When asked to write a descriptive essay, your mind might automatically focus on the word “describe.” That’s pretty much the definition of the phrase. It is an assignment where you’re asked to describe some situation, person, object, or scenario. It would be best if you aimed to provide vivid and imaginative perspectives on the item you’re attempting to depict.
However, one also wonders why descriptive essays are obligatory throughout college or school. Well, it provides a general template for using assertive communication skills to portray a picture for others. Hence, while you’re writing away, aim to be as detail-oriented as possible. A professor expects you to be able to provide an image of the item you’re describing.
As it is a test of skill, language, creativity, and organization, this article explains everything required for a descriptive essay. Learn the definition of a descriptive essay and the various elements it entails.
What Is a Descriptive Essay?
To understand the phrase’s definition, you must refer to two items. First, remember that people regard a descriptive essay as the most expressive type of writing. That means that the details throughout are emphasized. The second thing is knowing that the ultimate way of understanding the entailed is through a sample description essay. Always refer to samples of description essays to fully comprehend the weight of the phrase. Some include descriptive essay person examples, which provide examples from professional writers to help you kickstart your journey.
Many students seem to confuse a narrative essay with a descriptive one. The significant difference is that a narrative piece allows you to express your personal story through creativity. On the other hand, an essay on descriptive writing solely focuses on optimizing the ability to play around with taste, hearing, touch, sight, and smell. You are supposed to create a captivating image of something, whether it’s a person, personal experience, object, or even a place. The ultimate way of doing so is tapping into your emotions and directing them into words that grasp someone’s attention.
Elements to Use in a Descriptive Essay
The key to writing the ultimate descriptive piece is channeling your inner creativity. Ensure you aim toward the details rather than the bigger picture. Imagine you’re attempting to do this: paint a picture of the object you are describing. Your reader is supposed to be able to relate to your writing closely and almost imagine something tangible, quite similar to the actual thing. There are five main elements when it comes to this type of piece.
- Organization Writing Techniques
This is often the most underrated technique you should practice. You cannot merely throw in all your concepts and ideas when working on a paper. Instead, organize your thoughts according to spatial location, the importance of features, or even chronological order.
- Theme-Focused
Diverting from the topic will most likely deter you from your path. Avoid analyzing anything excessive surrounding your target object. Excessive details that are unrelated to the theme overwhelm the reader.
- Figurative Language for Description
A persuasive attempt to create a picture for a reader often comes through figurative language. It includes numerous literary devices, such as personification, metaphors, and similies. While they’re figurative and do not provide literal meaning, it acts as a unique method of sparking imagination within the reader. Aim your focus toward hyperboles, similes, onomatopoeia, alliteration, and metaphors.
- Describe Using Senses
There isn’t a better way of describing a situation than using your senses. What is a descriptive essay? Well, it’s the ability to use your senses to influence others. Let’s assume you’re focusing on a person. How does that person smell like (any specific perfume they use)? How would you describe their visual appearance? Does their voice sound shrill or deep? If you have touched them, are their hands rough or smooth?
- Focus On Powerful Words
Avoid using simplistic words, such as the 500 most common words in the English dictionary. This provides you with a much stronger piece. Hence, aim to find as many various synonyms to the simplistic words you’re using. Afterward, change up the adjectives and adverbs. Try to describe any word through those thoroughly.
Types of Descriptive Essays
There is a myriad of topics you can write about, but the types of descriptive essays boil down to only two. The first one is concrete, and the second one is abstract. This entail something that is relatively straightforward. A concrete piece revolves around something tangible, which you can describe using your senses. This includes an object, a food item, or even a day at the office.
However, an abstract is a bit more complicated. This is when you should describe an intangible word. It could revolve around a specific word or even an emotion. Hence, you cannot simply use the same senses you’ve used before. Instead, harness those abilities into something else. Relate to the word through more literary devices, as you can express the phrase’s definition through context. But how can you use context? Relate to the description using situations and experiences anyone can understand.
Some examples of concrete topics include a walk, a piece of paper, a sandwich, your best friend, or even a travel destination. On the other hand, an abstract part requires you to explain a feeling or a concept. That could include racism, love, work, poverty, smile, or other intangible phrases.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether your professor has assigned you a topic, the first approach to descriptive writing is using essay samples to guide you through. Once you have nailed down the first essay, then you will slowly be able to excel at it. However, remember that there are two different types; abstract and concrete.
You will often use the same techniques for all the topics, but some require more senses or different ones. Moreover, aim your focus towards optimizing the language you have. This allows you to analyze the picture you have in mind vividly. That also enables you to portray a more specific image to your reader, guaranteeing a much better quality piece.
