What is a Descriptive Essay and How Does it Differ from a Simple
Description?
The main goal of the description essay is to describe something, be it a person, a situation or just
something you want to tell people about. While writing this type of descriptive essay, you have to
compose the text using your own experience and thoughts. No researches, no outer opinions, just your
mind, and your head. Only sensory information is used to understand the descriptive topic. The
description of the things is clear and simple. Imagination, though, creates pictures in the head of the
reader, which makes this experience unique and personified.
It would make sense to start the introduction with a description of the context of the subject on which the
entire description would focus. Doing so puts things into perspective for the reader.
How does it differ from a description? A simple description can be just several sentences or one long
paragraph when a descriptive essay usually contains five paragraphs. It has its style and includes a thesis
in an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
How to Write a Descriptive Essay?
When it comes to writing, you should be aware of the structure as it differs from all the other types of
descriptive essay. First of all, you should pick the topic from the descriptive speech topics you’ll be
interested in. Then, you’re free to plan out your parts. As we already mentioned, a descriptive essay has
five parts:
Introduction. In the introduction you should include your thesis statement and dwell on the topic.
That's the part, which will grab the attention of the reader, so it should be written simply and smooth,
giving some essential background information for the reader to understand your topic better. Don't forget
to make a transition from the background data and your thesis statement. In descriptive essays, the thesis
usually takes up one full sentence.
3 body paragraphs. Three body paragraphs should have evidences that will prove your thesis. If
you find yourself struggling with this part, use five simple tables to arrange sensory information you have
about your topic and then pick them right from your notes to prove your thesis.
Conclusion. This last part of the paper concludes all the information and gives a summary of it.
You should have your last remarks in this part and rephrase your thesis statement.
Before starting on your descriptive essay about a place or a person, you should know what you can write
about and describe it in general. Here are some of the ideas:
places,
people,
animals,
behavior,
favorite trip and so on.
Pre-writing stage
First of all, think of what you’d like to write about and pick a topic from descriptive speech topics, social
issues topics or process essay topics that will match the theme. Have some inspiration from the essays of
other people. Search around for descriptive writing topics and prompts if you can’t think of something
unique for yourself. Expository essays are easy to write if you have enough inspiration on the chosen
descriptive topic.
How to start a descriptive essay?
If you find yourself struggling after getting some descriptive essay ideas, think of the main statement you
can use in your creation. This step is the one that can make out your main thesis statement and keywords
that will describe your descriptive topic. As we already mentioned, make five tables for five senses. This
arrangement will make it a lot easier to transfer your data to the next step.
Create a draft of your expository essay
Take time to create a draft that will become a close version of your descriptive essay. Pick all the
keywords and include them into the five paragraphs. Don’t forget to make three points to prove your
thesis statement and describe your topic. Make only an example that will be stretched out by the other
details you’ll add at the next step.
Adding details to your descriptive essay with the help of enriched English vocabulary and online
dictionaries
It's okay if you have limited vocabulary because this step will add more value to your expository writing.
Add everything you want and describe it properly so your reader will be interested in what you wrote.
Create an image in their head with the sensory words you can find in online dictionaries like Oxford,
Cambridge or Macmillan ones. Make sure that they will touch on your descriptive topic and prolong the
body paragraphs.
.Topics to describe a place
My favorite place in my hometown
A favorite room in my house
The house I grew up in
My perfect vacation
I wish I lived in that house
My perfect room
The place I want to visit
My dream apartment
My favorite classroom
I like studying in this café
My favorite restaurant to visit
I had a dream about this place
This store is my favorite to shop in
I walk my dog in this park
A museum that I visited recently
The street I like to walk around
What I see from my window
A city I got lost in
If you want to describe a person
My mom is the most creative person
My dad is the most interesting person
A person I look up to
My favorite singer
My favorite dancer
An athlete that made me like sports
My best friend
I’d like to meet this celebrity
My pet
Meet the writer of the essay
I miss them
This is an average human
I’d like to meet this person in the past
A perfect companion for me
I like this in a person
What makes me appreciate a person
A stranger that caught my eye
Why I love my boyfriend (girlfriend)
Your memories and topics about your experience
This was my perfect date
The day I visited another country
How I rode a horse for the first time
When I discovered my favorite hobby
How I decided who I want to become
My perfect trip
Best childhood memory
How I spent my time with my grandparents
How my parents raised me
Best memory with my closest friend
The first day of school
When I became a freshman
The best party of my life
The best way I spent my weekends
My most interesting birthday
What I remember from my 12th birthday
My pet in childhood
The day I attended a dentist
My first crush
The last play I’ve seen
The best concert I attended
This made me scared
This made me excited
I miss this day
My funniest memory
The day I met my friend
Things and object in your life
My favorite thing to play with
My favorite TV show
An expensive thing I’d love to have
My study essentials
My anti-stress toy
What I always have in my pocket
Furniture that helps me relax
My bed makes me feel comfortable
My childhood toy
Why I like my smartphone
This thing is special to me
A toy I still play with
My first car
I collect these things
I’d send this to the future
I never leave my house without this
I’d send this to the past
Describing a smartphone to someone from the '60s
I like my laptop
My favorite food
I like to cook this
My family treasures
What’s in my pocket
What’s in my bag
My favorite tattoo
Hobbies, processes, and occupations
My future job
Something I like to do in my free time
My friend’s hobby
The way my family members relax
My favorite club
My dream job
My new hobby
The way I start my morning
How I usually end my day
Getting ready for a date
Writing my first story
Learning something new
Passing an exam
The way I study
How I visit the gym
Drawing a portrait
How to bake a pie
When you need to end your relationship
How to escape a robber
What helps me relax
Behavior and character
I like this trait in a person
I hate this trait in a person
An emotion I hate to feel
How I react to a surprise
What makes me laugh
How to get my attention
What makes me feel scared
How to make my family members excited
My pet peeve
An addiction I have
Something I quit doing
My life as a vegan
What influences me as a person
When I feel sad
When I want to give up
How I get motivated
What annoys me
Traits that my friend have in common
