Descriptive Essay Writing

The descriptive essay is a genre of essay that asks the student to describe something—
object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc. This genre encourages the
student's ability to create a written account of a particular experience.

Descriptive Writing and the Five Senses

-There was a gentle breeze blowing at me (TOUCH) as I strolled along the dusty tracks (TOUCH).
Leaves rustled (SOUND) above me and a lone bird was chirping (SOUND) nearby. I took a deep
breath. The smell of morning dew (SMELL) made me feel relaxed and at peace.

-My sister and I walked along the boardwalk each afternoon of our vacation. We watched the ocean
and listened to the waves. Usually we stopped for a snack at one of the many stores that line the
boardwalk. Afterwards, we walked along the beach and let our feet get wet.

Now, consider this paragraph with all five sensory descriptors: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

-My sister and I walked along the boardwalk one afternoon on our vacation. The hot boards warmed
our bare feet. We watched the foam-covered waves topple over each other and then slide back into
sea. The crashing water competed with the exuberant yells from the seagulls. We bought a perfectly
oval fluff of pink cotton candy that dissolved sweetly in our mouths. Afterwards, we walked along the
edge of the water, letting the warm salty air blow our hair away from our necks as the cool water
lapped over our toes.

Use figurative language

Metaphors
A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn't
literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. A metaphor states that
one thing is another thing.
 I'm drowning in work.
 She's got a heart of gold.
 Hope is on the horizon.
 Toronto is a melting pot of different cultures.

(Original) similes
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind,
used to make a description more vivid
 Like two peas in a pod
 I know this like the back of my hand
 The cracked earth was as dry as sandpaper. Suddenly, lightning forked in the sky like
fluorescent veins. The sky darkened to a moody grey and thunder roared like an angry
lion. Rain sluiced down from the sky, drenching the parched earth.
 Personification
The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, or
the representation of an abstract quality in human form.
 Lightning danced across the sky.
 The wind howled in the night.
 The car complained as the key was roughly turned in its ignition.
 Rita heard the last piece of pie calling her name.
 My alarm clock yells at me to get out of bed every morning.

Irony
Irony or sarcasm is a figure of speech in which the usage of words conveys the opposite
of their literal meaning. These are often used in a humorous manner.
● Your hands are as clean as mud ● The dinner you served was as hot as ice

Onomatopoeia
This a figure of speech that is used to express a sound. To be more precise, it involves
the use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the action or object referred to
i.e. hiss, clap, etc.
● The buzzing bee flew over my head ● The stone hit the water with a splash

Hyperbole
A hyperbole is a figure of speech that consists of an exaggeration. It is the usage of
exaggerated terms in order to emphasize or heighten the effect of something.
● I have told you a million times to not touch my stuff! ● She has got a pea-sized brain

Vary Sentence Structure

When using descriptive language, it is important to vary your sentence structure. Try to avoid using
the same subject-verb pattern in all sentences. Embedding descriptive elements and combining
sentences can help to avoid the routine subject-verb structure.

The hall was empty. She ran towards the classroom. She entered right after the bell rang.

Racing down an empty hall, she skidded into the classroom, breathless, just as the bell clanged
above her.
Some examples of descriptive text include:
1. The sunset filled the entire sky with the deep color of rubies, setting the clouds ablaze.
2. The waves crashed and danced along the shore, moving up and down in a graceful and
gentle rhythm like they were dancing.
3. The painting was a field of flowers, with deep and rich blues and yellows atop vibrant
green stems that seemed to beckon you to reach right in and pick them.
4. The old man was stooped and bent, his back making the shape of a C and his head bent
so far forward that his beard would nearly have touched his knobby knees had he been
just a bit taller.
5. His deep and soulful blue eyes were like the color of the ocean on the clearest day you
can ever imagine.
6. The soft fur of the dog felt like silk against my skin and her black coloring glistened as it
absorbed the sunlight, reflecting it back as a perfect, deep, dark mirror.
7. A frail elderly man / woman
8. The birds make cooing sounds happily as I scatter bird seed on the rooftop.
9. To be a fitting symbol of perfection / beauty / hard work
10. We were rewarded with large chocolate ice cream cones for showing exemplary
behavior
11. My fears gradually subsided
12. The beautiful leather sofas were adorned with lots of bright cushions.
13. I slid the glass window to let in the searing wind.
14. I leisurely sipped juice from the glass
15. Pristine white uniform
16. My musical appetite was satiated after attending the concert.
17. Bland hospital food
18. I glanced furtively at my watch.
19. My prayers were answered
20. I dragged my aching legs
21. I had to keep my mouth watering taste buds in check
22. Under my mother’s watchful eye
23. To become a source of undue stress
24. My mother’s worried voice stayed at the back of my head
25. The park is full of fitness enthusiasts
26. A stout man / A lanky boy
27. The ice cream was heavenly
28. A place giving you a sense of belonging: your old neighbourhood / school
29. The soft hum of the air conditioner
30. The place provided a homely ambiance
31. There are patches of woodlands in the park.
32. My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above.
33. Water is clear and turquoise
34. I feel the bonfire’s heat on my face, and smell the rich smoke filling the air.
35. Fear is the smell of sweat, and the feeling you can’t breathe.
36. The wave of the sea did not go as far as my heart. (Hyperbole)
37. Can you hear the clicks coming from the roof? (Onomatopoeia)
38. The flowing waters of the waterfall took all my troubles. (Onomatopoeia)
39. The food in the cauldron was boiling and scalding. (Onomatopoeia)
40. He suddenly exploded when he threw the ball into the thorns. (Onomatopoeia)
41. Daredevil: someone who takes unnecessary risks
42. Go-Getter: a person who is active, energetic, and has the initiative to pursue the things
they want.
43. Break a leg: good luck
44. Cutting corners: Doing something poorly in order to save time or money
45. Pull yourself together: Calm down
46. So far so good: Things are going well so far
47. A busybody: always wants to know about other people’s private lives
48. Down-To-Earth: sensible and realistic
49. Forty winks: a short nap
50. Barrel of laugh: someone who is very funny
51. Old as the hills: someone who is very old
52. To see red; To be very angry
53. Blackout: Faint
54. Black and blue: Describe something that is badly bruised
55. Golden opportunity: The perfect chance
56. Black sheep; A person who is a disgrace to a family or group
57. That’s a storm in a teacup, stop fussing about it, you can do it.
58. The air hostess greeted the passengers with a sunny smile.
59. They have the intention to flood the market with their new mobile phones.
60. If someone has a clean bill of health, they apply to many profession
61. My grandmother’s old, but she’s as fit as a fiddle.
62. I’m sorry I can’t make it. I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.
63. My mum’s not worried about the operation. She’s been under the knife several times.
64. It was a cold grey day in late November. The weather had changed overnight, when a
backing wind brought a granite sky and a mizzling rain with it, and although it was now
only a little after two o’clock in the afternoon the pallor of a winter evening seemed to
have closed upon the hills, cloaking them in mist.
65. The idiosyncrasy of this town is smoke. It rolls sullenly in slow folds from the great
chimneys of the iron-foundries, and settles down in black, slimy pools on the muddy
streets. Smoke on the wharves, smoke on the dingy boats, on the yellow river– clinging
in a coating of greasy soot to the house-front, the two faded poplars, the faces of the
passers-by.