Characteristics of Descriptive Essays

The Descriptive Essay: y y y y y y y y y y y y y Uses sensory details relative to the subject matter (increase the readers experience as they read your essay) Sight--paint word pictures; help the reader create a mental picture Soundallow the reader to hear what you describe Smellevoke odors both appealing and non-appealing Tasteallow the reader to share the tastes of things good or bad Touchdescriptions of textures, temperatures and weights Uses Active verbs and varied sentences. Creates a dominant impression overall attitude, mood, or feeling about the subject Uses connotative language effectivelyfeelings and attitudes associated with a word. Uses comparisonswith similes, metaphors, and personification Assumes a vantage pointthe point or position from which one writes a description Fixed vantage pointdescribing what you see from a particular position. Moving vantage pointdescribing your subject from a number of different positions.

Follows a method of organization:

1. Spatial order 2. Chronological order 3. Least-to-most or most-to-least order

Has clear essay structure

An effective introduction that will: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Spark readers interest Present your subject/setting Include any background information readers may need Create a dominant impression or stated or suggested in thesis Introduce the kind of organization the writer will use

Body paragraphs with topic sentences and other sentences that contain sufficient evidence, sensory details, and comparisons to support the dominant impression/thesis. A strong conclusion that reinforces/references the dominant impression/thesis and draws the essay to a close