DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY:
KEY FEATURES:
Describes a setting/person/place in detail.
Uses the 5 senses to describe.
Interesting use of adjectives
Write in third person, in past tense.
Remember it is as if you are simply observing whist the
world stands still.
COMMON FAULTS:
Using first person narrative.
Using over-used words e.g.: ‘like’, ‘nice’
Making it into a narrative
Using too many verbs.
EXAMPLE TOPICS:
A day on the beach.
A pet.
The monster underneath the stairs.
NOTE: not MY pet- that is first person.
EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH:
The wind whispered as it brushed through her hair. There was
a glint in her eye as her gaze caught the sun’s rays. Sun-kissed
cheeks mimicked the face of a rose pink apple.
, REFLECTIVE ESSAY
KEY FEATURES:
Reflect on something that happened or your life
Meant to reveal deeper meaning.
Think back and re-evaluate.
Lessons learned.
Changes that happened.
Write in past tense.
Write ONLY in first person.
COMMON FAULTS:
Write a narrative rather than a reflective.
Using first person instead of third person.
Writing in the present tense.
EXAMPLE TOPICS:
The day I became a woman/man.
A fight that changed me forever.
Why I act the way I do.
EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH:
Looking back at it all, the answer seems simple. I was put
through all of this torment so that I could come out stronger,
happier and healthier. I can truly say that I don’t regret one
bit of the journey. It made me the person I am today.
KEY FEATURES:
Describes a setting/person/place in detail.
Uses the 5 senses to describe.
Interesting use of adjectives
Write in third person, in past tense.
Remember it is as if you are simply observing whist the
world stands still.
COMMON FAULTS:
Using first person narrative.
Using over-used words e.g.: ‘like’, ‘nice’
Making it into a narrative
Using too many verbs.
EXAMPLE TOPICS:
A day on the beach.
A pet.
The monster underneath the stairs.
NOTE: not MY pet- that is first person.
EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH:
The wind whispered as it brushed through her hair. There was
a glint in her eye as her gaze caught the sun’s rays. Sun-kissed
cheeks mimicked the face of a rose pink apple.
, REFLECTIVE ESSAY
KEY FEATURES:
Reflect on something that happened or your life
Meant to reveal deeper meaning.
Think back and re-evaluate.
Lessons learned.
Changes that happened.
Write in past tense.
Write ONLY in first person.
COMMON FAULTS:
Write a narrative rather than a reflective.
Using first person instead of third person.
Writing in the present tense.
EXAMPLE TOPICS:
The day I became a woman/man.
A fight that changed me forever.
Why I act the way I do.
EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH:
Looking back at it all, the answer seems simple. I was put
through all of this torment so that I could come out stronger,
happier and healthier. I can truly say that I don’t regret one
bit of the journey. It made me the person I am today.
