What is a Descriptive Essay?
The word "descriptive" comes from the word "describe," which means "to tell about how
something looks, feels, smells, sounds, or tastes." A descriptive essay is a piece of writing that
describes something, such as an object, place, person, or event. A descriptive essay appeals to
the five senses,1)sight
2)hearing
3)taste
4)touch
5)smell
What is the Purpose of a Descriptive Essay?
A descriptive essay is meant to show the reader, through the use of illustrative language,
something that the writer has experienced. Writing teachers often instruct their students:
"Show, don't tell." This means that writers should strive to create a picture in the minds of
their readers rather than simply telling their readers about the setting, the characters, etc. For
example, a writer could directly tell the reader that it was raining, but it would be more effective
to show the reader that it was raining by using specific details and descriptive language. Good
writers are able to create such effective descriptions that their readers feel like they are
experiencing the subject matter firsthand.
Telling: I got caught in the rain.
Showing: My wet hair clung to my face, cold water dripped from my sodden clothes, and
my feet sloshed and squeaked in my shoes.
Writers use specific details to show their readers that it is raining.
Characteristics of a Descriptive Essay
Writers "show" by using imagery, figurative language, and precise language.
An image is a representation of something. A photographer can take an image of a woman with
a camera, a painter can paint an image of a woman, and a writer can describe an image of a
woman. Imagery is language that creates an image in readers' minds by addressing the five
senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. Writers can make their readers see, smell, taste,
hear, and feel what it is like to go to the beach by using only words. They describe the sight of
the cloudless blue sky and sparkling turquoise water, the fishy smell of the breeze, the
salty taste of the sea air, the sound of seagulls squawking and waves crashing, and the feel of
hot, gritty sand under one's feet. The sensory details create a vivid image that shows the reader
what it is like to experience the beach.