Writing a descriptive essay can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging. If you are a student looking for help with your descriptive essay or trying to get your essay written, this blog post is for you. In the following paragraphs, we will go over the steps to writing a descriptive essay.

A descriptive essay describes a person, thing, place, or event. The objective of a descriptive essay is to give your reader a clear image of your subject. While writing a descriptive essay, remember that you are not just writing to tell a story; you are also writing to provide your reader with a sensory experience.

Let's start learning how to write a descriptive essay that scores an A grade.

How to write a descriptive essay

Follow these steps on how to write a descriptive essay if you want to ace your next essay exam

Brainstorming

Let your brain muscles flex. Think about what you want to describe and why. It might be helpful to list the things you want to describe. 

For instance, if you are writing about your Grandmother's house, you may want to list some of the following details: her cosy kitchen with all its gadgets; the way she arranges her home; what kind of furniture she likes; how many bedrooms there are; what family pictures adorn the walls; any unique knick-knacks that might have belonged to your great-grandparents, etc. 

Once you have brainstormed and have a list of ideas, choose one thing from your list, and start developing it into an essay. 

Use sensory details

When describing your topic, use words that engage the five senses. Check out these descriptive essay examples below to get an idea.

For example, rather than saying, "I went for a walk in the park", say, "I strolled through the park, listening to the birds chirp and admiring the freshly cut grass," or

"The flowers in grandma's garden are beautiful" try instead ", The fragrance of grandma's flowers filled the air, and I could see all sorts of colors; deep purples, vibrant oranges, soft pinks", etc.

It will help your reader feel like they are right there with you.

Be original

Try not to use too many cliches in your descriptions.

Clichés are phrases that have been used so often they have become trite or overly familiar such as "nice as pie" or "a diamond in the rough." Mix them up if you must use them, so they don't become annoying. Here is another phrase from a descriptive essay example.

For example: rather than saying, "He was as mad as a hornet", try instead ", He was angry enough to sting." Get creative with your word choices!

Use similes and metaphors.

These two literary devices can add interest to your descriptions by comparing two unlike things using like or as. For example, The room was as dark as a coffin, or His eyes shone like diamonds. A metaphor is comparing two different things without using like or as.

For example, Her laugh was music to his ears. Get creative with these too! Make sure that whatever comparisons you make help describe your topic rather than just taking up space with empty words.