Topic: Writing Descriptive

Essays
Sir,
Muhammad Zaman Hashmi
 What is a Descriptive Essay?
• The descriptive essay is a genre of essay that asks the student to describe something:
object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc.

• This genre encourages the student’s ability to create a written account of a particular
experience.

• What is more, this genre allows for a great deal of artistic freedom (the goal of
which is to paint an image that is vivid and moving in the mind of the reader).

• One might benefit from keeping in mind this simple maxim:

• If the reader is unable to clearly form an impression of the thing that you are
 Take Time to Brainstorm
To try to solve a problem or come up with new ideas by having a discussion that
includes all members of a group : to discuss a problem or issue and suggest solutions and
ideas.
How to Brainstorm for an Essay
• Tip #1: Set an end goal for yourself. ...
• Tip #2: Write down all ideas. ...
• Tip #3: Think about what interests you most. ...
• Tip #4: Consider what you want the reader to get from your paper. ...
• Tip #5: Try freewriting. ...
• Tip #6: Draw a map of your ideas. ...
• Tip #7: Enlist the help of others.
• Tip #8: Find the perfect brainstorming spot
• Tip #9: Play word games to help generate ideas
Use clear and concise language.
• This means that words are chosen carefully, particularly for their relevancy in
relation to that which you are intending to describe.
Choose vivid language.
• Why use horse when you can choose stallion? Why not use emotional instead
of violent? Or why not miserly in place of cheap?
• Such choices form a firmer image in the mind of the reader and often times offer
nuanced meanings that serve better one’s purpose.
Use your senses!
• Remember, if you are describing something, you need to be appealing to the
senses of the reader.
• Explain how the thing smelled, felt, sounded, tasted, or looked.
• Exaggerate the moment with senses.
What were you thinking?!
• If you can describe emotions or feelings related to your topic, you will connect with
the reader on a deeper level.
• Many have felt crushing loss in their lives, or ecstatic joy, or mild complacency.
• Tap into this emotional reservoir in order to achieve your full descriptive potential.
Leave the reader with a clear impression.
• One of your goals is to evoke a strong sense of familiarity and appreciation in the
reader.
• If your reader can walk away from the essay craving the very pizza you just described,
you are on your way to writing effective descriptive essays.
Be organized!
• It is easy to fall into an incoherent rambling of emotions and senses when writing a
descriptive essay.
• However, you must strive to present an organized and logical description if the reader
is to come away from the essay with a cogent sense of what it is you are attempting to
describe
 How to Write a Descriptive
Essay
1. Choose a specific topic. Strong descriptive essays remain focused at all times. Settle on the
purpose of the essay before you begin outlining or writing.
2. Compile information. The best descriptive essays are full of detail—names, dates, physical
characteristics, background information, and sensory information that can help implant your
main points in your reader's mind.
3. Make an outline. Your descriptive writing must be organized. Group your main points into
individual body paragraphs, each of which should be a subcategory of your essay's main topic.
4. Write the introductory paragraph. A good introductory paragraph can be a road map for
your entire essay.
5. Write body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that
anchors the reader's attention and tells them what to expect from the paragraph. Parse out
details in each body paragraph.
6. Summarize the essay in the concluding paragraph. Your conclusion is the button on the
entire essay. Use it to reiterate the main ideas you established in the first paragraph, and touch
back on key details from body paragraphs. Do not use this paragraph to introduce new ideas for
the first time.
General Format and Structure of a
Descriptive
Introduction
Essay

• Write a hook that helps your reader relate to the senses you’re tapping into.

• Provide some general background about the thing you’re describing.

• Form a thesis statement that makes a claim (but may not necessarily include an argument

or opinion).
• Body paragraph: (Physical Description)
• Provide a topic sentence introducing the subject.

• Give an in-depth physical description of the subject.

• Body paragraph: (Contextual Description)

• Describe your subject within its given context, like its physical surroundings or temporal
environment.

• Body paragraph: (Emotional Description)

• Describe how the subject emotionally or mentally affected those who interacted or experienced it.

• Conclusion
• Restate your thesis about the subject’s description.

• Consider the subject (and its description) outside of what you’ve already mentioned in the essay.
 Descriptive Essay Topics & Ideas
Describe a Person

• Examples: Why my father is my favourite person.

How Kim Kardashian changed my life.

Describe an Object or a Place

• Examples: My native city – Paris

My trip to London

Describe an Emotion

• Examples: How love changed me

 Thank You for
Patiently Listening!