An essay is a written composition of moderate length exploring a particular issue or subject. Descriptive essays, derived from the word describe, is a genre of essay that asks the student to describe something—object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc. Writers use the descriptive essay to create a vivid picture of a person, place, or thing. Unlike a narrative essay, which reveals meaning through a personal story, the purpose of a descriptive essay is to reveal the meaning of a subject through detailed, sensory observation.
If readers also feel an emotional connection and deep appreciation for the subject’s significance, the writer has done a great job. The descriptive essay employs the power of language and all the human senses to bring a subject to life for the reader. When you write a descriptive essay, you want to involve the reader’s senses and emotions. For example, you could say, “I got sleepy” or describe it like this, “As I was waiting for Santa, my eyelids began to get heavy, the lights on the tree began to blur with the green branches, and my head started to drop. ” The second sentence gives vivid details to make the reader feel like he is there.
Also one should employ the use of concrete language which would the description seem clearer and more real to the reader instead of the use of abstract language which would make the description difficult to visualize. Example, abstract language: It was a nice day. Concrete language: The sun was shining and a slight breeze blew across my face. In writing a descriptive essay, one should not rely on adjectives that attempt to characterize a thing’s attributes; good, nice, bad, or beautiful rather one should be, more specific and use sensory, descriptive words.
The Essay on Descriptive Language And The Lady Of Shallot
In any piece of lyrical poetry, authors must masterfully use the language of the poem to covey the intended meaning. In order to ensure the meaning is not lost, it is imperative that the author incorporates various aspects of the narrative to escalate the poem past its face value. Alfred Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shallot" is no exception to the rule. From lines like "blue unclouded weather" and ...
steps in writing a descriptive essay Prewriting for the Descriptive Essay In writing a descriptive essay, one is supposed to choose a topic that has many interesting parts or qualities to talk about. You need a really vivid imagination or there would be difficulty in writing. Once a topic is chosen, the writer should spend time thinking about the qualities they want to describe. Brainstorm about all the details associated with the topic. Even when not writing about a place, reflect on the surroundings. Where is the object located?
Where does the person live? Consider not just physical characteristics, but also what memories, feelings, and ideas the subject evokes. Memory and emotion play an important role in conveying the subject’s significance. Plan the focus of each paragraph and create an outline that puts these details into a logical sequence. Also one should have a thesis statement included, this would state the purpose of the essay and would govern all the information that is in the entire essay. Drafting a Descriptive Essay
When creating the initial draft of a descriptive essay, it is important to follow the outline, the goal is to give the reader a rich experience of the subject. One should keep in mind, the most important watchword of writing a descriptive essay is show, and not to tell. One of the best ways to show is to involve all of the senses—not just sight, but also hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Writing should be done in a way so the reader will see the sunset, hear the song, smell the flowers, taste the pie, or feel the touch of a hand. Revising a Descriptive Essay
In revising a descriptive essay, one should review, modify, and reorganize his/her work with the goal of making it the best it can be. In doing so the following considerations should be in mind: Does the essay unfold in a way that helps the reader fully appreciate the subject? Do any paragraphs confuse more than describe? Does the word choice and figurative language involve the five senses and convey emotion and meaning? Are there enough details to give the reader a complete picture? Has a connection been made between the description and its meaning to the writer?
The Term Paper on Descriptive Writing Samples
... apart from the ‘smell’ paragraph. This is a major weakness. Ever since descriptive writing became a requirement in ... and this demonstrates the point that it is important any imagery used is appropriate and sensible. ... The Descriptive Writing task in Unit 3 is worth 7. 5% of the subject award and is marked ... This has a negative affect disengaging the reader who is left wondering why candyfloss should be ...
Will the reader be able to identify with the conclusion made? Also one should try not to cram too much into one paragraph, in doing so; each paragraph would be used to describe a different aspect of the subject. It is advisable to make sure the essay flows from one paragraph to next with good transition statements. Editing a Descriptive Essay At this point in the writing process, the writer is to proofread, correct errors in grammar and mechanics and also to improve and clarity. It is important to watch out for cliches and loading up on adjectives and adverbs.
