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You could almost taste it...

Photo 4037

It was a hot summer day. The humidity seemed to sizzle and spit from the pavement. People huddled under trees for refuge from the sun as it beat down in large spanning heat. The constant buzzing of summer bugs rang in our ears, as they called out from the tops of trees, still, in the absence of breeze. There it was, like a mirage in a desert; a white ice cream truck, its familiar song distant and muffed by the heat and the buzzing.  The paint-chipped pictures of chocolate dipped cones and gloppy strawberry sundaes caught our eyes just before we saw the real thing. A child reached out for a rosy strawberry ice cream cone, glistening, melting and dripping as it was passed. You could almost taste it...

The Creative Cat of Essays: The Descriptive Essay

Photo 4039A descriptive essay does one thing: shows rather than tells. It is called "descriptive" because does just that; providing a portal in the the way of words to describe a person, place, thing, object, experience or memory. These are the essays that draw the reader right in, since they are encouraged to be both vivid and personal. Descriptive essays are the most subjective essays since they rely on personal experience to colour the words in which make up the essay.

Topics Galore!

The topics chosen for descriptive essays are almost anything and everything. The way they are described however is quite important. To write a truly engaging essay, the usage of different conventions and figurative language is key. Many writers incorporate imagery, since the senses appeal very well to readers. This may include using fresh, varied and descriptive language that paints a picture for the reader. Examples are also a great feature within this sort of writing, since you can describe as many or as little details as you'd like. Language conventions such as metaphors and similes further compare experience to other things in life. This not only expands the relativity of a piece of writing to the audience but expands the imagination of both the piece and the person reading it. What is so interesting about descriptive essays is their ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. As we saw in the example at the top of this lesson, something as simple as getting ice creamPhoto 4041 transports the reader to that hot summer day. Emotions and subjective feelings are welcomed within these essays which is something completely different than other formal essay types.

An Impression.

The principle behind the descriptive essay is to bring some sort of impression onto the reader. This is usually "proved" through describing something so that the reader completely understands what is being talked about, almost to the point where they can vividly see, hear, feel, or touch that which is being described.

Informal but Structured

Although descriptive essays are thought to be informal, it is important to keep structure in mind. Because there is a lot of description, fluffy words and plenty of detail, paragraphs and proper linkages can keep it from getting boring or swaying away from the topic at hand. It can help to focus on certain things within a topic or item, then these things can be broken down into separate paragraphs and connect to the item as a whole. It is important to give lots of detail and appeal to your audience through their senses. It also helps to keep a basic plan in mind while writing so it has a defined focus. You may find that your essay starts to look like a short story, this is okay since you are encouraged to keep the events in a linear fashion and walk your audience through an experience.

Photo 4040Rules Shmules.

There aren't many rules to follow within a descriptive essay, so be creative, use as much detail, personal experience and lively words to engage your reader. You may find it a daunting task to include so much detail, but remember your own experience and relive it through your descriptions. Your reader will be more than enticed if by the end they can almost taste the food you're describing, even if there's only your words and paper in front of them!


Creative Warm-Up!

Start off your descriptive essay stylin's by taking one of the great pictures used in this lesson and coming up with a descriptive essay to match it. It can be as short or as long as you'd like. Just post it underneath this lesson to share your creative genius with the writing-savvy bunch that calls LearnHub home!

References

Writing Services.org, Writing a Descriptive Essay. <http://writing-services.org/blog/2007/08/21/writing-a-descriptive-essay/>

Wonderful photos found at flickr.com:

Tel-Hi: The Playground Sessions, <http://www.flickr.com/photos/mybluemuse/2453026768/>

A Kite to Call My Own, <http://www.flickr.com/photos/meanestindian/356798153/>

Underwater Dreamin' <http://www.flickr.com/photos/johncarleton/32795628/>

Land of the Rolling Hill #2 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicken/2550360408/>

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