Description Essay [Assignment/Rubric]
Kimberly Stelly
Overview of Basic Components
The description essay
- Describes a person, place, event, moment, or object that has meaningfully impacted you. This might be a memorable person, place, moment, or object that has altered you in such a way that it changed your view of the world or yourself.
- Paints a picture in the reader’s mind. This essay uses careful, descriptive diction that utilizes all of the senses. The reader should be able to touch, smell, feel, see, and hear what you are writing about. To achieve this effect, consider using figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, hyperbole, litotes, personification, synecdoche, and onomatopoeia. Show don’t tell.
- Follows an organized structure. This essay should not ramble, but rather have a definite path in your writing. For example, you might organize your essay in chronological order, spatial order, or order of importance.
- Presents a significant, impactful purpose. In other words, you must provide a definite reason for sharing this description essay.
- Has a voice. Avoid using words that you normally wouldn’t use. Be true to your “natural” writer’s voice. Your writing should be better than your speaking voice since you have time to go back and revise your words; however, your writing should “sound” like you. The reader should hear your voice in his/her/their head.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this assignment, students will
- create a well-organized essay that describes in vivid detail a significant person, place, event, moment, or object that has impacted their life or perspective.
- evaluate the effectiveness of their drafting by seeking feedback from peers and revising to improve clarity, organization, and impact.
Step One: Choosing a Topic/Prewriting
Brainstorm. Think about a person, place, event, moment, or object that has impacted you, or changed your perspective. Jot down the first five words that come to mind when you think about this assignment. When you think of your life, what is the first “thing” that pops into your head? Why? Whatever you choose to write about, be mindful of your audience. This is not a diary entry; think snapshot.
Step Two: Rough Draft
Narrow down your topic choices and begin developing your thesis statement. Your thesis establishes the purpose of your essay. Answer the question: Why and how has this person, place, event, moment, or object affected you? Why should the reader care?
Work on the structure of your essay. At the heart of your essay, you are writing about how a person, place, event, moment, or object has impacted your life. Think about the best way to convey this impact. How should you start? What details should you include? Don’t forget to include how and why the person/place/object affected you.
Voice and tone are important for keeping your audience in mind. Using slang, informal, or inappropriate language might be offensive or off-putting to the audience. Only use this type of language when the word or phrase is appropriate.
Just write! Get your thoughts “down on paper.” Seeing your words on the computer screen is easier than in your head. A rough draft is named “rough” for a reason.
Step Three: Editing/Revising
Ask someone to read your essay aloud.* Share your essay with someone who doesn’t know anything about your essay. As they read, listen for the following words: it, seems, very, a lot, things, stuff. Remove or replace these words from your essay (except for within direct quotes).
*You can also read it aloud yourself!
Step Four: Peer Editing
Exchange essays with a peer. Then, answer the following peer editing questions and prompts.
- Does the essay have a title? If so, is the title interesting? Does the title need work? Suggestion?
- Read the introduction. Highlight or underline the thesis. In your own words, what do you think the writer is trying to prove in this essay? What is the purpose of this essay?
- Does the introduction make you want to read the rest of the paper? Why or why not? Explain your answer.
- What are the strengths and/or weaknesses of the introduction? Thesis?
- Read the first sentence of the first body paragraph. In your own words, based on the topic sentence, what is the first body paragraph about?
- Now, read the rest of the first body paragraph. What details or evidence does the writer provide that supports the thesis? Does the writer connect the evidence to the thesis? Explain your answer. What is your opinion of the first body paragraph? Identify the strengths and/or weaknesses.
- Now, repeat #6 for the second body paragraph.
- Repeat #6 for the third body paragraph. If there is no third, write “N/A.”
- Read the conclusion paragraph. What is your opinion of the conclusion paragraph? What are its strengths and/or weaknesses? Does the writer “wrap up” the essay? Explain your answer.
- Overall, what is your opinion of the essay? What grade would you give this essay? Explain your answer.
Remember, take your peer’s comments with a “grain of salt.” However, be open to those suggestions and comments.
Step Five: Revising/Final Draft
Before turning in your final draft, take a break from your essay. Give yourself time to look at your essay with “fresh eyes.” Then, look at your essay by its parts.
- Start with the introduction. Is your thesis clear? The harder your reader has to work to figure out the purpose of your essay, the lower your grade. The goal of a well-written essay is one in which the writer has painted a clear picture. The reader should be able to hear your voice in his/her/their head.
- Next, look over your body paragraphs. Do you have a topic sentence for each body paragraph? Does the topic sentence convey what each paragraph is about? Do you provide evidence that proves your thesis? How are your body paragraphs organized? Do you have transitions? Are you jumping from one point to another? Do you connect each piece of evidence to your thesis through commentary sentences? Is your evidence vivid in detail? Can the reader visualize through your words what you are writing about? Do you have a conclusion sentence at the end of each body paragraph that “wraps up” the body paragraph and transitions to the next?
- Now, read over your conclusion paragraph. Does your conclusion paragraph “wrap up” your whole essay? Did you restate and rewrite your thesis, topic sentences, and main points? Do you have a “lesson learned” statement?
Writing Suggestions: Improving Your Essay
- Write in active voice. Try to use active verbs.
- Avoid beginning a sentence with the following words: that, there, which, conjunctions.
- Have variety in your sentence structure. Avoid writing in simple sentences all of the time.
- Avoid using the same word or same phrase in the same sentence or in the next sentence.
- Replace the following words: it, seems, very, a lot, things, stuff.
Formatting Requirements
- MLA format
- 12 size font
- Times New Roman
- Double-spaced
- One-inch margins
- 2-3 typed pages
Downloadable Resources (Assignment, Rubric, Outline, Peer Editing)
Click here to download a Word Doc version of this assignment:
Click here to download a Word Doc version of the rubric:
Click here to download a Word Doc version of the outline:
Click here to download a Word Doc version of the peer editing questions:
Description Essay peer editing questions
Attribution:
Stelly, Kimberly. “Description Essay [Assignment/Rubric].” Strategies, Skills and Models for Student Success in Writing and Reading Comprehension. College Station: Texas A&M University, 2024. This work is licensed with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).