DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY When writing descriptive essays you have to show off your descriptive ability.

You must describe things in detail so that your readers will be able to picture exactly what you are describing. A good writer will be able to transport the reader (in his thoughts) into the situation he is describing by communicating what he would see, hear, smell, taste, touch and feel if he were there.

MORE

GUIDELINES.......

Keep in mind that a good descriptive composition does not just list down a whole string of details, like a grocery bill or catalogue. A descriptive composition will have a THEME. The writer will convey certain emotions or a message through the details he selects. Think of how you feel about this person, place or event. Another point that you should note is your MOOD. Do you want your composition to convey humour, romance, mystery, frustration or sadness? A good descriptive essay also makes use of relevant and interesting details and choose effective expressions.

DESCRIBING PEOPLE In describing people you can organise your composition in various ways: 1) Spatial one section at a time For example: in a house, one room at a time 2) Sensory in terms of the different senses: sight, sound, smell, touch. 3) Interesting objects found there For example : in a description of a picnic spot, mention the waterfall, the birds and butterflies, the rocks, etc.

DESCRIBING PLACES You can organise your description in one of the following ways: 1) From near to far / far to near 2) From top to bottom/ side to side/ points of compass 3) Using sensory details like visual images, sounds, touch, smells and tastes 4) Over a period of time For example: from morning to night, season to season

DESCRIBING EVENTS OR INCIDENTS The easiest way to describe an event or an incident is in chronological arrangement. You should describe what happened first, what next and so on. You may want to choose to describe some events in greater detail and pass briefly over other. This will depend on your THEME.

WRITING TIPS

Create a scene in the reader s mind Use the present tense unless you are describing an event in the past Use figurative language like similes, metaphors Write based on your experience of people, places or events. Use a lot of adjectives, adverbs and sensory details to create a vivid picture in the reader s mind. Sample Descriptive Essay A Night Market Scene One of the most interesting places in Malaysia is the night market. You may visit and experience the night market yourselves. Both locals and foreigners agree that the night market is the most common feature in the local society. The night market begins when the vendors arrive in the late afternoon. More and more goods laden vans arrive to begin a brisk day of business. Most of the vendors busily set out to set up their stalls respectively in order to get ready for a brisk day of business. The sun gradually sets and the night market picks up momentum. More cars and vans are arriving. By now, the stalls are neatly and strategically arranged to entice their customers. There is an assortment of goods sold ranging from food, toys and clothes, to name a few. A variety of goods is sold at low prices. Large rainbow-coloured parasols are used to shade the people from rain and shine. A concoction of blaring music can be heard in the night market background amidst the constant shouting. It is an amazing kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, smells and colours. The night market is known as a haven by local gourmets who can enjoy various kinds of mouth-watering local cuisine. Still more people arrive, they come from all walks of life, mingling freely and harmoniously. Crowds are walking up and down in an endless stream. Some of them are stopping by the stalls and haggling before making purchases. Little children tag along, amused and excited. Sprinklings of tourists join in to experience the lifestyle of typical Malaysian folks. When night falls, lighted lamps brighten up the place, they add gaiety to this atmosphere, and it is like a funfair. The night wears on and the traffic of people recedes. Vendors get a chance to rest their weary legs besides bantering with each other. By 10.00 pm, all the stalls call it a day. The vendors pack up and close the van doors. One by one, they leave, leaving behind pieces of papers, plastic bags and discarded boxes. It us an eyesore! Finally, the night market disappears. The place becomes quiet and still once more.