Prewriting

Understand the assignment

What is descriptive writing? The purpose of descriptive writing is to give the reader details about a person, place, object, or event. The writer's goal is to help the reader create a mental picture of what the writer is describing. The description should have a clear purpose and be directed toward a general audience. Descriptions are usually written in the present tense, and they use more adjectives and adverbs than non-descriptive writing.

In contrast to narrative writing, descriptive writing does not tell what happened (a story). Instead, descriptive writing chooses one thing to describe and only describes that thing.

A complete descriptive essay should:

  • describe a topic by examining several major features.
  • give sufficient sensory details so the reader can imagine the topic.

Brainstorm

Brainstorm to find a topic

Think about something that you can describe. It could be a person, place, thing, or event.

If you choose to write about an event, don't choose an event that is too big. For example, don't try to describe how people celebrate Christmas all around the world. There will be too many things to write about. Instead, choose a smaller event, like your family Christmas traditions.

Example description topics

  • The perfect roommate
  • A relaxing weekend
  • Your dream car / house
  • The most beautiful place on Earth
  • Your most prized possession
  • Your ideal significant other
  • A comfortable place to study

Choose a focus

If what you are describing is too large to describe well in one paragraoh/essay, you may need to focus on a more specific part of it (e.g., "ELC student life in Provo" instead of "living in Utah"). Do not choose something that is too big or complicated for a paragraph or short essay.

Brainstorm details to include

When writing a description, it is important for a writer to provide enough detail in the description. The reader should be able to visualize what you are describing without directly seeing or experiencing it themselves. In order to do this, a writer needs to incorporate many adjectives and adverbs. In other words, you should include many words that are connected to the five senses: sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell. Depending on the prompt, you may also need to include feelings or emotions in your description.

Once you know what you will describe, think about it in as much detail as possible. Questioning can be a useful way to brainstorm the details you need to include to help your reader picture what you are describing. Questioning is when you create a list of questions and then answer them. Some examples of good questions for descriptive writing are:

Spend five minutes answering these questions. This will help make the thing you are describing vivid in your mind. If you do not have a vivid mental picture of what you are describing, you will not be able to create a clear picture for your reader. It's okay to start writing in short (or even incomplete) sentences. You can use a chart like the one below to organize your questioning brainstorming. 

Questioning example

Prompt: What is your favorite place to study? Why is that place a good place for you to study?

SEE

SMELL

TOUCH

TASTE

HEAR

big windows, lots of light, there aren't a lot of distractions, a clock to help me stay on track with my goals

no strong smells, maybe a weak nice smell like from my gum

maybe fresh air from an open window?

definitely comfortable and soft clothes, a smooth surface for my books and computer, comfortable chair

I don't think this is relevant...? maybe the taste of gum or peppermint to help me focusquiet music with no words, traffic noises from outside, NO TALKING

Freewriting can also be a helpful brainstorming tool once you have chosen your focus. Freewriting is when you write down whatever comes to your mind, no matter what it is, even if it's not connected to the prompt or your topic. You write without worrying about the organization of your ideas, your grammar, your spelling, or even your punctuation and capitalization. Freewriting is usually easiest to do when you set a timer for a specific amount of time--maybe five or ten minutes, or even just one minute if you are having a hard time getting started. The key to successful freewriting is to continue writing no matter what, even if you are writing the same thing over and over. When your freewriting time is over, you can organize your ideas, delete repetative or unrelated words and sentences, and fix your grammar and spelling.

One-minute freewriting example

Prompt: What is your ideal significant other like? Describe their characteristics. Why are those characteristics important to you? 

i don’t like dating and it’s not fun it’s horrible i dont wanna write about this topic.........and really i wish I could wake up one day an just be maried to the perfcet person. i think that person would be nothing like that guy I liked in high school he was a jerk, he was so immature he was 16 to be fair......um um um um um i cant thingk very well rn I think he would be kind to everyone and he would love to have long and interesting conversations with me

Outline your description

A descriptive essay follows typical essay organization with an introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.

Introduction

Descriptive essays have an introduction paragraph that gives an overview of the topic and states the thesis. Make sure your introduction paragraph ends with your thesis. The thesis should state the item being described and the focus of the description (The ideal roommate is someone that is respectful, communicates honestly, and will do their part to help.).

Body

The body paragraphs in your descriptive essay contain descriptions of the major features of the topic. Divide your story up into major features of the item you are describing and explain each feature in each of your body paragraphs. Each feature you choose should support the thesis of your paper. The topic sentences for your body paragraphs should introduce the feature that you will describe in that paragraph.

Conclusion

The conclusion should start by restating the thesis. After giving a final, general overview of the topic, it should then end with a closing statement that in some way makes a prediction, suggestion, or opinion.

Example: Essay Outline

TH: Yellowstone is the most beautiful place on earth due to its natural phenomena, wild animals, and scenic views.

TS: Yellowstone is beautiful because it has some of the world’s most amazing natural phenomena.

TS: Wild animals are another wonderful feature that add natural beauty to this park.

TS: Majestic scenic views are all around this beautiful place.

TH: These many memorable features of Yellowstone National Park make it the most beautiful place on earth.

Exercises

Exercise 1: List descriptive words for the five senses

Look at each noun. Write 2-3 adjectives or adverbs that describe each noun for each category.

1. Grapes

SIGHT

SMELL

TOUCH

TASTE

HEAR

1. round

2.

3.

1. sweet

2.

3.

1. smooth

2.

3.

1. juicy

2.

3.

1. silence

2.

3.

2. Your bedroom

SIGHT

SMELL

TOUCH

TASTE

HEAR

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

3. A celebrity

SIGHT

SMELL

TOUCH

TASTE

HEAR

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

Exercise 2: Free-write about descriptive esssy topic

1. Practice free-writing about your topic for your descriptive essay. Take 10 minutes. Remember, don’t stop writing to fix anything.

2. After choosing a topic and focus for your paper, start outlining by thinking about your essay. What is the purpose of your essay? What information do you want to focus on?

3. Now, write your thesis. Will your thesis be direct (stated) or indirect (implied)?

Examples

  • The most beautiful place on earth is Yellowstone because of its many majestic features. (indirect)
  • Yellowstone is the most beautiful place on earth due to its natural phenomena, wild animals, and scenic views. (direct)

4. Look over your brainstorming and free-writing. Decide what information you are going to include in your essay. How will it be organized?

List your three main features that you are going to describe.

    Exercise 3: Make an outline

    Start your outline with your thesis sentence and your topic sentence. 

    You can add the other details after your outline is approved by your teacher.

    TH: 

    TS: 

    TS: 

    TS: 

    TH: 

    Writing Skill: Cohesion

    This content is provided to you freely by Ensign College.

    Access it online or download it at https://ensign.edtechbooks.org/foundations_c_writing/prewritingp.