Writing descriptive essays teaches students how to write and express themselves. You may write descriptive essays throughout your professional career, depending on the field you work in and your goals.

What is a descriptive essay?

A descriptive essay describes a subject in detail. You can use descriptive writing to describe a subject in newspaper articles, book reviews, research papers, journal articles, or travelogues.

What is the purpose of a descriptive essay?

The purpose of descriptive essays is to give the reader a better understanding by providing details and figurative language. A descriptive essay should give you a good understanding of the topic, regardless of whether it is a historical event, a geographical location, or an art work. The person who writes descriptive essays is also benefited. You can write about anything, from your personal tastes, to cultural significance, in descriptive essays.

Writing a descriptive essay

The best descriptive essay examples are well-organized and full of detail. The following tips can be used as a guideline to help you write descriptive essays.

1. Select a topic. Focused descriptive essays are strong. Before you start to outline or write, it is important that you understand the purpose and intent of your essay. You might be able to sum up your main idea in an essay thesis. These essays require that you focus less on your personal viewpoint and more on pointing to the information that will leave a lasting impression on your reader.

2. Collect information. Compile information. Use note cards and checklists to collect these details.

3. Create a plan. You must organize your descriptive writing. You must organize your main points into paragraphs. Each paragraph should relate to the main topic of your essay.

4. The introduction paragraph is the most important. An introductory paragraph is a guideline for the rest of your essay. An introduction that is compelling and clear starts with a hook. Your hook should provide context and outline the questions your essay will address. The introduction should contain your thesis statement.

5. Body paragraphs should be written. The topic sentence should anchor each paragraph and tell the reader what they can expect from it. Each paragraph should be broken down into smaller pieces. Your reader will appreciate your specificity without being overwhelmed by information. More impactful than generalizations are specific examples.

6. In the final paragraph, summarize the essay. The conclusion is what will close the essay. It is your chance to briefly recap the main points you made in the first paragraph and return to the key details of the body paragraphs. This paragraph should not be used to introduce new ideas. Create a new body paragraph if you are still unsure of the importance of your topic.

7. You can spice up your writing by looking for new ways. Check your essay carefully before you submit it. You should look for stories, not lists. Your essay will be remembered long after the reader has finished reading.

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Amy Fox is a 28 year old school blogger, who has been writing for over 10 years. She has been a student at the University of Utah for three years and is now a graduate student.