Descriptive Essays: From Observation to Paper

This is one of the easiest types of essays because it does not require any intense investigation. A descriptive essay describes a thing, people, an event, procedure, an experience or locations. All the five senses are made use of in this type of essays. A well written descriptive essay creates a deep experience in the readers. It is not through the facts and figures that a descriptive essay becomes appealing. A set of simple guidelines enables one to write a pleasing descriptive essay.

• Observe what is to be described

While writing a descriptive essay, keep in mind the longstanding saying; ‘show, don’t tell’. Statistics never makes a good descriptive essay. It must generate emotive experiences.  It is the observation or the gleaming experience that makes it readable. What you can see or feel can become the topic for your essay. If you are describing the vivid picture of a garden, you have to illustrate it in detail. A general picture will not be sufficient to raise the interest in readers. You may proceed to explaining each part of it. How the rare kinds of flowers are arranged systematically, how the scene looks fabulous in the midst of numerous sweet-smelling blossoms etc. all these things should reach the readers’ mind as well as the senses.

• Shape your observed information

A descriptive essay is hard for you to get slipped away because you have all liberty to shape it according to your wish. It is a subjective task. For the same reason, such essays are creative, personal and simply artistic. Your imagination has got something to play here. Kindle your creativity. Keep aside the numerical and factual details for the time being.  But, it does not mean that there are no rules to be followed regarding a descriptive essay. Let your thought flow freely, but let it be regulated so as to make it a superlative one.

• Apply your language skills to add life to observation

As a descriptive essay is more artistic in nature, you can use imagery and figurative language. Use of technical or scientific language will prove to be inappropriate.  A descriptive essay is far from being a factual reporting.  They are outlooks or attitudes. In the course of writing, you can use concrete as well as abstract ideas. Create images in the mind of the readers using stunning description. You are free to use the language the way you like. At the same time, commit to memory that this is not a language game where you can play with words and sentences liberally. Formal features are the core of all type of essay writing. You are not supposed to deviate to a great extent from the established norms of essay writing.  But, comparatively, a descriptive essay is less bounded to rules and restrictions.

• Organize the facts with well delineated paragraphs

A descriptive essay aims at providing an apparent representation of things, events and persons. Organization is very significant in descriptive essay writing. All the paragraphs in the essay must be interlinking. The feel must flow freely.  The use language and the organization of details in the essay must make the reader go ahead with added interest. You can narrate incidents which you hate the most. Such things will invite the readers’ heartfelt attention. A descriptive essay is your thoughts depicted in black and white. It can house sentiments too. You can lift up this feeling by describing harsh experiences. Quite often, you can be introspective as well as retrospective to awaken thoughts. Your real life experiences form a good raw-material for it. Explain any incident in your life that you can never dismiss from mind. Select a touchy episode that you think to be attention grabbing.

• The Significance of a well written draft

Success can be achieved only through working hard. There is no alternative for it. However, you can lessen your toil if you proceed in a methodical way.  Preparing a draft prior to writing the essay clearly shows that you are in the right line of attack. A draft helps you to do things without much difficulty.  It is a fundamental requirement for a fabulous essay. Having a draft means getting your labor reduced to a great deal. Proceed in the right way.  Be a winner.