How to write a descriptive essay?

Prepared byAmelina O.M.,

A descriptive essay about a person should consist of:

a)• An introduction

b)• a main body

c)• a conclusion

Introduction

Paragraph 1Name the person when, where and how you first met him/her.

Main Body

Paragraph 2Describe physical appearance (facial features and clothes)

Paragraph 3Describe personal qualities and examples

Paragraph 4Write about his/her hobbies/interests.

Conclusion

Paragraph 5Write comments and feelings about the person.

When you describe someone’s physical appearance you start with the general features and move on the more specific ones. You can also add a description of the clothes the person likes to wear.

e.g. Sandra is a tall, slim woman in her early twenties. She has got blond hair, blue eyes. She usually wears smart suits.

When you describe someone’s personal qualities you should support your description with examples and justifications.

e.g. John is very shy. For example, he finds it

difficult to make new friends.

When you mention someone’s negative qualities you should use mild language (seems to, can be rather)

For example, instead of saying

Sara is lazy, it is better to say

Sara can be rather lazy at times.

Linking words and phrasesTo make your piece of writing more interesting, you can use linking words and phrases to join sentences or ideas together.Fanny is an attractive woman. She has got curly long hair. Fanny is an attractive woman with curly long hair.Tom is tall. He is thin. Tom is both tall and thin.

You can join descriptions of similar personal qualities by using in addition, also, and, moreover.E.g. He is cheerful. He is always smiling. He always behaves politely. He is cheerful and is always smiling. Moreover, he always behaves politely.

• red / blonde / dark hair

• blue/ green/ brown eyes

• pointed/ small/ big noseSara

Valerіy

• slim/medium/ heavy• young/ middle-aged/

old• scar/ beard/

moustached

Bill

• short/ average height/ tall

• dimples/ glasses/ beard

• sportswear/ business clothes/ casual dressed

Tom

• early teens/ early thirties/ late forties

• wavy/ curly/ straight hair• fair/ pale/ dark

complexion

Carly

• short/ long/ shoulder-length hair

• tanned/ pale/ olive skin• friendly/ aggressive/

rude expression

Complete these descriptions using the adjectives in the list:

impatient, generous, cheerful, aggressive, energetic.1.Sam is _____. Whenever he visits us he brings flowers and gifts for the children.2. Lucy is _______. When she gets angry she starts shouting and bangs her fist on the table.3. Jimmy is _____. When he has to wait for anything he constantly looks at his watch.4. Anny is _____. She hardly ever gets tired and is enthusiastic about everything.5. My aunt Christy is _____. She is always in a good mood and smiles a lot.

Read the rubric and underline the key words. Then, read the composition and put the paragraphs into the correct

order. a. In her spare time, Carly liked to listen to music. She loved pop music, and she used to bring me many of her favourite discs to listen to.

b. I first met Carly when I was hospital in Toronto about two years ago. I was there on holiday, but had become seriously ill. Carly was the patient in the next bed. She not only kept me company the whole time I was in hospital, but also visited me after she recovered from her own illness.

c. When I returned to Ukraine, we kept in touch by letter. Then, about a year ago, Carly got a new job and moved to another part of Canada. We have lost touch with each other, but I will never forget her.

d. Carly had a quiet but friendly nature. She was generous as well as kind-hearted. Whenever she visited me she always brought flowers and chocolates. She talked in a low voice because she was rather shy.

e. Carly was pretty. She was tall and fairly slim. She had a small pretty face, with smiling eyes and long curly blond hair. She liked to dress casually in bright clothes.

Main points

Intr

oduc

tion

Para

1 Name: Margaret Wilson

When met: 3 years ago Where met: at work How met: while creating a project

Mai

n Bo

dy

Para

2

Para

3

Para

4

Conc

lusio

n

Para

5