The document provides examples and suggestions for writing a descriptive essay, including: - Describing an image, comparing/contrasting two cereal boxes or magazine covers, describing a song or place. - When comparing two subjects, the essay should focus on three common elements for comparison and have a thesis about the comparison. - When describing three subjects, they should be used as examples to prove the overall thesis. - Regardless of how many subjects, the essay needs sensory details and a clear main point proven throughout.

1. Descriptive Essay
(in which you prove you can SHOW rather than TELL)
EXAMPLES and SUGGESTIONS
E

2. Describe an image...or
two...or three
• Basically, any visual text is a possible focus,
but the choice you make will open up or
limit your description, so choose carefully.

3. Compare and
contrast two
cereal boxes.
Focus your body
paragraphs on
these three
elements:
Color
Characters
Toys/Prizes

4. Compare and contrast 1-3 images that have been
photoshopped to the original photos. The details provided
in the body paragraphs should support a clear main point.
This essay would combine description, comparison
contrast, analysis, and argument.

7. Go online or to our library, find collections of
photographs, like these from Bruce Davidson, and
write a detailed description of one, compare and
contrast two, or detail three as examples that prove
your thesis.
The Edelman Gallery online is a great resource:
<http://www.edelmangallery.com/galleryartists.htm>

9. Compare and contrast two magazine covers: two
recent issues or, as above, one from the past and one
from today. (Seventeen Magazine cover archive:
http://www.seventeen.com/fun/articles/65th-anniversary-co
)

11. Describe a song or two...
Because you don’t get a visual to describe with this option,
providing enough detail is a tall order and you will need to
have some ability to describe music to attempt this option.

12. Compare and contrast an original song to a cover
version: deal with instrumentation, vocal delivery, and
lyrical impact.
Dolly original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1plvBR02wDs
White Stripes cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePnoUv7qSCA

13. •Compare and contrast a recent song and the
older song it rips off
•Compare two versions of a Christmas classic
•Compare and contrast two songs by the same
artist
•Compare and contrast one song that answers
or responds to another song (feuding songs)

14. Describe a place.
If you write about place, you should read some example
descriptions of places first.
http://ccfi.educ.ubc.ca/Courses_Reading_Materials/ccfi508E/Gates%20Jr_InTheKitchen.pdf

15. •Detail three rooms in your dream
home or three areas on your dream
property to build a dominant impression
of the home as a whole.
•Describe the room you spend most of
your time in NOW.
•Describe a place that holds special
meaning for you.

17. •A descriptive essay with one subject should have as its
thesis a dominant impression that is stated in the
introduction and developed with details.
•A descriptive essay with two subjects should compare
and contrast the two with three points of comparison.
Select common elements for the points of comparison.
The essay should be focused by a strong thesis
statement that is proven with details throughout the
essay.
•A descriptive essay with three subjects should use the
subjects as examples that prove the main idea.
•Whether you write about one, two, or three subjects,
your point should be supported by sensory and specific
details.