Knowstics Academy Study Guide

Descriptive Writing
COMPILED BY C. MUYAMBWA

Contents
 What is Descriptive Writing?
 The purpose of descriptive writing
 Descriptive Writing Techniques
 Descriptive Writing Examples
 Types of Descriptive Writing
 Features of Descriptive Writing
 Tips for good descriptive writing work

So let’s begin the reading of this blog

What is Descriptive Writing?

We can define descriptive writing as a type of writing that gives a clear and concise
description of everything. It includes places, people, object or an event. The primary
objective of descriptive writing is to provide a clear picture of the place, people or thing in
reader’s mind. The writer provides enough details to evoke the senses. A reader can feel all
their senses working while reading any descriptive writing work.

Descriptive writing is used to draw vivid details in the reader’s mind. The reader will use
sensory details when he/she reads the text. He can feel the environment of the text through
senses like seeing, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. This form of writing will help the readers
to go into a world of the writer. You can find descriptive writing in almost all forms of
writing styles. These styles include a journal, travel writing, biographies, poetry, diary
writing, nature writing, memoirs, etc.

The purpose of descriptive writing

Being a student you want to understand and know the reason why one must use descriptive
writing. For every student, the end purpose of writing a descriptive work is the same, which
is to describe. You need to give a perfect description of the topic which you are describing.
Your description should be so realistic that reader can feel it.

Let’s see first the purposes of descriptive writing for students:

 It helps in writing paragraphs and essays in a detailed and structured manner. You
will learn how to describe various small and large things. It helps you to maintain
balance, and you get the idea what should you need to elaborate and what is not.

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  Descriptive writing helps in holding the reader for your writing work. By this I mean
your reader will stay attracted towards your text. It will keep your reader engaged in
your work. An engaging work would be the best compliment for any writer. So if you
want to see yourself as an excellent writer, enhance your skills of descriptive writing.

 Are you the one who lacks the vocabulary, or feel difficulty in writing because of a
shortage of new words. It’s time to practice descriptive writing. Why I am saying this
because, it will help you in finding new words and enhances your vocabulary, when
you get the task to write more and more, you will look out on the internet for various
new words. This automatically enhances your knowledge regarding the new words.
 Descriptive writing is a great way if you want to clarify any topic or any subject. It
describes everything. You will see that you have to describe minute details as well as
other details in an elaborative manner. So more the description, better clarity it will
make.
 With the help of descriptive writing, you will learn how to present sensory details.
The presentation of sensory details will help in conveying the main idea. For those
who are planning to be a novelist or a writer, descriptive writing is gold for them.

Descriptive Writing Techniques

As I have told you the definition of descriptive writing, it should contain all sensory details.
Your writing should evoke sight, taste, sound, smell, and touch. Evoking these senses is not
as easy as it looks. You have to gain mastery over the descriptive form of writing. Only then
you can make your writing work an excellent one. Below I am going to tell you some tips to
enhance your descriptive writing skills.

Select a Right Topic

The first and most important thing is to choose the right topic. Before writing anything,
choose topic right. You should be able to write on your selected topic. You must be able to
provide a precise description of your topic to the reader. Your topic should have enough
details to convince and involve the reader. Your topic should be able to make a picture in the
reader’s mind.

Use Descriptive Words

As it is descriptive writing, so words should also be descriptive. If your words are descriptive
only then it will help you in a precise description. Use words which can provide sensory
details more clearly.

Organize all the details in a Chronological Order

When you are writing a descriptive article, structure everything logically and in correct order.
Your details should not be erratic. Otherwise, it will reduce the readability and reader will not
stay connected.

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Use Figurative Language

Whenever you are writing a descriptive essay or paragraphs, use figurative languages like
simile and metaphors. For example, Her smile was like sunshine.

Figurative language will add feelings to your text and enhances the value of your work. A
reader will also find your work as a masterpiece of writing. It will help in stimulating the
interest of the readers.

Descriptive Writing Examples

Now after talking so much about descriptive writing techniques, I think we should now see
examples. Below you can see a few good examples of descriptive writing:

 The Life of Robert Mugabe

 Describe the Dining Hall at Knowstics Academy

 Describe the Beauty of Victoria Falls
 The Great Nyangani Mountain Range
 The Holly Palm Sunday
 Description of your childhood memories
 An event that changed your life
 A trauma or happiness

These are the few examples of writing or beginning descriptive writing. You can choose any
topic of your choice also. But keep in mind that your topic should have things which you can
fluently describe and evoke some kind of emotion in the reader. This will make the writing
work more impressive.

Types of Descriptive Writing

Now its time to look out for the types of descriptive writing. These types will help you more
to know in what way you should begin descriptive writing. As I said earlier, descriptive
writing could be seen in any form of writing. Whichever writing is describing things in a
detailed manner, it is called descriptive writing.

Let’s have a look at them one by one:

Biography

A biography is a form of detailed work, tell you about famous people’s life. A biography may
include many surprising facts and details which you never heard.

Travel writing

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This would be the best thing one would love to experience. Being a writer, you will love to
write on travel topics. Being a reader one would love to read on travel topics. Travel writing
also allows the writer to portray skills of descriptive writing in a great way. You have to
describe the beauty and uniqueness about the places you visit. Your words will take the
readers in that place.

Nature writing

Nature writing also describes the beauty of nature. It can be fictional or nonfictional. You
must read John Keats’s poems, or Wordsworth’s poems to learn the art of nature writing.

Journal

Many people form a journal. It is a daily record of events or work you do. Journals also refer
to periodicals and newspapers that are published on a daily basis. In Journal writing work you
must give details of important events to meetings in extended form to make it informative.

Poetry

This is a form of descriptive writing that describes feelings, emotions, and ideas. A poem is
the best form of descriptive writing when it comes to expressions. The poem expresses the
best. A poet can bring a dead person to live with his/her writing and use of words.

Features of Descriptive Writing

Descriptive Writing form encompasses the following features:

1. Descriptive writing describes all information in chronological order. If describing a

person, start with his appearance, nature, and background. If you are describing a
place. Tell readers about the atmosphere, environment, day and night time, etc. these
small things are very useful to make text excellent and keep readers engaging.
2. When we talk about ideal descriptive writing, it should have nouns, adjectives and
strong action verbs. These three things bring life to text and only then a writer can
create images in the mind of readers. The reader will also love to read that text again
and again.
3. Most of the forms of descriptive writing are colourful and hold a vivid description of
sensory details. These details play a key role in forming of the image in reader’s
mind. The reader will also get escapism from daily life only through this piece of art.
4. Last but not least is the use of simile, metaphor, and analogy. These things are like the
final touch-up to the writing. Without them, a piece of descriptive writing will remain
incomplete.

Tips for good descriptive writing work

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So it’s time to write a descriptive essay. You cannot start it without any preparation or else
you will fail for sure. To make your first descriptive essay an easy one, I am going to suggest
you some tips which will help you out. Let’s look at them:

Prewriting for the Descriptive Essay

This is an important phase of writing a descriptive essay. Prewriting phase will define how
you will shape your essay. In this phase, sit back and think what you are going to write, how
you are going to write, and on what topic you are going to write. You need not to have a
famous or popular topic, but your writing should make it famous. When you select the topic,
think about the qualities you are going to describe that topic. Give your brain a boost and
make a list of all the details you will describe. You will have to make great use of what,
where, and when.

Drafting a Descriptive Essay

Drafting is the second most important thing in descriptive writing. Make a rough draft of the
final essay which you are going to write. In that draft make an outline of your work. In the
drafting, part focus on the things which will make the images in the reader’s mind. This will
include the vocabulary, jargons, and emotional and psychological description. These things
easily make an impression on readers mind. Also, make a list of sensory information which
you want to provide in your work.

Revising a Descriptive Essay

Now write a descriptive essay based on your rough draft. After writing it, revise what you
have written. Make required modification in it and reorganize it if needed. Reread your work
and look out for language errors. Correct if there are any grammatical errors.

Ask questions from yourself

 Does the essay unfold in a way that helps the reader fully appreciate the subject? Do
any paragraphs confuse more than describing?
 Are there enough details to give the reader a complete picture?
 Do the word choice and figurative language involve the five senses and convey
emotion and meaning?
 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?

Whenever you write, keep the reader in mind. Your essay should be precise in details. It
should cover everything in a detailed manner but no exaggeration. Do not exaggerate or
repeat if not required. Repetition and exaggeration create monotony and dullness in work.

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