Descriptive Essay

 Descriptive Essay

Introduction

A descriptive essay facilitates the description of a certain subject matter vividly using language that engages the reader’s senses and draws them to the subject matter. An effective descriptive essay ensures the reader is captivated enough to have experienced the subject matter. The detail and language used will aid the writer in creating this experience for the reader. Emotion and personal feelings are applied to transform the literature, but taking care to avoid overshadowing the object being described. To add to this aspect, literary devices such as hyperbole are used to enhance the descriptive nature of the essay.

Components of a Descriptive Essay

A descriptive essay employs anecdotal language to provide a description of the topic objective to engage all the senses. A good descriptive essay should impart a summary of the features possessed by the subject matter. The reader should have an experience of the subject matter with all their senses, as if they have had the actual experience. Writing such a narrative requires keen observation skills and attention to details. Preparation is a key component of such an essay. A vivid imagination does help. A descriptive essay is different from all other forms of essays in that the content is subjective.

Common Topics in Descriptive Essays

The nature of a descriptive essay lends itself to a variety of topics. The best are those that allow the writer room to describe a variety of things or perceptions. Busy places offer some of the best topics, hence a descriptive essay on an airport terminal or a train station platform may be attractive topics. Describing subjects close to the writer may provide an even better emotional experience since public areas may hold little emotional value. Descriptions of a favorite restaurant, a match of a preferred sport or a treasured relative or belonging elicit emotional reactions from the writer that is recognizable by the reader.

Format of a Descriptive Essay

The format follows the general format of most essays. It is usually divided into three parts, namely:

• An introduction
• The body
• The conclusion

The introduction inducts the reader into the subject of the essay. The importance of this part of the essay is to set the mood of the essay and enables the reader to enter the world the writer will portray in the essay. A good introduction to a descriptive essay determines whether the rest of the essay convincingly induces the readers senses and helps them experience the subject matter the writer describes.

The body of the descriptive essay contains the main components of the essay. The aim of the body is to provide the description that the nature of the essay calls for. Ideas in this part need to be well ordered to ensure a proper flow of ideas that entices the reader into the essay. Relevance of the points covered in the body is paramount to the overall content. The conclusion comes in the end to restate the premise of the essay. It should leave the reader satisfied with the contents to the essay.