dynamics within families. No two families are alike, and within each unit, personalities, relationships, and histories create a rich tapestry of interactions. Families can be sources of immense love and joy, but they can also be grounds for conflict and tension. The complexity of family relationships is what makes them both challenging and rewarding.

**Adaptive** describes the ability of families to adjust to new circumstances. Whether it’s moving to a new city, adjusting to the birth of a child, coping with the loss of a loved one, or navigating the complexities of blended families, adaptability is crucial. Families that manage to adapt maintain cohesion and resilience, proving that while the structure of a family might change, its essence can remain intact.

**Nurturing** highlights the role of families in fostering growth and development. From parents teaching their children fundamental life skills to siblings helping each other navigate social challenges, the nurturing aspect of family life is central to the development of individuals. This nurturing extends beyond biological connections, evident in adoptive, foster, and chosen families who provide care and guidance.

**Inclusive** is increasingly used to describe modern families, which may diverge from traditional structures. This term appreciates the diversity within families, including those with single parents, same-sex parents, childless couples, and multi-generational households. Inclusivity in the family context emphasizes acceptance and respect for all forms of familial bonds, regardless of how they are formed.

**Unconditional** often accompanies discussions of family love. This word suggests a unique type of love that is steadfast and unwavering, regardless of circumstances. Unconditional love within a family provides a foundation of stability and assurance that, despite any difficulties or differences that may arise, the bond remains secure.

These descriptors only scratch the surface of how families can be characterized. The language we use to describe families reflects both personal experiences and cultural ideals. As society evolves, so too does the vocabulary associated with family, adapting to new understandings and norms. Ultimately, the words we choose to describe families highlight the importance of these fundamental social units in providing support, stability, and identity to their members.

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  1. Descriptive Essay Writing

    5. 2) Figurative Language Good descriptive writing often makes use of figurative language to help paint the picture in the reader's mind. There are many ways to use figurative language, and it is a talent that should be practiced until perfected. -A simile uses like or as to compare two unlike things. Example: Her smile was like sunshine. -A metaphor compares two unlike things without using ...

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    Descriptive essay. Sep 4, 2010 • Download as PPTX, PDF •. 54 likes • 55,947 views. C. coolmum4u. This is a power point showing how to write a well orgainized essay but give an example of a essay. Education. 1 of 30. Download now.

  3. Descriptive essay

    Steps to writing an effective Descriptive Essay: 1. Select a subject - Observation is the key to writing a good description. For example, if you are writing about a place, go there and take notes on the sights, sounds, and smells. A descriptive essay paints a picture for the reader, using descriptive devices and the senses.

  4. Descriptive essay powerpoint

    3. Introduction Paragraph: I can still remember the beautiful breeze on my face, the smell of the salty air and the sound of crashing waves on the shore. That day was the most relaxing day of my life. I will never forget the feeling of relaxation that I felt when I went to Jamaica, it was like I had left my world of frustration and busyness.

  5. Descriptive Essay

    Again, a descriptive essay will focus on portraying one of the following: a person a place a memory an experience an object 4. As you write your descriptive essay, the best way to create a vivid experience for your readers is to focus on the five senses. sight sound smell touch taste

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    2. DESCRIPTION Description is the pattern of narrative development that aims to make vivid a place, object, character, or group. Description is one of four rhetorical modes, along with exposition, argumentation, and narration. A description of someone or something is an account which explains what they are or what they look like.

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    Page 1 of 10,000 results for descriptive essay. Rebecca The Descriptive Essay 8 slides coolmum4u Descriptive essay 30 slides Salina Saharudin Lecture 5 Descriptive Essay 10 slides ...

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    6 Read this descriptive paragraph: The landscape was full of mystery and of life. The autumn was in full bloom. The sun cast a golden light upon the adobe walls and the cornfields; it set fire to the leaves of willows and cottonwoods along the river; and a fresh, cold wind ran down from the canyons and carried the good scents of pine and cedar ...

  9. How to write a descriptive essay

    The descriptive essay is a genre of essay that asks the student to describe somethingu2014object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc. This Presentation Includes an overview of the descriptive essay explained by essay writing experts. Students face issues while doing their descriptive essay and they search for essay experts who ...

  10. How to Write a Descriptive Essay

    An example of a short descriptive essay, written in response to the prompt "Describe a place you love to spend time in," is shown below. Hover over different parts of the text to see how a descriptive essay works. On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green ...

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    Descriptive Writing. As I sat on the beach, I felt the gentle breeze coming from the water. The warm sun was shining on the water making it sparkle. It was so peaceful. The waves crashing against the shore were soothing.

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    Steps for Writing an Descriptive Essay Step # 4: Decide upon the main idea for each of your paragraphs in the Main Body section. Step # 5: Write each of the paragraphs, starting from an introductory sentence and then going into details as you develop your thoughts. Steps for Writing an Descriptive Essay Step # 6: Write the introduction and ...

  13. 3.5: Descriptive Essays

    This page titled 3.5: Descriptive Essays is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kathryn Crowther, Lauren Curtright, Nancy Gilbert, Barbara Hall, Tracienne Ravita, and Kirk Swenson (GALILEO Open Learning Materials) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform ...

  14. PPT

    A descriptive essay is simply an essay that describes something or someone by appealing to the reader's senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Steps to writing an effective Descriptive Essay: 1. Select a subject - Observation is the key to writing a good description. For example, if you are writing about a place, go there and take ...

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    3 The Five Senses In descriptive writing, you don't have to use all of your five senses to describe. Most of the time using three of your senses to describe will be sufficient. Your five senses are sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. 4 Prewriting Before you begin writing your essay, you will have to plan for it.

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    A. Introduction: Descriptive essays teach students the basics of writing and self- expressionBesides, the descriptive describes a particular person or thing in detail (Rizky, 2020). Moreover, descriptive essay should still have a clear and largely familiar structure, with an identification and description. Descriptive Essay.

  17. Examples and Definition of Descriptive Essay

    A descriptive essay, as the name implies, is a form of essay that describes something. In this genre, students are assigned the task of describing objects, things, places, experiences, persons, and situations. The students use sensory information to enable readers to use their five senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight to understand ...

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    Teachinf Students to write a descriptive passage. Donate a coffee. English ESL Powerpoints. Descriptive Writing. Descriptive Writing. polkadot3. 1035. 6. 1. 0. 1/5 ...

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    An objective description essay describes an object, place or person with factual details. The writer avoids imparting his personal opinions or feelings into the essay. The goal is to use words to create a picture of the item being described..... Smell, appearance, sounds, sights, tastes and texture are all things to include in a descriptive essay about a location.

  20. How To Describe My Family

    This essay about the descriptive words associated with family explores various terms that encapsulate the emotional, cultural, and functional aspects of familial relationships. It highlights words like **supportive**, reflecting the emotional and practical support provided within families, and **enduring**, emphasizing the long-lasting nature ...

  21. How to write a better descriptive essay (3247) urdu A p1

    How to write a better descriptive essay (3247) urdu A p1. I am distinctly average or below average, in the exam i prefer to do a descriptive essay or "ankhon dekha haal" how can i write a better one. Considering i don't really know any muhawre aswell. 1. Add a Comment.

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