Descriptive Essay (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes

Descriptive Essay

Key Techniques:

1. Adjectives: Create vivid images.
2. Verbs: Show action and movement.
3. Rule of Three: Group ideas or descriptions in threes.
4. Similes: Use comparisons with "like" or "as."
5. Metaphors: Direct comparisons without "like" or "as."
6. Personification: Give human qualities to non-human things.
7. Imagery: Use evocative and provocative language.
8. Sound Effects: Use onomatopoeia to create auditory imagery.

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Sensory Experience:

• Sights
  • Imagery, Metaphor
• Sounds
  • Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Sibilance
• Smells
  • Simile, Metaphor, Adjectives
• Tastes
  • Simile, Metaphor, Adjectives
• Touch
  • Personification, Anthropomorphisation, Adjectives

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Structure of a Descriptive Essay:

Introduction:

• Engaging Opening:
  • Start with an observation, question, or anecdote.
  • Example: "When I was young, I used to wonder: Does the moon ever get to rest?"
• Broader Implications:
  • Comment on the significance of your opening statement. This should suggest a basic outline of what your descriptive essay will be about.
  • Example: "Travelling was commonplace for me as a child. Where my father saw a means to pay the bills, I saw a blur of strange faces in different places. My one constant was the Moon. And even still, it managed to have a different mood in each new place I went to."

Body:

• Detailed Analysis: Delve into the broader implications of your introduction.
• Sensory Descriptions: Use vivid and varied descriptions to appeal to all five senses.
• Concrete Examples: Provide specific examples to support your descriptions. Example:

"The neon lights reflect off the wet pavements, creating a dazzling display of colours. Tokyo's blinding brightness washed out the humble, steady glow of the moon."

Conclusion:

• Powerful Closing:
  • End with a concise, impactful sentence that ties back to your opening.
  • Example: "The moon doesn't get to rest. But after many years of labour, my father and I finally did."

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Additional Tips:

• Authenticity: Let your unique perspective and personality shine through.
• Varied Sentence Structure: Use a mix of simple and complex sentences.
• Precision and Clarity: Avoid vague descriptions; be specific to create vivid imagery.

Ideas for Descriptive Essays:

1. Night Scene
2. Morning Scene
3. Urban Scene
4. Rural Scene
5. Seasons (Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter)
6. People

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