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).
One might benefit
from keeping in mind this simple maxim: If the reader is unable to clearly form
an impression of the thing that you are describing, try, try again!
Here are some
guidelines for writing a descriptive essay.
·
Take time to brainstorm
If your instructor
asks you to describe your favorite food, make sure that you jot 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.
·
Choose vivid language.
Why use horse
when you can choose stallion? Why not use tempestuous instead of violent?
Or why not miserly in place of cheap? Such choices form a firmer
image in the mind of the reader and often times offer nuanced meanings that
serve better one’s purpose.
·
Use your senses!
Remember, 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. Embellish the moment
with senses.
·
What were you thinking?!
If you can
describe emotions or feelings related to your topic, you will connect with the
reader on a deeper level. Many have felt crushing loss in their lives, or
ecstatic joy, or mild complacency. Tap into this emotional reservoir in order
to achieve your full descriptive potential.
·
Leave the reader
with a clear impression.
One of your goals
is to evoke a strong sense of familiarity and appreciation in the reader. If
your reader can walk away from the essay craving the very pizza you just
described, you are 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. However, you must strive to present an organized and logical description
if the reader is to come away from the essay with a cogent sense of what it is
you are attempting to describe.
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