Things to Consider as You Write Your Descriptive Essay
Think of an instance that you want to describe.
Why is this particular instance important?
What were you doing?
What other things were happening around you? Is there anything specific that stands out in your mind?
Where were objects located in relation to where you were?
How did the surroundings remind you of other places you have been?
What sights, smells, sounds, and tastes were in the air?
Did the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes remind you of anything?
What were you feeling at that time?
Has there been an instance in which you have felt this way before?
What do you want the reader to feel after reading the paper?
What types of words and images can convey this feeling?
Can you think of another situation that was similar to the one you are writing about? How can it help explain what you are writing about?
Is there enough detail in your essayto create a mental image for the reader?
Conventions of Descriptive Essays Illustrated by Sample Paragraphs
Appealing-to-the-Senses Description: Let the reader see, smell, hear, taste, and feel what you write in your essay.
The thick, burnt scent of roasted coffee tickled the tip of my nose just seconds before the old, faithful alarm blared a distorted top-forty through its tiny top speaker. Wiping away the grit of last night`s sleep, the starch white sunlight blinded me momentarily as I slung my arm like an elephant trunk along the top of the alarm, searching for the snooze button. While stretchi