Essay Writing: Writing with Purpose
One-word essay:
The one-word essay is quite manageable as it allows you to decide which essay type you are going to write about. Take the topic “Floods”. If you choose to write an expository essay, you can write about the causes and effects of floods; if you choose to write a narrative essay, you can narrate a story related to floods; and if you choose to write a descriptive essay, you can focus on describing floods.
Descriptive Essay:
WRITING a descriptive essay is perhaps more difficult than writing a narrative essay because it makes more demands on one’s use of language.
In a descriptive essay, you need to give a detailed description of a person, place, object, experience or memory. Your description must be so effective that the person, place, object, experience or memory described is clearly visualised by the reader.
If you are describing a person, the reader should feel that he knows the person well. If it is a place that is described, the reader should feel as if he is there and seeing it with his very eyes. How can this be achieved? Through the use of details that appeal to your reader’s senses and a lively tone that draws his emotions.
Techniques in descriptive writing 1. Use details – Focus on the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch). Details are very important and when properly used, enable descriptions to come to life. Use nouns, adjectives and verbs to evoke these senses. Nouns and adjectives help the reader see; verbs help the reader feel.2. 2. Use a lively tone – Show your own feelings, responses and reactions as these make your description more vivid and lively. 3. Describe different aspects – If you are describing a person, do not limit your description to the person’s physical appearance. Include a detailed description of the person’s character and personality and how other people react to him. Include a detailed paragraph of an incident which highlights one of these
The one-word essay is quite manageable as it allows you to decide which essay type you are going to write about. Take the topic “Floods”. If you choose to write an expository essay, you can write about the causes and effects of floods; if you choose to write a narrative essay, you can narrate a story related to floods; and if you choose to write a descriptive essay, you can focus on describing floods.
Descriptive Essay:
WRITING a descriptive essay is perhaps more difficult than writing a narrative essay because it makes more demands on one’s use of language.
In a descriptive essay, you need to give a detailed description of a person, place, object, experience or memory. Your description must be so effective that the person, place, object, experience or memory described is clearly visualised by the reader.
If you are describing a person, the reader should feel that he knows the person well. If it is a place that is described, the reader should feel as if he is there and seeing it with his very eyes. How can this be achieved? Through the use of details that appeal to your reader’s senses and a lively tone that draws his emotions.
Techniques in descriptive writing 1. Use details – Focus on the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch). Details are very important and when properly used, enable descriptions to come to life. Use nouns, adjectives and verbs to evoke these senses. Nouns and adjectives help the reader see; verbs help the reader feel.2. 2. Use a lively tone – Show your own feelings, responses and reactions as these make your description more vivid and lively. 3. Describe different aspects – If you are describing a person, do not limit your description to the person’s physical appearance. Include a detailed description of the person’s character and personality and how other people react to him. Include a detailed paragraph of an incident which highlights one of these