To write a descriptive paragraph, choose one object, person, or place, collect everything you know about it, keep only the details that serve your goal, and describe it with as many of the five senses as you can. Then edit and proofread the result.
Writing a descriptive paragraph can be a challenge even for good writers. If you don't lay the groundwork, it can come out as a jumbled mess. Here is how to do it, step by step.
1. Find a topic
A descriptive paragraph focuses on one object, person, or place. You can turn almost any object, person, or place into a descriptive paragraph. Keep the goal of the paragraph in mind, though: if you are writing it for an assignment, make sure that the topic fits the stated goal and purpose of the assignment.
2. Explore the topic
Now it's time to brainstorm. Collect all the information you have about the topic, and make a rough outline of each of its features. Don't worry about writing whole sentences at this stage. You can just scribble on a piece of paper if you like.
3. Organize the information
Next, put your outline in an order that flows well. Look at your goal once again: are you writing for its own sake, or to fulfill an assignment? Based on that goal, pick only the relevant information from your notes. Get rid of anything that has no link, or only a loose one, to the goal.
4. Show, don't tell
One of the keys to a good descriptive paragraph is a vivid image in your reader's mind.
Think of the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Most people rely on sight when they describe something, and it shows in their writing. Try to avoid that, and describe your topic with as many senses as possible. Sensory words help you do this.
For example, let's describe an apple.
What do you feel in your hand when you touch the apple? Is the skin smooth or rough? Is the apple still firm, or is it starting to get soft? What do you smell? Then move on to sight. What does the apple look like? Describe its shape, colors, and size. Is there any flaw worth noting?
And what should you do when you describe a busy subway station?
Don't just tell readers that it is loud. Show them how loud it is. Are people talking or shouting? How crowded is the station? What expressions do people have on their faces? Is anyone playing loud music? All these details help readers picture the station and get a good sense of what it is like to be there.
5. Edit and proofread
Read the finished paragraph again and rework the parts that need it. Is anything vague, confusing, or redundant?
If you are writing for an assignment, check carefully for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. The Spell Checker can pick up mistakes that your eyes missed.
Now it's time to practice: write a descriptive paragraph about a random topic. When you want to go further, the guide to writing a descriptive essay shows how to describe at greater length.