Descriptive Essay Intro with Examples

Writing descriptive essays makes it easier for writers to convey their ideas when writing. Descriptive essays are more expressive than analytical essays.

In a descriptive essay, writers use language to paint a picture of the topic. To describe objects, people, and events, they use sensory words. Articles about places and people usually involve visual, auditory, or tactile senses.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the descriptive essay and provide a detailed outline on how to write one. Let’s get started.

fountain pen on black lined paper
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

What Exactly is a Descriptive Essay?

A descriptive essay is a composition or document that offers a detailed account of a specific thing, person, process, or event. It is the writer’s intention to produce a vivid reading experience, or “show” rather than “tell” (metaphorically).

Senses of taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight are frequently used in descriptive writing. In a descriptive essay, it is important to always appeal to the reader’s senses.

To achieve this, you will use all five senses in your writing of a descriptive essay. Finally, whatever you do should serve a greater goal. It might be anything, from a life lesson to the tale of an item’s significance in your life. Making your brilliant ideas a reality is the ultimate goal.

Compare and Contrast a Detailed Narrative with a Descriptive Essay

Writers of such papers should be familiar with the distinction between describing something and writing a descriptive essay. A description can consist of a single paragraph or even multiple paragraphs with no overarching framework.

However, a descriptive essay would include five or more paragraphs and a more developed outline.

An effective descriptive essay follows a standard format that includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion that restates the thesis statement.

A description, however, does not adhere to any particular structure. Its primary function is to provide a straightforward description of a subject, free of any intellectual pretensions.

Possible Topics for Your Research Paper

1. Describe a person

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a certain individual. It can be as simple as describing the person’s physical characteristics or as involved as describing their inner state, personality traits, and habits.

2. A location

When describing a location in your writing, it is most important to do so in a way that is both engaging and original. The reader(s) of your work should have a sense of the beauty of the cities you choose.

3. Describe an event

In this section, you should explain what transpired. It could be the last time you went on a trip, attended a concert, got married, etc,. An event could also be in the form of anniversary celebration, graduate from high school, attend a music festival, or do anything else.

4. Animals

This category requires you to supply specifics about the animal. Maybe it’s the way it acts or the way its body is built.

5. A profession

Work or profession should be the focus of your writing here.

6. A person’s action or pattern

If you want to describe someone’s actions in a piece of writing, you should choose this approach. Maybe you want to explain your friend’s odd habits, or you want to show how particular types of individuals react in certain scenarios.

Two Traditional Methods of Writing a Descriptive Essay

1. Personal Descriptive Essay

Here, you’ll have to use your emotions and reactions to describe an experience. This is because you seek empathy from readers.

Writing a strong personal essay requires zeroing in on the core elements that best illustrate your journey. Don’t be afraid to use colorful words and imagery in this type of essay.

Here are a few suggestions for subjects for your personal essay:

  • What you’re most afraid of
  • What you’re grateful for
  • One thing you love that might surprise others

2. Formal Description

An argumentative essay structure best describes this style of writing. Your primary objective should be to convey a coherent set of essential ideas. It could also be to provide a detailed description of some topic in an organized fashion.

Use certain types of information to paint the most accurate picture of what you’re describing rather than relying solely on your personal experience.

A reader who is more interested in the paper’s topic than the author’s reaction to it may find this method more interesting. Nonetheless, avoid using overly formal language that will make the writing tedious to read.

Formal descriptions may be used to describe:

  • Details about significant occurrences in the environment, government, or past.
  • A brief news report detailing the circumstances surrounding an event or its location.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay

Descriptive essay should encompass both the emotions and the physical purview of the writer. Think about what you saw and what you felt, and let that shine in every word.

The end result should be a piece of art that paints a photo of what you saw or felt in your realm of emotions.

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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