Descriptive Essay

Purpose The purpose of a descriptive essay is to describe a person, place, or thing in such vivid detail that the reader can easily form a precise mental picture of what is being written about..

How The author may accomplish this by using imaginative language, interesting comparisons, and images that appeal to the senses.

The essay should be organized. Introduction The introduction begins with a general statement

Body The body of the essay is composed of several paragraphs that describe the the place, the atmosphere, etc… You should write 2 or 3.

Conclusion The conclusion restates the main idea of the essay. DO NOT ADD NEW IDEAS

Description of a Place 1st paragraph Name the place Name and location of the place The Isle of Skye is in the northwest of Scotland 2nd paragraph Describe its physical characteristics It is known for its magnificent coast and its beautiful Special features and points of interest Not many places to see but beautiful sights, splendid mountains and coast line 3rd paragraph Atmosphere of the place People culture and life style Historical details How are people? What do they live on? Historical details ? Conclusion General conclusion about the place The Isle of Skye is a great place to visit if you like to look at beautiful landscape and traditional way of living.

Model Composition 2 Brighton Last year I visited the famous seaside town of Brighton, on the south coast of England. Everyone talks about the bad weather in England. However, a couple of hours after we arrived,the sun came out and for the rest of our visit, we enjoyed beautiful summer days. Brighton has a large beach covered with pebbles, and next to it a very attractive promenade and a long pier. The sea air always smells wonderful, and I spent hours lying in the warm sunshine, listening to the happy sounds of the children. I also visited the nearby palace, and spent time buying souvenirs and other items at the excellent shops in The Lanes. It was a wonderful holiday. If you get the chance to visit Brighton, I certainly recommend you to go. OPENING INCLUDES THE NAME AND THE LOCATION OF THE PLACE AND WHY IT IS SPECIAL TO YOU BODY A.PARAGRAPH 1 A.PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS B.SPECIAL FEATURES (WEATHER, LIGHT, LANDSCAPE, MOUNTAINS ETC) C.POINTS OF INTEREST (BUILDINGS, NATURAL SIGHTS ETC) D.GOOD AND BAD POINTS B.PARAGRAPH 2 A.ATMOSPHERE A.SOUNDS AND SMELLS B.THE PEOPLE C.LIFESTYLE D.HISTORICAL DETAILS CLOSING SUMMARISES GENERAL CONCLUSION ABOUT PLACE AS WELL AS OPINION

OPENING INCLUDES THE NAME AND THE LOCATION OF THE PLACE AND WHY IT IS SPECIAL TO YOU BODY A.PARAGRAPH 1 A.PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS (small, large, …) B.SPECIAL FEATURES (WEATHER, LIGHT, LANDSCAPE, MOUNTAINS ETC) C.POINTS OF INTEREST (BUILDINGS, NATURAL SIGHTS ETC) B.PARAGRAPH 2 A.ATMOSPHERE A.SOUNDS AND SMELLS (dirty, smelly, noisy) B.THE PEOPLE (farmers, workers, quiet, calm, friendly..) C.LIFESTYLE (hectic, slow ) D.HISTORICAL DETAILS CLOSING SUMMARISES GENERAL CONCLUSION ABOUT PLACE AS WELL AS OPINION (good and bad points)

Describe a Place Types of places: the country, the country-side, outdoors, the seaside, a beauty spot, a tourist spot, a tourist’s paradise/attraction, the beach, a historic monument, a ruined place, a world famous sight, the site of battle (sight = view; site = place)

Adjectives for Places remote, impressive, superb, easily accessible, inaccessible, peaceful, interesting, magnificent, memorable, awesome, world- famous, little/much visited, tourist-ridden, beautiful, picturesque, isolated, breath-taking, pretty, bustling, lively, sparsely populated

Summarizing: When describing places you may want to include Location Physical characteristics, atmosphere Special attractions The culture and people in the place Historical details Your personal impression / opinion Check your grammar, spelling and punctuation. DO NOT INVENT WORDS.

Describing Objects

When describing things you may want to include Physical appearance Origin (where it was made) Use Your personal impression / opinion 3773 layout

Describing Events / experiences / thoughts

When describing events you may want to include The setting – where and when it happened – PAST TENSES What happened – in chronological order Your impression or opinion about it

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 essay to create a mental image for the reader?