A Descriptive Essay: The Compounds, Types, Topic Examples, And Writing Recommendations

The descriptive narrative requires ambiguous language. A descriptive word is an expression that pictures a personality, a place, an occasion, or a thing. They allow getting a better image like a shape, a substance, a size, a condition, a color, and many more items. Also, they may enhance the meaning of a single word or a group of them. To know more about the descriptive essay examples, check our recommendations.

Descriptive Words and Examples

There are two primary types of descriptive expressions and phrases:

Descriptive adjectives. They reply questions: «What?», «Which?», «What kind of?», «What sort of?» and are meant to characterize a noun, providing the information about its color, form, measurements, structure, etc. Adjectives are necessary to distinguish several objects with different features in a sentence. It may be an answer to the specific question. For instance, you can reply to the question «Which weather is your favorite?» using the adjective «snowy.» Here are some more adjective samples:

• The lady is beautiful.
• A truck is giant.
• There is a blue vase on the shelf.
• He loves the cold season.
• She studies German.
• The weather is wet.
• She enjoys buying trendy clothes.
• The lake is clean.
• That place is gorgeous.
• This guy seems to be cranky.
• New movies are exciting.
• The squirrel is spry.
• We have seen a polar light.

The common adjectives endings are:

• -an (American, disciplinarian);
• -al (historical, behavioural);
• -ent (prudent, deficient);
• -ar (solar, unclear);
• -ous (luxurious, monogamous);
• -ful (masterful, delightful);
• -ic (authentic, eccentric);
• -ical (identical, additional);
• -ine (equine, vulturine)
• -ile (fragile, gentile);
• -ive (expensive, compulsive);
• -less (senseless, homeless);
• -some (troublesome, lonesome);
• -ate (appropriate, compassionate);
• -ary (intermediary, visionary);
• -y (tidy; gray);
• -er (super, tender);
• -ing (exciting, mesmerizing).

Descriptive adverbs. These reply questions «How?», «Why?», «When?», «Where?», «To which extent?». Its purpose is enhancing the meaning or specifying an adjective, a verb, a phrase, or an entire sentence. Usually, adverbs end with -ly. See the examples:

• Ferrari drives quickly.
• He walked in awkwardly.
• A dog sits calmly.
• She hugged him warmly.
• He is talking unclearly.
• We can do it troublously.
• They laughed cheerfully.
• The device is enormously flexible.
• They visit us frequently.
• Generally saying, I like birthdays.
• It happens rarely.

Adverbs may follow each other:

• I told precisely clearly.
• Children listened very attentively.

The words «very,» «many,» «much,» and «more» play a role of adverbs too:

• Many people enjoy shopping.
• He screams very loud.
• Much of Quebec speaks French.
• Contact us for more information.

The words with a similar meaning used for the description are named synonyms. They are necessary for avoiding repeating the same word numerous times and variegate a narrative. For instance, synonyms to the world «loving» are affectionate, tender, adoring, carrying, gentle, passionate, sympathetic, sentimental. Sometimes it may take time to find a word with the appropriate meaning. Operating by synonyms is a useful skill for writers.

Idioms are phrases or expressions that describe a situation figuratively. It may be different from the literal meaning. See the examples of several idioms and their explanation:

• black sheep = a strange person who distinguishes from others;
• spill the beans = tattle a secret;
• skeleton in the closet = dark secret;
• in seventh heaven = extremely happy;
• smokes like a chimney = heavy smoker.

Operating with the parts of speeches, expressions, and phrases correctly helps to create a vivid description.

A Descriptive Essay: Definition, Types, and Examples

A descriptive essay is an assignment with a bright and detailed description of a person, an object, a place, a thing, or some memory. This type of essay is ordinary paperwork for school students. Being close to a narrative, these types both suppose a creative writing approach rather than academic. Yet, they have the core difference. A descriptive essay focuses on description specifically. It does not mean to tell a story till the end, unlike a narrative one. It aims to paint a picture using words and emotions, appealing to the reader.

A descriptive essay has different types according to the center of discussion. Description of a person includes adding a person’s physical appearance and character in words. Readers should get a complete image of the main hero. Writing about an object, an author should use various writing techniques such as metaphors, personification to evoke the readers’ feelings. Picturing a place, a writer should use a detailed and creative way of illustrating.

A descriptive essay has different forms:

1. A conversation about oneself where the author discusses a theme estimating personal experience, identifying the connection and the impact. For instance:
   1. my first day at college;
   2. my weirdest fantasy;
   3. the funniest adventure in my life;
   4. my happiest remembrances;
   5. the oddest surprise which has ever happened to me.
2. A conversation about others where a writer creates an image of a remarkable person: someone from people who an author knows personally or the one who he or she has never met. In both cases, the descriptive essay examples should portray the main hero. The themes examples are:
   1. my dearest person;
   2. the celebrity I would like to meet;
   3. my very best friend;
   4. My math teacher;
   5. An alien: who is it?
3. Poems. Rhythmic words can be a perfect description. Usually, it does not include complicated words, but it depends on the will of a writer. A few samples are below:
   1. moonlight;
   2. seven days — seven remembrances;
   3. a ghostwriter;
   4. when I get old;
   5. unassailable.
4. Memories. Remembering an event from the past is a frequent theme of a descriptive essay. The present tense is appropriate for writing because a writer is observing the event. Some memories topics are:
   1. the last performance of «The Beatles»;
   2. a legendary football match;
   3. my favorite summer vacation;
   4. the most embarrassing moment of my life;
   5. the best party with friends.
5. Describing nature. Using comparison and contrast is one of the primary features of nature essays. These techniques give a better understanding and more vivid illustration of an image with emotional undertones.
   1. a day in the spring park;
   2. an outstanding landscape;
   3. an ocean breeze;
   4. once in a desert;
   5. the Hurricane Irma consequences.

According to the purpose, the approaches of a descriptive essay are:

• narrative: a presentation style with an event to tell about;
• discursive: imagery style with the thoughts and views issues to comment.

Students who are thinking in depth trying to figure out the borders of these genres may get stuck. A narrative, description, and discursive are three terms that are connected closely to each other. Depending on the writer’s skills and the used aesthetic techniques, the approaches may vary. The precise understanding of each specific genre will help to distinguish the genres and combine them successfully.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay

Writing a descriptive essay example, performs artistic freedom. Keep in mind one maxim: illustrate an image to a reader as vividly as possible. The working moments of descriptive essay process writing are:

1. Get inspired. When you get a theme or choose it randomly, induce that you have enough ideas. A simple method to check it is writing the pivot words in your draft. For instance, writing about a dessert, use such words: sweet, sugar, creme, ingredient, berries, fruit, banana, cheese, flour, chocolate, almonds, hazelnuts, nuts, jelly, dough, cinnamon, spices, pancakes, etc. Once you have them, you can start making a description.
2. Use silver tongue. A careful choice of the appropriate words is the pure aim of this task. Mention only the most pertinent ones according to your context. If you experience complications with choosing the best expression, write down those that come to your mind. Then take the most successful one.
3. Include image-evocative words. When you mean to say «sad,» choose desperate or frustrating. Instead of «good,» use noticeable, appealing, flashy. Do not exaggerate yet disclose the details as much as possible.
4. Feel when you write. Paying attention to feelings is a key-note. The task of a descriptive essay is not just telling but provoking the emotions of the audience. Explain to them your emotional condition and make them feel the same way.
5. Guide the thoughts. Letting into the right emotional stage and imbuing your readers allows you to enter a deeper level of mind. Pass the main message to the audience that will be supported. Either you are speaking about happy moments or a loss, give a sense to your sensations necessarily.
6. Make a «wow» effect. If your audience is impressed after the speech, then a descriptive essay is well-written. Do you remember the cake spoken above? People should crave for it after your monologue.
7. Remain logical. Falling deep into the emotional level may sound inadequate. Represent a consistent approach to the topic, focusing on the sense of the theme.

A descriptive essay has a classic structure: an introduction part, body chapters (three-four paragraphs), and a summarizing. Do not neglect a draft even though it sounds primitive for you.

Once your writing work is over, take some time to rest and review your paperwork a bit later. This method helps to look at your text again with fresh eyes. Read and check how well it sounds:

• Is it understandable?
• Does it respond to the topic question?
• Does it call the feelings and emotions you intended to pass?
• Do your paragraphs need any corrections?

If your text is well- structured and settled in the right order, you have used exceptionally appropriate words for the description, start the proofreading stage. If you are still unsure, ask your friend or a relative to be your first audience and ask an opinion. You might detect some mistakes or, vice versa, you will get more confidence in the purity of your paperwork.

The Incredible Introduction Part for a Descriptive Essay

Most students experience no complications with choosing a topic and creating the body text, yet stuck with a question: how to start. That is a problem because a catchy beginning is vital. Also, remember that the first chapter should provide a general explanation of your paper. Here is a guide that will help you to generate a breathtaking intro:

1. Use a pyramidal structure, presenting a big picture and diminishing it to a smaller one. Formulate the question and reply to it through the paperwork. The first two sentences may be general but related to the topic. Then narrow the mind flowing to the core thought. The consequent beginning method will provide brief information about your theme and draw the subject of discussion.
2. Give a short overview of the work and do your best to win readers’ attention. Explain to your listeners what to expect from your monologue in the next minutes.
3. Carefully select the thesis statement. For a descriptive essay, it should be a phrase that triggers the imagination. Explain why it is open for discussion. Perhaps, using a creative authorial approach will work to catch the interest of the audience.
4. Contemplate adding a question. People appreciate it when someone wants to know their opinion. So it would be a good move. Make sure that your inquiry relates to your thesis statement. Exclude turning your monologue into a mess of emotions.
5. Do not write about all and at once. Generalization is a bad idea for any essay, including a descriptive one. Using this technique, an author intends to accomplish all goals at once but will get an opposite result instead. Such works usually characterize an incompetent writer.
6. Exclude jargon, equivoque, meeting the standard academic assignment rules.

To intrigue, add a powerful hook. For a descriptive essay example, it could be:

• a literary quote;
• a common misperception;
• the citations of famous people;
• a funny story;
• a personal case;
• an interesting fact;
• painting scenes;
• a successful metaphor.

A hook should be captivating, engaging your audience to listen to you till the end. Suggesting the best one is impossible. A lot depends on your topic, drafting style, and the content in general. However, the most successful method is to focus on your private sensation: what would make you feel to discuss this topic? Among numerous suggestions, remain original and write in your specific manner.

By and large, your descriptive essay will be successful if it excites you first of all. Choose your topics carefully and discuss what or who is influential to you. People will feel your energy and get inspired as well. Following the academic standards will allow your work to look professional and effective.