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DESCRIBING

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. The descriptive
essay employs the power of language and all the human senses to bring a subject to life for the
reader. If readers come away from a descriptive essay with the feeling that they have really met a
person, gone to a particular place, or held a certain object, the writer has done a good job. If
readers also feel an emotional connection and deep appreciation for the subject’s significance, the
writer has done a great job.

THE FIVE-STEP WRITING PROCESS FOR DESCRIPTIVE ESSAYS

Professional writers know one thing: Writing takes work. Understanding and following the proven
steps of the writing process helps all writers, including students. Here are descriptive essay writing
tips for each phase of the writing process:

1. Prewriting for the Descriptive Essay

In the prewriting phase of descriptive essay writing, students should take time to think about who
or what they want to describe and why. Do they want to write about a person of significance in
their lives, or an object or place that holds meaning? The topic doesn’t have to be famous or
unusual. The person could be a grandparent, the object, a favorite toy, and the place, a tree house.
Once a topic is chosen, students 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.

2. Drafting a Descriptive Essay

When creating the initial draft of a descriptive essay, follow the outline, but remember, the goal is
to give the reader a rich experience of the subject. Keep in mind, the most important watchword of
writing a descriptive essay is show, don’t 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. Write so the reader will see the
sunset, hear the song, smell the flowers, taste the pie, or feel the touch of a hand. Don’t
Tell…Show! Use descriptive and figurative language, as well as concrete images to describe the
subject. Similes and metaphors work well. A descriptive essay doesn’t rely on facts and examples,
but on the writer’s ability to create a mental picture for the reader.

Here are some examples:

Telling..............The house was old.

Showing............The house frowned with a wrinkled brow, and inside it creaked with each step,
releasing a scent of neglected laundry.

3. Revising a Descriptive Essay------In the revision phase, students review, modify, and
reorganize their work with the goal of making it the best it can be. In revising a descriptive essay,
students should reread their work with these considerations in mind:
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1. Does the essay unfold in a way that helps the reader fully appreciate the subject? Do any
paragraphs confuse more than describe?
2. Does the word choice and figurative language involve the five senses and convey emotion and
meaning?
3. Are there enough details to give the reader a complete picture?
4. Has a connection been made between the description and its meaning to the writer? Will the
reader be able to identify with the conclusion made?

Always keep the reader in mind from opening to concluding paragraph. A descriptive essay must be
precise in its detail, yet not get ahead of itself. It’s better to go from the general to the specific.
Otherwise, the reader will have trouble building the image in their mind’s eye. For example, don’t
describe a glossy coat of fur before telling the reader the essay is about a dog!

4. Editing a Descriptive Essay

At this point in the writing process, writers proofread and correct errors in grammar and mechanics.
It’s also the time to improve style and clarity. Watch out for clichés and loading up on adjectives and
adverbs. Having a friend read the essay helps writers see trouble spots and edit with a fresh
perspective.

5. Publishing a Descriptive Essay

Sharing a descriptive essay with the rest of the class can be both exciting and a bit scary. Remember,
there isn’t a writer on earth who isn’t sensitive about his or her own work. The important thing is to
learn from the experience and take whatever feedback is given to make the next essay even better.
Example;

I............THE BLOND GUITAR BY JEREMY BURDEN

My most valuable possession is an old, slightly warped blond guitar―the first instrument I taught
myself how to play. It’s nothing fancy, just a Madeira folk guitar, all scuffed and scratched and
fingerprinted. At the top is a bramble of copper-wound strings, each one hooked through the eye of a
silver tuning key. The strings are stretched down a long, slim neck, its frets tarnished, the wood worn
by years of fingers pressing chords and picking notes. The body of the Madeira is shaped like an
enormous yellow pear, one that was slightly damaged in shipping. The blond wood has been chipped
and gouged to gray, particularly where the pick guard fell off years ago. No, it’s not a beautiful
instrument, but it still lets me make music, and for that I will always treasure it.

Notice how the writer below uses a topic sentence to open his paragraph, then uses the following
sentences to add specific details. The author creates an image for the mind’s eye to travel across by
describing the parts of the guitar in a logical fashion, from the strings on the head to the worn wood
on the body.

II...........GREGORY BY BARBARA CARTER

Gregory is my beautiful gray Persian cat. He walks with pride and grace, performing a dance of
disdain as he slowly lifts and lowers each paw with the delicacy of a ballet dancer. His pride,
however, does not extend to his appearance, for he spends most of his time indoors watching
television and growing fat. He enjoys TV commercials, especially those for Meow Mix and 9 Lives.
His familiarity with cat food commercials has led him to reject generic brands of cat food in favour of
only the most expensive brands. Gregory is as finicky about visitors as he is about what he eats,
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befriending some and repelling others. He may snuggle up against your ankle, begging to be petted, or
he may imitate a skunk and stain your favorite trousers. Gregory does not do this to establish his
territory, as many cat experts think, but to humiliate me because he is jealous of my friends. After my
guests have fled, I look at the old fleabag snoozing and smiling to himself in front of the television
set, and I have to forgive him for his obnoxious, but endearing, habits.

The writer here focuses less on the physical appearance of her pet than on the cat's habits and
actions. Personification is an effective literary device for giving lifelike detail to an inanimate object
or an animal, and Carter uses it to great effect. Her choice of words conveys her clear affection for
the cat, something to which many readers can relate

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DEFINING/ DEFINITION ESSAY

A definition essay is writing that explains what a term means. Some terms have definite, concrete
meanings, such as glass, book, or tree. Terms such as honesty, honor, or love are abstract and depend
more on a person's point of view.

Three Steps to Effective Definition

1. Tell readers what term is being defined.

2. Present clear and basic information.
3. Use facts, examples, or anecdotes that readers will understand.

Choosing a Definition

Choosing a definition is a key step in writing a definition essay. You need to understand the term
before you can define it for others. Read the dictionary, but don't just copy the definition. Explain the
term briefly in your own words. Also, it's important to limit your term before you start defining it. For
example, you could write forever on the term "Skills of communication." To limit it, you would write
about either writing skill, listening skill, reading skill and speaking skill. The thesis statement usually
identifies the term being defined and provides a brief, basic definition. (term) (basic definition) Ex:
Assertiveness is standing up for your rights.

How to Write an Effective Definition

Create a definition. There are several ways to define a term. Here are a few options.

Define by function. Explain what something does or how something works.

Define by structure. Tell how something is organized or put together.

Define by analysis. Compare the term to other members of its class and then illustrate the differences.
These differences are special characteristics that make the term stand out. For example, compare a
Siberian husky to other dogs, such as lap dogs, mutts, or sporting dogs.

(term) (precise definition) Ex: A Siberian husky is a dog reputed for its ability to tolerate cold, its
distinctive features, and its keen strength and stamina.
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Define by what the term does not mean. This distinction can sometimes clarify a definition and help a
reader to better understand it.

Use understandable facts, examples, or anecdotes. Select facts, examples, or anecdotes to fully
explain your definition. Ask yourself, "Which examples will best help readers understand the term?
What examples would most appeal to my readers? Will a brief story reveal the term's meaning?" Do
not use any examples that will not support the definition.

Remember: A definition essay is writing that explains what a term means. When writing a definition
essay, remember to tell readers what term is being defined, to present a clear and basic definition, and
to use facts, examples, or anecdotes that readers will understand.

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CLASSIFYING/ CLASSIFICATION ESSAY

In a classification essay, a writer organizes, or sorts, things into categories. Three Steps to Effective
Classification:

1. Sort things into useful categories.

2. Make sure all the categories follow a single organizing principle.
3. Give examples that fit into each category.

Finding Categories

This is a key step in writing a classification essay. To classify, or sort, things in a logical way, find the
categories to put them into. For example, say you need to sort the stack of papers on your desk.
Before you would put them in random piles, you would decide what useful categories might be:
papers that can be thrown away; papers that need immediate action; papers to read; papers to pass on
to other co workers; or papers to file.

Thesis Statement of a Classification Essay

The thesis statement usually includes the topic and how it is classified. Sometimes the categories are
named. (topic)...(how classified)...(category) (category) (category)

Ex: Tourists in Hawaii can enjoy three water sports: snorkeling, surfing, and sailing.

How to Write an Effective Classification Essay

1. Determine the categories. Be thorough; don't leave out a critical category. For example, if
you say water sports of Hawaii include snorkeling and sailing, but leave out surfing, your
essay would be incomplete because surfing is Hawaii's most famous water sport. On the other
hand, don't include too many categories, which will blur your classification. For example, if
your topic is sports shoes, and your organizing principle is activity, you wouldn't include high
heels with running and bowling shoes.
2. Classify by a single principle. Once you have categories, make sure that they fit into the
same organizing principle. The organizing principle is how you sort the groups. Do not allow
a different principle to pop up unexpectedly. For example, if your unifying principle is
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"tourist-oriented" water sports, don't use another unifying principle, such as "native water
sports," which would have different categories: pearl diving, outrigger, or canoe racing.
3. Support equally each category with examples. In general, you should write the same
quantity, i.e., give the same number of examples, for each category. The most important
category, usually reserved for last, might require more elaboration.

Common Classification Transitions

1. The first kind, the second kind, the third kind

2. The first type, the second type, the third type
3. The first group, the second group, the third group

Remember: In a classification essay, the writer organizes, or sorts, things into categories. There are
three steps to remember when writing an effective classification essay: organize things into useful
categories, use a single organizing principle, and give examples of things that fit into each category.

Below are some sample classification essay topics: Classification of historical events in India,
Countries classification (territory, popularity, etc), Most Popular TV Shows in India, Classification of
Epidemic Diseases

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ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
PROVIDING EXAMPLES OR EVIDENCE//WHAT IS EVIDENCE?

Evidence is the facts, examples, or sources used to support a claim. In the sciences, this might be data
retrieved from an experiment or a scientific journal article. In the humanities, it may be a quotation
from the text, published information from academic critics, or a theory that supports your claims.
Evidence can be separated into two categories, primary and secondary sources.

What are Primary Sources?

Primary sources are first-hand experiences, accounts, observations, reports, or narratives. Primary
sources could include diaries, letters, contemporary newspapers, or eyewitness accounts of events.
Official documents (e.g. the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms), data collected from surveys,
and lab results are also primary sources. In the humanities, the text you are writing about is also
considered your primary text. So, for example, if you are writing a paper on Macbeth, then the play is
your primary source. In the sciences, primary sources are also the results of an experiment that have
been peer-reviewed and published in an academic journal.

What are Secondary Sources?

Secondary sources are critiques written by academics and scholars. These sources are considered
secondary because they examine primary sources to present an argument or support a point of view;
as such, they may be selective with their evidence or insert themselves in a debate happening among a
number of scholars. In the sciences, reviews, which are surveys of articles that demonstrate an
understanding of a field, are considered secondary. It is a good idea to be aware of the bias in
secondary sources when employing them as evidence.
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Frequently the assignment will specify whether you need to use primary or secondary sources;
however, if you are unsure about what kind of sources you need, ask your professor for clarification.

Among the forms of evidence you might draw from are:

Graphs, charts, tables, or figures, Statistics, Experiments or studies done by peer-reviewed sources,
Surveys conducted by reputable sources, Interviews, Quotes or paraphrases from primary or
secondary sources

Standards for Evidence

Each discipline and each genre of writing will have standards against which it will gauge the
academic merit and use of evidence. But some general rules apply (a detailed explanation of each rule
follows this list):

1. Make sure your evidence is appropriate to the paper you are writing
2. Make sure the evidence does, in fact, support your argument or your claims
3. Tell your reader why this evidence supports your argument/claims
4. Make sure you have an appropriate amount of evidence
5. Make sure to appropriately cite your evidence

Selecting Evidence

Much of how to use evidence is about finding a clear and logical relation between the evidence you
use and your claim. For example, if you are asked to write a paper on the effects of pollution on
watersheds, you would not use a story your grandfather told you about the river he used to swim in
that is now polluted. You would look for peer-reviewed journal articles by experts on the subject.

Once you have found the appropriate type of evidence, it is important to select the evidence that
supports your specific claim. For example, if you are writing a psychology paper on the role of
emotions in decision-making, you would look for psychology journal articles that connect these two
elements.

Analyzing Evidence

Once you have selected your evidence it is important to tell you reader why the evidence supports
your claim. Evidence does not speak for itself: some readers may draw different conclusions from
your evidence, or may not understand the relation between your evidence and your claim. It is up to
you to walk your reader through the significance of the evidence to your claim and your larger
argument. In short, you need a reason why the evidence supports the claim – you need to analyze the
evidence. Some questions you could consider are:

1. Why is this evidence interesting or effective?

2. What are the consequences or implications of this evidence?
3. Why is this information important?
4. How has it been important to my paper or to the field I am studying?
5. How is this idea related to my thesis?
6. This evidence points to a result of an experiment or study, can I explain why these results are
important or what caused them?
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7. Can I give an example to illustrate this point?

8. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence presented?
9. Incorporating Evidence

THREE STANDARD WAYS TO INCORPORATE EVIDENCE INTO YOUR PAPER:

1. Paraphrasing
2. Summarizing
3. quoting.

Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Paraphrasing is communicating the ideas of a source in your own words. Summarizing is

communicating the essential or distilled argument of a source in your own words, without changing
the meaning or intent of the original source. Paraphrasing and summarizing allows you to interrogate,
criticize, analyze, or build on someone else's argument.

When paraphrasing or summarizing, you must make it absolutely clear that the ideas being presented
are not your own, even if the words you are using to communicate them are yours. For example, if
you are writing a philosophy paper that asks you to argue for an effective form of governance, you
might choose to summarize Rousseau's ideas of participatory democracy and Hobbes' ideas on
absolute monarchy; you could use phrases like 'Hobbes argues…' or 'Rousseau insists…' to highlight
that what follows is not your original idea. You would then insert a citation at the end of the
paraphrased or summarized evidence. You could then use this summary to compare the ideas, forming
your own analysis.

Quotations

Quotations are rarely used in scientific writing. Even in other disciplines, they should be used
selectively; you want to make sure that the focus of your essay is on your own understanding of the
topic and your own voice. However, quoting is useful when the source's exact words are special or
distinctive, or when you want to preserve the full impact of the original source. Depending on the
assignment, you may also want to use quotations when the source itself is written by an authority on
the topic. For example, if you are writing a paper on the history of multiculturalism in Canada, you
may want to quote Pierre Trudeau, as the first Prime Minister to create an official policy on
multiculturalism in Canada. There are two types of quotations: short and long. Generally, shorter
quotations are more effective. Shorter quotations enable you to maintain your own critical voice while
using evidence to support your own analysis. When we make decisions about what to include in a
shorter quotation, a central question must be asked: Does the choice of words matter? If the specific
words used do add to your argument, then quote. However, if there is nothing remarkable about the
words used, paraphrase or summarize the argument.

Conclusion

It is important to remember that evidence does lend your claims credibility; without evidence, your
claims will register only as opinion. It is also very important to remember that to use evidence
effectively means to incorporate it well and to analyse it in a way that makes its connection to your
argument clear and logical.

Citing your Evidence Finally, after integrating your evidence into your paper, it is very important
that you properly cite your evidence. Each discipline has their preferred style (MLA, APA, Chicago,
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etc.); if you are unclear what citation style to use, ask your professor or teaching assistant for
direction.