Descriptive Essay Requirements Descriptive Essay: (4-5 paragraphs; at least 300 words; 1 ½ pages) The descriptive essay will describe (in detail) a place or a person, using concrete and specific language (language that creates mental pictures) that appeals to various senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell). Descriptive adjectives that convey emotion/personality and atmosphere/mood should be included. To enhance the effect, utilization of figurative language (e.g., similes, metaphors) is HIGHLY encouraged. Requirements: 12 point font Times New Roman Double-spaced MLA Header and page numbers 300 words; at least four (4) paragraphs Must describe person or place Create a vivid image and contain descriptive adjectives/adverbs See Rubric for other criteria Descriptive Essay Housekeeping Miranda Rowe What is your topic? Your topic needs to be a person or a place. It cannot be a large place. It needs to be a piece/ small part of a small place. For example: Not New York City, but the World Trade Center Memorial. Not Michigan, or even Dearborn, Michigan, but a restaurant IN Dearborn, MI. Should you narrow down your topic? Descriptive essays are pictures, NOT movies!!! Introductions…. Do reader’s know who the essay is about by the end of the first sentence? Do you need to change your first sentence? Does your introduction grab your readers attention? Is there a very interesting/ odd/ weird fact you can give? My roommate, Alex, can say “Hello” in five different languages. My hometown of Middletown, is the birthplace of modern steel. How can you change your introduction to be more interesting? Body paragraphs The body of your essay is the middle of your essay. Your body paragraphs should describe three points. They SHOULD NOT try to describe everything. Let’s try using the picture…. Creating an informal, rough outline will help! Creating an informal outline Effective Conclusions Need to be full paragraphs and support your ideas. There is no need to repeat information. Use this paragraph to end your essay, while adding new information. Introductions and conclusions frame your descriptive picture. Conclusions need to answer the “So What” question. Why did we read this? What should we have learned by reading your essay? How do your points fit together? Descriptive Writing Standing on his hind legs, this rare andalucian stallion is fearless. His ears are turned back while his noble looking head is held high. His all black coat glistens in the late afternoon sun. His face displays a strong confidence with his nostrils flared, his veins bulging from his cheek bones, and his fiery black eyes burning holes into the souls of those who stare into them. His neck muscles are tensed and thickened with adrenalin. His black main is thrown into the wind like a flag rippling in the winds of a tornado. His muscular front legs are brought up to his chest displaying his flashing gray hooves that could crush a man's scull with one.

1. Descriptive Essay Requirements
Descriptive Essay: (4-5 paragraphs; at least 300 words; 1 ½
pages)
The descriptive essay will describe (in detail) a place or a
person, using concrete and specific language (language that
creates mental pictures) that appeals to various senses (sight,
hearing, taste, touch, and smell). Descriptive adjectives that
convey emotion/personality and atmosphere/mood should be
included. To enhance the effect, utilization of figurative
language (e.g., similes, metaphors) is HIGHLY encouraged.
Requirements:
12 point font Times New Roman
Double-spaced
MLA Header and page numbers
300 words; at least four (4) paragraphs
Must describe person or place
Create a vivid image and contain descriptive adjectives/adverbs
See Rubric for other criteria
Descriptive Essay Housekeeping
Miranda Rowe
What is your topic?
Your topic needs to be a person or a place.
It cannot be a large place. It needs to be a piece/ small part of a
small place.
For example: Not New York City, but the World Trade Center

2. Memorial. Not Michigan, or even Dearborn, Michigan, but a
restaurant IN Dearborn, MI.
Should you narrow down your topic?
Descriptive essays are pictures, NOT movies!!!
Introductions….
Do reader’s know who the essay is about by the end of the first
sentence?
Do you need to change your first sentence?
Does your introduction grab your readers attention? Is there a
very interesting/ odd/ weird fact you can give?
My roommate, Alex, can say “Hello” in five different
languages.
My hometown of Middletown, is the birthplace of modern steel.
How can you change your introduction to be more interesting?
Body paragraphs
The body of your essay is the middle of your essay.
Your body paragraphs should describe three points. They
SHOULD NOT try to describe everything.
Let’s try using the picture….
Creating an informal, rough outline will help!
Creating an informal outline
Effective Conclusions
Need to be full paragraphs and support your ideas. There is no

3. need to repeat information.
Use this paragraph to end your essay, while adding new
information.
Introductions and conclusions frame your descriptive picture.
Conclusions need to answer the “So What” question. Why did
we read this? What should we have learned by reading your
essay?
How do your points fit together?
Descriptive Writing
Standing on his hind legs, this rare andalucian stallion is
fearless. His ears are turned back while his noble looking head
is held high. His all black coat glistens in the late afternoon
sun. His face displays a strong confidence with his nostrils
flared, his veins bulging from his cheek bones, and his fiery
black eyes burning holes into the souls of those who stare into
them. His neck muscles are tensed and thickened with adrenalin.
His black main is thrown into the wind like a flag rippling in
the winds of a tornado. His muscular front legs are brought up
to his chest displaying his flashing gray hooves that could crush
a man's scull with one blow. His backbone and underbelly are
held almost straight up and his hind quarters are tensed. His
back legs are spread apart for balance. His back hooves are
pressed into the earth; therefore, his hooves cause deep gouges
from the weight of his body on the soil. His black tail is held
straight down and every once in a while a burst of wind catches
it and then it floats down back into place like an elegant piece
of silk falling from the sky. His bravery and strength are what
made his breed prized as a warhorse.
Was this the picture you had in your mind?

4. Hot Fudge Sundae
In front of me on the table sat a beautiful pure white bowl,
simplistic in design, hiding a decadent surprise inside. In the
bowl was hidden something that was not so pure, however, the
irresistible indulgence was worth every calorie that I knew it
contained. As I looked inside I saw on the bottom of the bowl a
hot, tender brownie loaded with macadamia nuts. I knew from
past experience that the nuts had a creamy and smooth texture,
almost like white chocolate. On top of the brownie were two
firmly packed scoops of ice cream, laying side by side, each one
a different flavor. The scoop on the right was a rich vanilla,
flecked with dark specks of vanilla bean. The scoop on the left
was a dark, smooth, bittersweet chocolate. The scoops were just
starting to melt tiny rivers of melted cream down the sides of
the hot brownie, pooling on the bottom of the pure white bowl.
These scoops of ice cream were draped with a sumptuous, rich,
hot fudge sauce. Topping the luscious sauce was an ample
dollop of whipped cream that was in perfect contrast to the
dense, almost too rich dessert below. The whipped cream was
topped with a shower of chocolate sprinkles and finely chopped
walnuts. What finally completed this wonderful creation was a
perfect maraschino cherry, its red juice sending tiny streams
down the whole mountain of dessert delight. The contrast of
colors, textures and flavors in this dessert appealed to every
part of my senses. I could not wait to eat it.
Was this the image you had in your mind?

5. What you should know about passing this class, submitting
writing, and description.
PAY ATTENTION! I will NOT repeat this information again.
You are REQUIRED to use:
An MLA Header
Page Numbers
Title
Double-space
12 point Times New Roman font
There are NO exceptions and part of the points for each essay
will be these requirements!
Writing Assignment Requirements
I write these sheets for every assignment. They are the basic
elements required to earn a good grade. I review them once.
It is your responsibility to use them as a check list and review
them.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is required for this course.
You are to submit ALL writing assignments as Microsoft Word
documents.
I do not take late work. I do not accept paper copies, unless
given permission before the assignment is due.
Questions?

6. All of this information is available in the course files.
What is a simile?
What is a Metaphor?
These are required in your descriptive essay!
A simile compares two very unlike things by using the words
“like” or “as.”
“as big as” practice
Now you try….
We are comparing two unlike things!
“My father is a big as a mountain.”
My love for you is as big as a mountain.”
Students chose something very large and then something must
be compared to the large item.
What emotion is like the large item? List of emotions on the
board. Who or what are as large as X?
7
Simile practice
“as SMART as”
“like a” (these are a little harder to create)
Where are there similes in Elizabeth Gilbert’s “The Best Pizza
in the World” essay?
Get into groups and find them. Pay close attention to what she
is comparing!
Now create your own simile about pizza!

7. Metaphors
Metaphors are a ray of sunshine in your writing!
Why use metaphors?
Metaphors create complex images in the reader’s mind with
little words. It makes writing appealing and interesting.
By writing "The sun was a diamond in the sky," the writer
suggests that the sun is brilliant, shining, sparkling, and many
more things that may take up more lines to describe in detail.
Comparisons allow readers to experience the situation with you,
rather than be TOLD about it.
What is a metaphor?
A metaphor is a lot like a simile!
It is an expression that compares two things, but does not use
“like” or “as.”
The only difference is the language!
Most often metaphors say one thing IS something else.
Examples and practice
His teeth are white pearls.
Freddie is a pig when he eats.
It is raining cats and dogs.
This room is like an oven.
Now you try….

8. What am I really saying?
12
Elizabeth Gilbert…..
Does Ms. Gilbert use metaphors in her essay?
Get with a partner and identify them.
Very important descriptive writing information
You are required to include a simile and metaphor in your
descriptive essay!
The idea is to convey feeling without being biased.
Example—if you use the word beautiful—readers already know
how you feel. We know that you like it, if you did not like it,
you would have used a different word.
You are trying to paint a mental picture of your subject—not
tell us why you think he’s great (or bad).
14
What is your purpose?
What are you attempting to accomplish with this essay?
Why are you writing about this subject?
Audience
What do your readers need to be told?
Example– a familiar building– only what is different at night?
Early in the morning?
If you are writing about someone or something your readers
have never experienced, you must give enough details to allow
them to see the subject in their minds.

9. Before you begin to write…
Go look at your subject again.
Spend a few moments studying your subject, until you can
recreate it in your mind.
What do you need to tell readers so that they too can “see” your
subject through your eyes?
Organization
Point of view (what you can see)
Describe from top to bottom, left to right, or near to far. Be
careful not to “jump” from point to point. (This confuses
readers.)
Chapel in the middle of the desert….start with desert, detail its
exterior before going inside.
With a person you want to start with the big items (personality
or first impression from across the room), then move to more
distinctive features and attributes.
Details
Use images (language for concrete sensory experiences)
A dog barking….
A baby crying….
Concrete nouns
That little girl likes candy.
My teacher is reading a book.
That teenager is watching television.
I love to play video games.

10. Vivid Verbs
He walked into the room.
The dog barked.
My mother was mad.
I was scared.
Homework for next class:
Create a first draft of the descriptive essay.
Upload your work into Canvas before the next class.
Bring a printed copy of your work to class with you on Friday.
Descriptive Essay Rubric
Name: _______________________________________________
Category
10 points
Superior
8 Points
Above Average
6 Points
Average
4 Points
Below Average
2 points
Missing or Unacceptable
Paper Set-up
Perfect MLA Header, page numbers, title, double spaced, 12
point font and one inch margins. Paper is set-up perfectly.
X

11. Paper is missing proper page numbers or title, but is double-
spaced, contains one inch margins, and uses a 12 point font.
X
MLA header is unacceptable. Is not double spaced, does not
have one inch margins, or does not use a 12 point font.
Introduction
Introductory paragraph clearly introduces subject of essay and
captures reader's attention with vivid details and description.
Reader can create a mental picture of the subject.
Introductory paragraph introduces subject of essay but is not
particularly inviting to the reader or does not contain vivid
details. Not a clear mental picture of the person or place.
Introductory paragraph attempts to introduce the subject of
essay but does not capture reader's attention or does not give a
description.
Introductory paragraph alludes to subject of the essay, but does
not describe the subject. A sentence or two captures the
reader’s attention, but fails to maintain it.
No attempt is made to state or introduce the subject of the essay
in the introductory paragraph. The introduction is repetitive or
does not capture the reader’s attention.
Sensory Details
Essay includes details that appeal to at least four of the five
senses (taste, touch, sound, sight, smell).
Includes details that appeal to three of the five senses.
Includes details that appeal to only two of the five senses.
Includes details that appeal to only one of the five senses.
Includes no details that appeal to one of the five senses.
Word Choice
Writer uses vivid words and phrases that linger or draw pictures
in the reader's mind, and the choice and placement of the words
seems accurate, natural and not forced.
Writer uses vivid words and phrases that linger or draw pictures
in the reader's mind, but occasionally the words are used
inaccurately or seem overdone.

12. Writer uses words that communicate clearly, but the writing
lacks variety, punch or flair.
Writer uses limited vocabulary that does not communicate
description clearly.
Writer uses a limited vocabulary that does not communicate
strongly or capture the reader's interest. Jargon or clichés may
be present and detract from the meaning.
Sentence Structure (Sentence Fluency)
All sentences are well-constructed with varied structure. Essay
does not repeat ideas throughout.
Most sentences are well-constructed with varied structure.
Essay does not repeat ideas throughout.
Sentences are well-constructed, but lack varied structure. Essay
does not repeat ideas.
Some sentences are well-constructed but have a similar
structure. Essay may repeat one idea, one time.
Sentences lack structure and appear incomplete or rambling.
Essay is repetitive and does not provide new information.
Simile/ Metaphor
Writer effectively uses simile and metaphor to describe the
subject.
Writer has limited use of simile and metaphor to describe the
subject.
Writer demonstrates little use of simile and metaphor.
Writer may try to use simile and metaphor, but is not effective.
Writer does not include simile and/or metaphor in essay.
Conclusion
The conclusion is strong and leaves the reader with a feeling
that he/she understands the writer’s point of view.
The conclusion is recognizable and ties up almost all the loose
ends.
The conclusion is recognizable, but does not tie up several loose
ends.
The conclusion is recognizable, but leaves the reader with
questions.
There is no clear conclusion, the paper just ends.

13. Grammar, Spelling, Capitalization, & Punctuation
There are no errors in grammar, spelling, capitalization, or
punctuation. Paragraphs are indented. Every sentence begins
with a capital letter and ends with punctuation.
There are 2 to 4 errors; however, these errors do not distract the
reader. Paragraphs are indented. Every sentence begins with a
capital letter and ends with punctuation.
There are 4 to 6 errors; however, these errors do not distract the
reader. Paragraphs are indented. Every sentence begins with a
capital letter and ends with punctuation.
There 6 + errors and they impede the author’s meaning and
distract the reader. One capitalization error or one punctuations
error.
There are serious errors that interfere with the reader's
understanding of the essay. More than one capitalization error
or punctuation.
5 points
3 Points
0 Points
Revision
Writer has revised thoughtfully with multiple changes that add
to the ideas or clarity of the writing.
X
Writer has revised thoughtfully but 1 or 2 issues remain.
X
Writer has only revised spelling and grammar issues, there was
no revision, or original copy was not submitted.
****If the essay contains any amount of plagiarism, the essay
will receive and automatic zero. I will report plagiarism to the
Director of ESL Composition.