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Descriptive Essay 6995 Views


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Description:

This video defines a descriptive essay—it’s just what it sounds like. It covers what makes a strong descriptive essay—from providing unique details to help the reader live your experience to using comparative language—and helps guide you on your bath to a focused, engaging essay.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

Descriptive Essay, a la Shmoop. A Descriptive Essay is exactly what it sounds

00:09

like...

00:09

...it's a piece of writing about a person, place, memory, situation, or... cat, that

00:15

you describe in detail.

00:17

The process of reading your never-ending prose can be an agonizing experience for the reader

00:25

if the descriptions are predictable ...

00:27

For example: My cat is fluffy. He likes tuna. I love him very much.

00:38

Still awake? This description tells the reader nothing new or special or memorable.

00:43

There is nothing that differentiates this cat from the millions of other pet cats in

00:47

the world. The key to a good description is to surprise

00:52

the reader. No jumping out of closets, please.

00:55

But you will need to get their attention by providing unique and memorable details.

00:59

For example:

01:00

My cat, Pirate, has one eye and three legs. He gets into a lot of bar fights. He shows

01:08

his affection by puking hairballs onto my sheets while I'm asleep.

01:16

Sometimes he grooms me by licking my arms with his rough tongue, leaving behind streaks

01:22

of slimy saliva that smell strongly of rotten fish.

01:30

Okay, so this could still describe just about any cat in the world.

01:35

With the exception of the "one eye, three legs" bit.

01:37

But at least it's more descriptive. One of the key things to remember when you

01:41

write your descriptions is that you need to engage your readers' five senses:

01:45

Touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.

01:49

If they've got a sixth sense, try to engage them on that level, too. Maybe get some of

01:52

the dead people to help. Make your readers live your experience by

01:58

filling in all the details they'll need in order to inhabit your memories.

02:02

It's okay—there's plenty of room in there, and company's welcome.

02:07

Pay close attention to your language; you don't want a line to sit dully on the page

02:11

when a different word choice could really make a sentence pop.

02:15

A popular way to liven up descriptions is to use similes and metaphors, or to compare

02:19

one thing to another.

02:21

Like apples and oranges. Peas and carrots. Anchovies and ice cream.

02:26

Hey, don't judge. Maybe we just have a really sophisticated palate.

02:34

This comparison can be made briefly, within a particular description...

02:37

... or the thread of comparison can run throughout the entire paper. Which is a great way to

02:41

fit in your cardio for the day. Your standards for your comparisons don't

02:47

have to be sky high.

02:50

If you succeed in entertaining your reader, then your essay is a success.

02:56

Another important thing to remember as you write the Descriptive Essay is to keep it

03:00

focused.

03:00

It's easy to meander and lose your way once you start describing something.

03:03

And your GPS won't help you here. To guard against this pitfall, it's a good

03:07

idea to describe in a line or so your purpose for writing the essay.

03:13

Dig deeper. Is it to convince the reader that your grandma's chili is the best in the world?

03:20

Or that the swamps of Florida are an awesome place to wrestle crocodiles?

03:24

Then let all of the descriptions and details grow out of this sentence.

03:28

Okay, now it's time for you to do some describing on your own.

03:33

May the adjectives be

03:55

with you.

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