Descriptive Writing: Write a descriptive essay of 300 – 350 words describing a family member of your choice.
Answers
A descriptive essay gives a vivid, detailed description of something—generally a place or object, but possibly something more abstract like an emotion. This type of essay, like the narrative essay, is more creative than most academic writing.
Descriptive essays test your ability to use language in an original and creative way, to convey to the reader a memorable image of whatever you are describing. They are commonly assigned as writing exercises at high school and in composition classes.
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Descriptive essay topics
When you are assigned a descriptive essay, you’ll normally be given a specific prompt or choice of prompts. They will often ask you to describe something from your own experience.
Personal descriptive essay prompts
Describe a place you love to spend time in.
Describe an object that has sentimental value for you.
You might also be asked to describe something outside your own experience, in which case you’ll have to use your imagination.
Imaginative descriptive essay prompts
Describe the experience of a soldier in the trenches of World War I.
Describe what it might be like to live on another planet.
Sometimes you’ll be asked to describe something more abstract, like an emotion.
Conceptual descriptive essay prompt
Describe the feeling of envy.
If you’re not given a specific prompt, try to think of something you feel confident describing in detail. Think of objects and places you know well, that provoke specific feelings or sensations, and that you can describe in an interesting way.
Tips for writing descriptively
The key to writing an effective descriptive essay is to find ways of bringing your subject to life for the reader. You’re not limited to providing a literal description as you would be in more formal essay types.
Make use of figurative language, sensory details, and strong word choices to create a memorable description.
Use figurative language
Figurative language consists of devices like metaphor and simile that use words in non-literal ways to create a memorable effect. This is essential in a descriptive essay; it’s what gives your writing its creative edge and makes your description unique.
Take the following description of a park.
Literal description
There are patches of woodland in the park.
This tells us something about the place, but it’s a bit too literal and not likely to be memorable.
If we want to make the description more likely to stick in the reader’s mind, we can use some figurative language.
Figurative description
Small groves are dotted across the face of the park like a patchy beard.
Here we have used a simile to compare the park to a face and the trees to facial hair. This is memorable because it’s not what the reader expects; it makes them look at the park from a different angle.
You don’t have to fill every sentence with figurative language, but using these devices in an original way at various points throughout your essay will keep the reader engaged and convey your unique perspective on your subject.
Use your senses
Another key aspect of descriptive writing is the use of sensory details. This means referring not only to what something looks like, but also to smell, sound, touch, and taste.
Sensory details
I feel the bonfire’s heat on my face, and smell the rich smoke filling the air.
Obviously not all senses will apply to every subject, but it’s always a good idea to explore what’s interesting about your subject beyond just what it looks like.
Even when your subject is more abstract, you might find a way to incorporate the senses more metaphorically, as in this descriptive essay about fear.
Sensory details used metaphorically
Fear is the smell of sweat, and the feeling you can’t breathe.
Choose the right words
Writing descriptively involves choosing your words carefully. The use of effective adjectives is important, but so is your choice of adverbs, verbs, and even nouns.
It’s easy to end up using clichéd phrases—“cold as ice,” “free as a bird”—but try to reflect further and make more precise, original word choices. Clichés provide conventional ways of describing things, but they don’t tell the reader anything about your unique perspective on what you’re describing.
Answer:
I am here to talk about my mother, who like every mother is loving and caring and wants to
give the best to her child. But my mother is unique in some aspects and these aspects have made
me what I am today-topper in academics in every Class from Class 6th onwards, Captain of
Now all of you must be wondering what special my mother did so that I could excel in both
the cricket team of our school and winner of several awards in various extra-curricular activities.
academics and extra-curricular activities.
It so happened that as I started going to school, my mother realised that I was a slow learner. I
was poor in studies, could not concentrate and was too shy too participate in any extra-curricular
activity. My mother gave up her job as a Manager of a highly reputed company. She took up
a part-time job for which she could work three to four hours from home and could spend the
rest of the time with me and rather exclusively on me.
I can never forget those initial years of my growing up when my mother became a physical
trainer, a dietician, a nurse, a playmate, a teacher and my best buddy. She did a course to teach
slow learners and prepared a strict regimented schedule for me. I had to get up early, do yoga
and other physical exercises under her guidance. Then she used to prepare highly nutritious
food for me according my mental and physical needs. After my school hours she would give
me audio and visual lessons prepared by her so that I could understand and grasp things easily.
And when I used to go to a park to play, my mother would always accompany me. Everyday
she would device new games and strategies which other children also liked and would enjoy
playing with me rather than avoiding me as was the case earlier. So, my mother first tried to
understand my areas of concern and then prepared an individualised plan along with play
therapy and a simple, practical approach.
In fact, she did more than a special educator would have done for me. And being my mother,
she did everything with utmost care and devotion in such a way that I never realised how strict
my daily routine was. Her efforts began to show results when my teachers started praising me
for the changes they noticed in my behaviour. My mother made me participate in every event
in school where I could and did not lose hope even when I came last in most of these events.
Her motivation and continuous encouragement inspired me to work hard, focus on the goals
she set for me and never give up despite all odds. Slowly and steadily, I came out of the tag of
being a slow learner and now I am standing in front of you as a winner. It is all because of mymother, who gave up her job, learnt new things everyday to teach me, had sleepless nights for
days together devising new strategies to make me the person I am today. I feel blessed to have
such a loving, caring and strong woman as my mother, without whom I am nothing and with
her on my side I can be everything.
Thank you.