Some students have no idea about how to write different types of essays in college. To write a compelling descriptive essay, it is important to know the definition, structure and importance.
A descriptive essay is a type of writing that provides a vivid description of a topic/subject. Descriptive writing can be in form of book reports, newspaper, article, personal experience memories, single event account among others. The outline for a descriptive essay is not different from the other essays. Description essays contain full details and use of sensory language.
Descriptive essay outline
The following are the steps to follow while writing description essays;
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Choose a topic
While writing a descriptive essay, ensure you remain focused throughout. Begin by researching topics. Choose a topic that you are interested in writing about and can easily be discussed. Check whether the topic you have has been written about before.
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Gather information about your topic
For an essay to be characterized as a descriptive essay, it has to contain full details like; sensory information, background information, names, physical characteristics and dates. These help the readers to get the main points in mind. Correct all this information then group it into specific columns to use the information when necessary.
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Create an outline
Ensure that your descriptive essay is organized. Plan to write each point you have in individual paragraphs. Under each point provide an explanation and support points to make them paragraphs. Enjoy the process of writing the descriptive essay. It does not depend on examples and facts rather on the writer’s capability to create a long-lasting picture in the mind of the reader.
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Write the introduction
Introduction maps the road for the whole descriptive essay. Start your introductory paragraph with a hook sentence. I.e., a bold statement or a rhetorical question. After the hook sentence, state the questions that your descriptive essay will challenge. At the end of your introduction, write your thesis statement.
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Body paragraphs
Body paragraphs follow the introduction. Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence. This grabs the readers attention and tells them what to expect in the entire paragraph. The other sentences should explain the topic sentence. Try to be specific to keep the reader on track with the flow of ideas.
While writing the body paragraphs, do not tell something but rather show. Use figurative, descriptive language and images to describe a topic/subject. If you have a problem in writing the body paragraph, seek statement from experts online.
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Write a concluding paragraph
Your conclusion is a recap of the entire descriptive essay. Write the main ideas stated in the introduction and summarize the key points in the body paragraphs. Do not introduce any new ideas in the conclusion. If you remember a point when writing your conclusion, create another body paragraph rather than stating it in the conclusion.
Your conclusion should be interesting to read. There some readers who do not have enough time to read through all your descriptive essay. They might decide to read your introduction to know what you have written about. Ensure you restate the thesis statement, summarize all the information written in your introduction and body paragraphs.
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Edit your descriptive essay
After writing your descriptive essay, do not submit it for marking immediately. Read through it to correct any grammatical errors, plagiarism and poorly constructed sentences. Do not edit it immediately after writing. Give yourself a few hours or a day before editing it. You can also give your friend your descriptive essay to help in editing. They might spot errors that you can’t spot.
When editing your descriptive essay, ensure the following
- It unfolds in a way that the reader understands the subject being discussed and appreciates it
- The figurative language chosen involves the use of five senses conveying information and the meaning
- There is complete and enough information to help the reader get a clear picture of the subject
- There is a connection developed between description and the meaning of the concept
- The reader has been considered in the opening and concluding paragraph
Purpose of a descriptive essay
- To describe a place, person or a thing in details for the reader to get a picture
- To allow other people to visualize the thing being discussed
- To describe a subject and give the writers view on the subject
- To show the importance of subject/thing following a certain order
- How to write a descriptive essay
In summary
Descriptive essays give a vivid description of a subject to create a picture in the minds of the readers. They use sensory images and full details to help readers understand the subject. Ensure you give specific details to avoid confusing the reader. To high grades in your descriptive essay, follow the seven steps written in this article.
