What is a descriptive essay?

A descriptive essay describes something, such as a person, a place, an experience or a situation. This type of essay gives the reader a clear mental image of the subject of the essay.

The writer should use vivid language when writing a descriptive essay and should include as many of the five senses as possible. Adding how something tastes, sounds, feels and smells, as well as what it looks like, helps the reader become more familiar with the subject of the essay. The writer must be clear about what the essay discusses, because the reader may be confused if there are too many descriptions.