A descriptive essay should give the reader a clear image of a person,
object, place, or event. The essay should have good descriptions and
vivid sensory details. You may need to write a descriptive essay for a
class or decide to try out the form for fun. To start a descriptive
essay, begin by brainstorming topics and outlining the essay. Then,
create a strong opening for the essay so your reader is drawn into the
narrative.
Choose a person to describe. One possible topic for a descriptive essay is a person that you feel strongly about, such as a mentor, a friend, a parent, or a role model. The person may be someone very close to you who knew you during a formative period in your life, such as your mother. Or the person could be someone you do not know well who has qualities you admire or wish to emulate, such as your favorite basketball player.
Choose a person to describe. One possible topic for a descriptive essay is a person that you feel strongly about, such as a mentor, a friend, a parent, or a role model. The person may be someone very close to you who knew you during a formative period in your life, such as your mother. Or the person could be someone you do not know well who has qualities you admire or wish to emulate, such as your favorite basketball player.
- If you are writing the descriptive essay for a college application, you may choose a person who is a role model or a mentor to you. When I think of such a person, I have the idea to write an essay about my father who the one I admire. Describing this person in the essay will give you the chance to discuss why this person is important to you and the lessons you have learn from this person.
Describe an object. Another possible topic option for
a descriptive essay is an object that has meaning or significance to
you. The object could be from childhood or adolescence. It could be your
favorite object as a kid or the object you hated the most. Maybe the
object has sentimental value or holds deep meaning for you.
- For example, you may choose your favorite childhood toy as the topic for the essay. You could then describe the toy and what it meant to you growing up.
Select a place to describe. Identify a place that is
important to you and describe it in your essay. The place could be your
hometown, your bedroom, or your favorite spot at school. You could also
choose the ideal place, or where you would go if you could go anywhere
in the world.
- For example, you may choose the most beautiful place you have ever been to. You can then describe the experience of the place and how it made you feel.
Pick an event or memory to describe. Choose a
significant event in your life and use it as the topic of your essay.
The event could have happened recently or very far back in the past.
Pick an event that taught you something or shifted your world view.
- For example, you may choose the first time you got your period or the first time you visited a relative in the hospital.
Go for a chronological pattern. One option for
outlining a descriptive essay is to use a chronological pattern, where
you move in the order of time. The writing will move from scene to
scene, describing events or moments as they happened. This is a good
outlining option if you are writing about an event or memory in your
descriptive essay. The outline will look like:
Begin with a hook first line. Draw your reader in by starting with a first line that will grab the reader’s attention right away. The first line could start in scene with a strong description of an event, place, object, or person. You could also describe the first time you experienced an event, place, object, or person. Take the reader straight into the experience so they feel immersed and engaged.
Use sensory details. A key element of a good descriptive essay is a lot of details that focus on the five senses: smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound. Put a lot of sensory details into your opening paragraph. Describe how a scene sounds or tastes. Discuss how an object feels or smells. Explore how a place sounds and looks.
- Paragraph 1: Introduction
- Paragraph 2: Scene 1
- Paragraph 3: Scene 2
- Paragraph 4: Scene 3
- Paragraph 5: Conclusion
- You can use five paragraphs for this outline or have more than one paragraph for each scene.
Begin with a hook first line. Draw your reader in by starting with a first line that will grab the reader’s attention right away. The first line could start in scene with a strong description of an event, place, object, or person. You could also describe the first time you experienced an event, place, object, or person. Take the reader straight into the experience so they feel immersed and engaged.
Use sensory details. A key element of a good descriptive essay is a lot of details that focus on the five senses: smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound. Put a lot of sensory details into your opening paragraph. Describe how a scene sounds or tastes. Discuss how an object feels or smells. Explore how a place sounds and looks.