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120 Descriptive Essay Topics: The Easiest Way Writing a Descriptive Essay

Updated 18 Apr 2024

Assignments and descriptive essays are issues every student faces during studying period. Even if it's extremely hard to complete everything your professor gave you, you still have to learn how to write in different styles, meet all the requirements, including all the essentials you need to have in your text. We all have our own tips and tricks to carry through the assignment period, and we all are professionals in our own type of paper.

If you ask a college student to name the easiest type of paper, he would probably recall a descriptive essay. But what is a descriptive essay and why is it so simple to write? We’re here to help you out on that question and give you additional descriptive essay topics to make your college life easier with a great range of assistance from our essay writing service . And if you are willing to pay for college essay and want a descriptive essay writer to help you, you are very welcome to click the "Hire writer" button at the top of this page.

What is a Descriptive Essay and How Does it Differ from a Simple Description?

The main goal of the description essay is to describe something, be it a person, a situation or just something you want to tell people about. While writing this type of descriptive essay, you have to compose the text using your own experience and thoughts. No researches, no outer opinions, just your mind, and your head. Only sensory information is used to understand the descriptive topic. The description of the things is clear and simple. Imagination, though, creates pictures in the head of the reader, which makes this experience unique and personified.

It would make sense to start the introduction with a description of the context of the subject on which the entire description would focus. Doing so puts things into perspective for the reader.

How does it differ from a description? A simple description can be just several sentences or one long paragraph, while a descriptive essay usually contains five paragraphs. It has its style and includes a thesis in an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

How to Write a Descriptive Essay?

When learning how to write a descriptive essay , you should be aware of the structure as it differs from all the other types of descriptive essays. First of all, you should pick the topic from the descriptive speech topics you’ll be interested in. Then, you’re free to plan out your parts. As we already mentioned, a descriptive essay has five parts:

• Introduction . In the introduction you should include your thesis statement and dwell on the topic. That's the part, which will grab the attention of the reader, so it should be written simply and smooth, giving some essential background information for the reader to understand your topic better. Don't forget to make a transition from the background data and your thesis statement. In descriptive essays, the thesis usually takes up one full sentence.
• 3 body paragraphs . Three body paragraphs should have evidences that will prove your thesis. If you find yourself struggling with this part, use five simple tables to arrange sensory information you have about your topic and then pick them right from your notes to prove your thesis.
• Conclusion . This last part of the paper concludes all the information and gives a summary of it. You should have your last remarks in this part and rephrase your thesis statement.

Before starting your descriptive essay about a place or a person, you should know what you can write about and describe it in general. Here are some of the ideas:

• favorite trip and so on.

Pre-writing stage

First of all, think of what you’d like to write about and pick a topic from descriptive speech topics,  social issues topics  or  process essay topics that will match the theme. Have some inspiration from the essays of other people. Search around for descriptive writing topics and prompts if you can’t think of something unique for yourself. Expository essays are easy to write if you have enough inspiration on the chosen descriptive topic.

How to start a descriptive essay?

If you find yourself struggling after getting some descriptive essay ideas, think of the main statement you can use in your creation. This step is the one that can make out your main thesis statement and keywords that will describe your descriptive topic. As we already mentioned, make five tables for five senses. This arrangement will make it a lot easier to transfer your data to the next step.

Create a draft of your expository essay

Take time to create a draft that will become a close version of your descriptive essay. Pick all the keywords and include them into the five paragraphs. Don’t forget to make three points to prove your thesis statement and describe your topic. Make only an example that will be stretched out by the other details you’ll add at the next step.

Adding details to your descriptive essay with the help of enriched English vocabulary and online dictionaries

It's okay if you have limited vocabulary because this step will add more value to your expository writing. Add everything you want and describe it properly so your reader will be interested in what you wrote. Create an image in their head with the sensory words you can find in online dictionaries like Oxford, Cambridge or Macmillan ones. Make sure that they will touch on your descriptive topic and prolong the body paragraphs.

Take time to revise and edit the paper with the help of various free online grammar checking tools or help by EduBirdie

Before you check your descriptive essays for mistakes by rereading it, make sure to use online grammar checking tools to have your back covered in case your eyes miss something. You are also free to order paper from our writing service in case you want someone else to check it before you do it by yourself.

Edit the descriptive essay

Before you start editing your paper, take a long break. You can always go out with your friends, take a walk, and have a nap or a night of good sleep. Your mind should be fresh before you come back and reread your essay. Take all the time you need, read it out loud, add or remove sentences, check if you have placed everything correctly. It’s useful to double-check grammar in case online tools missed something. Would your paper make sense if you were the reader? Maybe you’ll have to rewrite whole paragraphs so they would make more sense and convey the descriptive topic better.

Tip: Ask your family member or a friend to listen to your descriptive essay, ask them to criticize what you’ve written. It will help your practice in the future.

The 120 Descriptive Essay Topics for Every Struggling Student

When you can’t choose your own descriptive topic, you can always find descriptive writing topics on the web and choose one for your theme. There are several things you can write about as an author so you have to decide if it will be about a place you’ve visited, a person you know or something completely different. If you're seeking inspiration and guidance, don't forget to look at descriptive essay examples , which can provide valuable insights into different approaches and help you refine your own writing skills. In any case, here are our topics for descriptive essay for the struggling students.

Topics to describe a place

• The serene beauty of a mountain retreat.
• A bustling metropolitan city at night.
• The tranquil shores of a secluded beach.
• The historical charm of an ancient castle.
• The vibrant life of a rainforest.
• The eerie silence of a deserted house.
• The festive atmosphere of a carnival.
• The architectural marvel of a famous landmark.
• The cozy ambiance of a favorite café.
• The stark landscape of a desert.
• The bustling corridors of an airport.
• The mystical aura of a religious site.
• The picturesque scenery of a countryside village.
• The chaotic energy of a marketplace.
• The technological wonder of a space station.
• The tranquil beauty of a Japanese garden.
• The frozen expanse of an arctic glacier.
• The cultural vibrancy of a street festival.
• The solemn atmosphere of a cemetery at dusk.
• The magical world of a theme park.

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If you want to describe a person

• A mentor who has shaped your life.
• A historical figure you admire.
• A family member with a unique trait.
• A stranger who caught your attention.
• An artist in the midst of creation.
• A leader facing a moment of decision.
• A friend who makes you laugh.
• A character from a book that has stayed with you.
• An athlete in the zone during a competition.
• A teacher who inspired a love of learning.
• A child experiencing wonder.
• A craftsman perfecting their art.
• A musician lost in their music.
• A chef creating a culinary masterpiece.
• A scientist on the brink of discovery.
• A traveler exploring new lands.
• A hero during a moment of bravery.
• A villain with a complex motive.
• An actor transforming into a role.
• A person experiencing joy in simple pleasures.

Memories and topics about experience

• Your first day at school.
• A moment that changed your perspective.
• An adventure that tested your limits.
• A lesson learned the hard way.
• The joy of achieving a long-sought goal.
• The bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye.
• An encounter with nature that left you awestruck.
• A cultural experience that broadened your understanding.
• The excitement of discovering something new.
• The warmth of a family tradition.
• Overcoming a fear.
• A moment of unexpected kindness.
• The challenge of learning a new skill.
• The tranquility of a solitary walk.
• The thrill of a roller coaster ride.
• The satisfaction of completing a difficult task.
• A time when you stood up for what you believe in.
• The comfort of a familiar scent or sound.
• The exhilaration of a spontaneous road trip.
• The peace of a reflective moment alone.

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Things and object in life

• The intricate design of a snowflake.
• The worn pages of a beloved book.
• The vibrant colors of a sunset.
• The sleek design of a modern smartphone.
• The rustic charm of an antique clock.
• The comforting warmth of a winter coat.
• The delicate fragrance of a blooming flower.
• The rugged texture of a mountain rock.
• The soft glow of candlelight.
• The chaotic beauty of a painter's palette.
• The steady rhythm of a ticking clock.
• The ancient mystery of a fossil.
• The festive decorations of a holiday season.
• The protective embrace of a family home.
• The refreshing coolness of a glass of water.
• The joyful chaos of a child's toy room.
• The solemn dignity of a war memorial.
• The innovative simplicity of a paperclip.
• The relentless power of a storm.
• The hopeful promise of a sunrise.

Hobbies, processes, and occupations

• The meticulous art of model building.
• The rhythmic process of knitting.
• The adrenaline rush of skydiving.
• The creative flow of writing a novel.
• The precision of a surgeon at work.
• The strategic mind of a chess player.
• The harmonious movement of a ballet dancer.
• The culinary magic of baking bread.
• The ancient practice of calligraphy.
• The challenging journey of learning a new language.
• The transformative process of restoring a classic car.
• The patient cultivation of a garden.
• The dynamic action of firefighting.
• The insightful analysis of a psychologist.
• The adventurous spirit of a travel blogger.
• The skilled craftsmanship of a jeweler.
• The analytical approach of a software developer.
• The nurturing care of a pediatric nurse.
• The artistic vision of a fashion designer.
• The investigative curiosity of a journalist.

Behavior and character

• The resilience of a person overcoming adversity.
• The infectious enthusiasm of a motivational speaker.
• The quiet strength of a leader in crisis.
• The boundless creativity of an inventor.
• The compassionate heart of a volunteer.
• The unwavering loyalty of a lifelong friend.
• The meticulous attention to detail of an artist.
• The fearless determination of an activist.
• The gentle kindness of a stranger.
• The disciplined focus of an athlete in training.
• The playful mischief of a prankster.
• The profound wisdom of an elder.
• The infectious laughter of a joyful child.
• The steely resolve of a soldier.
• The humble gratitude of someone receiving help.
• The fierce independence of a solo traveler.
• The deep empathy of a therapist.
• The relentless ambition of an entrepreneur.
• The serene calmness of a meditation instructor.
• The passionate intensity of a performer on stage.

Read also: 60 Exemplification Topics With Bonus Tips

Don't forget that your descriptive topic reflexes the main reason why you decided to write your essay. You should convey your individual feelings and describe this main point to your readers. Follow the structure, use your ideas and everything will be alright with your future essay. You can use topic sentence generator ! Our professional descriptive essay helpers will be glad to help you with your homework. Good luck!

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Written by David Kidwell

David is one of those experienced content creators from the United Kingdom who has a high interest in social issues, culture, and entrepreneurship. He always says that reading, blogging, and staying aware of what happens in the world is what makes a person responsible. He likes to learn and share what he knows by making things inspiring and creative enough even for those students who dislike reading.

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100 Descriptive Essay Topics

The list of descriptive essay topics I provided is designed to offer a wide range of subjects for writers to explore. Each category—Place, People, Objects, and Memories—has its own set of unique and thought-provoking topics aimed at sparking creativity and providing an opportunity to practice descriptive writing. Check out our narrative essay topics and writing prompts too. Planning a debate? You’ll also love our funny debate topics .

Structure and Scope

• Place : This category focuses on locations that might be personal, fictional, or public. Some topics, like describing your ideal bedroom or favorite place, are closer to the heart and allow for introspection. Others, like describing a famous landmark or a museum, enable the writer to convey a more factual, informative perspective.
• People : This section covers a variety of relationships and characters. Topics range from describing family members and friends to fictional heroes and people the writer may have only met once but left a lasting impression. The goal here is to capture the essence of the person and what makes them unique or memorable.
• Objects : Objects often hold sentimental, utilitarian, or aesthetic value. This category gives the writer a chance to explore everyday objects or those that hold special meaning. From items like childhood toys and treasured gifts to everyday tools like smartphones and backpacks, the topics encourage detailed observation and description.
• Memories : Memories can be powerful writing triggers. They evoke emotions, set scenes, and often include a variety of elements like people, places, and objects. The topics in this category are intended to make writers delve into their past experiences to bring forth descriptive essays filled with nostalgia, lessons learned, or moments that left an impact.

Grade Appropriateness

The topics are designed to be versatile enough for a variety of age groups and skill levels. Younger students can benefit from simpler topics that focus on familiar people or objects. Older or more advanced writers can tackle topics that require deeper thought, like describing a person you disagree with but still respect, or a place that makes you feel nostalgic.

The primary objective of this list is to stimulate creativity and encourage writers to paint vivid pictures with words. The range of topics is broad enough to engage a variety of interests and themes. It also allows the writer to tap into their own experiences, perceptions, and emotions, thus making the essay more authentic and engaging.

Overall, this list aims to be a useful resource for teachers, students, or anyone interested in improving their descriptive writing skills.

Here’s the list!

Descriptive Essay Topics: Place

• Describe a place where you feel completely content.
• Describe your school’s cafeteria.
• Describe a crowded shopping mall.
• Describe an amusement park.
• Describe your dream house.
• Describe a place where you experienced a moment of solitude.
• Describe a tourist attraction in your country.
• Describe a historical building you’ve visited.
• Describe your grandmother’s kitchen.
• Describe a fictional place you’d love to visit.
• Describe a place you visited as a child but haven’t been back to since.
• Describe your workplace.
• Describe the inside of a spaceship.
• Describe the most frightening place you’ve ever been.
• Describe a famous landmark.
• Describe a place that makes you feel nostalgic.
• Describe a city you’ve always wanted to visit.
• Describe your favorite restaurant.
• Describe the setting of your favorite book or movie.
• Describe a place you would live in if money were no object.
• Describe your first apartment.
• Describe a scenic spot in nature.
• Describe your school library.
• Describe an exotic market.
• Describe your idea of a utopia.

Descriptive Essay Topics: People

• Describe a person you admire from history.
• Describe a character from a book or movie.
• Describe a neighbor.
• Describe a baby.
• Describe your childhood hero.
• Describe a person you’ve only met once but never forgot.
• Describe your favorite fictional hero.
• Describe a teacher who inspired you.
• Describe your coach.
• Describe a person you disagree with but still respect.
• Describe a character who is evil but fascinating.
• Describe a person who has influenced you.
• Describe a family member you are closest to.
• Describe someone you know who is very different from you.
• Describe the first person you ever fell in love with.
• Describe a person who makes you laugh.
• Describe someone who is a mentor to you.
• Describe someone you find mysterious.
• Describe a celebrity who seems down-to-earth.
• Describe your best friend from childhood.
• Describe someone who is charismatic.
• Describe a sibling or cousin.
• Describe a friend you lost contact with.
• Describe someone you consider a hero.
• Describe a person who seems ordinary but has an extraordinary talent.

Descriptive Essay Topics: Objects

• Describe an object that you associate with your childhood.
• Describe a piece of art that moved you.
• Describe a gift you’ve given or received.
• Describe a book that has changed your life.
• Describe an old photograph.
• Describe your favorite watch or piece of jewelry.
• Describe a technical gadget you rely on.
• Describe your school bag or backpack.
• Describe an item you regret losing.
• Describe an unusual object you own.
• Describe an object that symbolizes your family.
• Describe your computer or tablet.
• Describe a game board or card game that you enjoy.
• Describe a childhood relic you still keep.
• Describe your favorite mug or cup.
• Describe a piece of clothing that makes you feel confident.
• Describe a musical instrument you play.
• Describe a souvenir you bought from a trip.
• Describe an antique you own.
• Describe a letter or postcard you’ve kept.
• Describe a collectible item you own.
• Describe an object you built or crafted.
• Describe an item you own that is environmentally friendly.
• Describe an heirloom.
• Describe an object that makes you feel nostalgic.

Descriptive Essay Topics: Memories

• Describe your most vivid childhood memory.
• Describe a time you won something.
• Describe a Christmas memory.
• Describe the first time you traveled alone.
• Describe a time you tried something new.
• Describe a time you got lost.
• Describe a winter memory.
• Describe a time you had to say goodbye.
• Describe your first date.
• Describe an event that made you grow up quickly.
• Describe a summer camp experience.
• Describe a family reunion.
• Describe a childhood birthday.
• Describe a moment you had stage fright.
• Describe your graduation day.
• Describe a wedding you attended.
• Describe a memory related to sports.
• Describe the first time you drove a car.
• Describe a time you received good or bad news.
• Describe an unexpected encounter.
• Describe a family holiday tradition.
• Describe your first day at a new job.
• Describe a funny memory.
• Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
• Describe a memorable goodbye.

Descriptive Essay

Descriptive Essay Topics

Last updated on: Nov 20, 2023

Interesting Descriptive Essay Topics Recommended by Experts

By: Cathy A.

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Dec 24, 2019

Memories, imaginative situations, feelings, and impressions, writing a descriptive essay is absolutely fun for many college or university students. They get a chance to play with their creativity, which makes this type of essay so much fun.

Descriptive essays do not require a lot of research. They are based on the writer’s personal description and explanation of the selected, or given, topic. This essay type is ideal for school/college students because they are not very much into research.

However, one of the most common problems students face while writing an essay is choosing and picking the essay topic. The process of finding a good essay topic could be difficult, confusing, and time-consuming.

The descriptive essay format is the same; introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. However, the topics for a descriptive essay are different and require a high level of descriptive capability.

On this Page

Descriptive Essay Topics for Students

Here is a list of some good descriptive essay topic ideas. These are just topics and ideas, and you can customize them according to your requirements.

Descriptive Essay Topics for College Students

• One week of a newly wedded couple.
• A crazy jump with bungee.
• Importance of college education.
• The day when everything went wrong.
• Education before anything.
• How can one make the world a better place?
• The magnificence of this universe.
• The demand for love In everyone’s life.
• Future of cloning on planet Earth.
• Describe your day as a new college student.

Descriptive Essay Topics for Middle School Students

Finding the best writing topics for a descriptive essay is an important task to accomplish. Also, keep in mind that you will easily create the thesis statement if your topic is good. Here are some of the great essay topics for different grades.

Descriptive Essay Topics for Grade 7

• Favorite cartoon character.
• My favorite song.A special photograph.
• A special place.An important time in history.
• Building a fort.Creepy things.
• Do I want to be famous?
• Doing homework.
• Going for fishing.

Descriptive Essay Topics for Grade 8

• Favorite hobby.
• What is your favorite movie?
• Do you like gaming, and which game is your favorite?
• Do you enjoy playing a sport?
• Do you have an unusual talent?
• What is your favorite subject, and why?
• How to stop hiccups?
• Let's help the animals.
• Looking at the globe.
• My favorite clothes.

Descriptive Essay Topics for High School Students

For your help, we categorized the descriptive essay topics into different academic grades. Choose the best one that you find interesting.

Descriptive Essay Topics for Grade 9

• Where do you like to vacation and why?
• What is the greatest lesson you have learned?
• Who is your hero, and why?
• If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
• Who is your favorite band?Where do you want to go to college?
• Important reasons why kids should have chores.
• The benefits of summer school.
• Staying at a friend's house.
• What I use a computer for.

Descriptive Essay Topics for Grade 10

• A game close to my heart.
• Mobile Phone: boon or a curse?
• What is your most treasured item?
• Your favorite restaurant.
• Your dream house.
• Five qualities of a good roommate.
• A note on your closet.
• Your favorite childhood memory.
• The ride on a subway train.
• The street from home to school.

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Good Descriptive Essay Topics

Descriptive essays are only difficult when you have to decide what to write about. Here are some good and easy descriptive essay topics that you can explore to create one of your own.

• My first day at the job and how I feel about it.
• Most suffocating day at the workplace and how I survived it.
• How to avoid negativity in the workplace?
• How to be more positive with troublesome employees?
• The best way to resolve a conflict and to avoid it in the future.
• Miracles of staying focused at the workplace.
• Importance of maintaining a healthy routine even if you have a tough job.
• Most embarrassing moment in my office.
• How to deal with deadline pressure?
• Top 10 tips to invoke creativity and move ahead in your work.

Descriptive Essay Topics About Person

• Describe your mother.
• Discuss my pet.
• Meeting a famous person.
• A particular family or family member.
• I miss them.
• Memorable person.
• My dad is the most interesting person.
• Describe a person you hate.
• My favorite school teacher.
• Describe your favorite celebrity.

Easy Descriptive Essay Topics

• Describe your favorite scene from the most recent movie that you have watched.
• Describe the physical setting of your favorite soft drink’s TVC.
• Describe the emotions depicted in the famous Mona Lisa painting.
• Describe the plot of your favorite movie.
• Describe your favorite fictional character and discuss why you like it.
• Choose one abstract painting and describe the emotions depicted in it.
• How your religious book impacted your inner thoughts?
• A writer with whom you can relate the most.
• What is your favorite type of dance; describe your emotions while dancing.
• Describe your favorite tv-series and why you like watching it.

Best Descriptive Essay Topics

• Describe an important event that impacted your personality.
• Describe the psychological events that influenced your personality for the worse.
• Describe the psychological events that influenced your personality for the better.
• Describe your first or last day at your college.
• Why do you enjoy bike riding?
• Why do you think writing will impact your personality at a deeper level?
• What did you feel when you held a baby for the first time?
• Describe the loss of a family member in 800 words.
• Describe how you would look without hair on your scalp in 900 words.
• Why are stars compared with human personalities in poems?

Interesting Descriptive Essay Topics

• All-time favorite movie character.
• Movie of the century.
• House that I have always wanted.
• Most heart-touching poem.
• Meeting my best friend after a long time.
• My favorite book.
• The most amazing thing that I remember.
• First time I fell in love.
• My first date.
• The first time I went shopping on my own.

Descriptive Essay Topics About Memory

• Describe the oldest memory that you can recall and why it has stuck with you.
• Describe a time you were the happiest; who were you with?
• Describe when something completely unexpected caught you off-guard.
• Describe a memory that you hold close to someone who has passed away.
• Describe your most embarrassing day or moment.
• Describe a cold winter evening.
• Describe the time you went to the beach on a bright sunny day.
• Describe your first day at preschool; what do you remember about it?
• Describe the first concert you attended.
• Describe the time that you felt the most scared.

Descriptive Essay Topics About Object

• Select five objects from the kitchen and describe their appearance.
• Describe your prized possession.
• Describe a room in your house and its most valued objects.
• Describe your favorite outfit that you can never get rid of.
• How will you describe a smartphone to someone from ancient times?
• What role does the computer play in your life?
• Objects you come across on the way to your school.
• Describe your favorite toy as a kid.
• Describe your safety blanket.
• What objects would you bury in a time capsule?

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Descriptive Essay Topics About a Place

• A trip to the mountains.
• Describe your ideal bedroom.
• Describe your favorite coffee shop.
• The place I don’t forget.
• A garden in the gas station.
• My favorite classroom.
• Describe the loudest place you visit.
• An amazing trip to a beautiful valley.
• Describe your favorite restaurant.
• Describe your favorite park.

These are the best ideas or topics for a descriptive essay. Make sure you choose a topic of your interest that you are passionate about.

Once you have decided on the essay topic, the next step is to write a descriptive essay. With us, you can learn how to write a descriptive essay with helpful tips and samples.

However, if you are still confused about picking a topic for a descriptive essay, worry not! Consult 5StarEssays.com.

You only have to request to write my essay and leave all the work on our writers. We offer high-quality paper writing services for high school, college, and university students at affordable rates.

Our highly qualified essay writers are ready round the clock to help you. We submit all the work after diligent plagiarism and grammar checking so that you don't have to check it again.

Or you can also get help from our AI essay generator? to get an essay by just adding in your selected topic and waiting for 90 seconds!

Education, Scholarship Essay

Cathy has been been working as an author on our platform for over five years now. She has a Masters degree in mass communication and is well-versed in the art of writing. Cathy is a professional who takes her work seriously and is widely appreciated by clients for her excellent writing skills.

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Are you going to write a descriptive essay and are looking for appropriate ideas? Look no further! Here are 220+ top-notch descriptive essay topics recommended by essay writers . For sure, you will find one that interests you and sparks your creativity. We have topics about various places: from rural farmlands to bustling cities. We have topics about people: from friends and family to strangers. We have descriptive writing topics about both concrete objects and abstract ideas. Whatever your writing project is, we have the perfect descriptive essay ideas to help you create a masterpiece. So, what are you waiting for? Start exploring our long list of descriptive topic ideas and find your inspiration!

What Are Descriptive Essay Topics?

Descriptive essay topics focus on describing an object, person, place, experience, emotion, or situation. They can also be used to give a recount of something that happened or that someone has seen or heard. When writing this type of essay, you should aim to provide a vivid and detailed description of the subject so that the reader can fully understand, imagine, or visualize it. When it comes to writing a descriptive essay , there are many descriptive essay topics to select from. Depending on topics for descriptive writing you choose, you may be required to rely on your memory, your observation skills, or your historical knowledge to complete the essay. You can also focus on an object or event that has significantly impacted your life. Other topics for a descriptive essay can include describing a favorite hobby or activity, a memorable trip, or a special moment.

Characteristics of Good Descriptive Essay Topics

Good topics for a descriptive essay are interesting to write about. The primary objective of descriptive essays is to relate the unique qualities of objects, persons, or events vividly and comprehensively to readers. Good descriptive essay topics can evoke strong emotions and feelings in people. Here are some characteristics of good descriptive essay prompts:

• Creative Consider creativity and originality when selecting your essay topic.
• Clear The topic should be clear and concise.
• Interesting Select a topic that you will not only enjoy writing about, but that will also be compelling to your readers.
• Researchable The topic should be easy to research.

How to Choose a Descriptive Essay Topic?

Choosing a good descriptive essay topic can be difficult. The writing style used for descriptive essays is very expressive. Thus, it may be rather challenging to complete your paper if you do not select topics for descriptive essays that suit your preference, knowledge, or experience. Here are a few steps to help you select an interesting title that will make your essay stand out. Follow the tips in provided order.

• Think of a title that interests you. Consider a subject that you are passionate about. You should never select a topic blindly.
• Brainstorm ideas. When thinking about your topic, don’t hesitate to write down words or phrases that come to mind.
• Research potential topics. You can look for the right content online or visit a library and skim specialized books.
• Narrow down your topic for descriptive essays. As a result, choose the best idea that you feel will make an interesting and engaging essay.

Top List of Descriptive Essay Topics

This section provides you with some of the top descriptive writing topics. Writers enjoy working on depictive papers because they give them unrestricted freedom of selecting their means of expression. Besides, these top topics can come from totally different categories. Below is a descriptive essay topics list to help you with your brainstorming:

• The Pearl Harbor attack.
• My scariest dream.
• The political journey of Barack Obama.
• Remembering my graduation ceremony.
• My first childhood memory.
• The most difficult decision you have ever made.
• Life with a pet monkey.
• Your childhood hero.
• A perfect journey.
• The best book I have read recently.
• My all-time favorite movie.
• Great migration of wildebeests across the Mara River .
• My Coachella music festival experience.
• Effect of cyberbullying on today’s society.
• The Mona Lisa: components of the legendary piece of art.

Best Descriptive Essay Topics

The art of describing an event, a place, or a character through vivid writing allows you to take readers to another world. Choosing the right topic is the key to success and it makes a lot of difference in preparing an essay or a speech. Discover the best topics for a descriptive essay listed below to help unleash your creative writing skills.

• The most beautiful place you have ever visited.
• The appalling state of Guantanamo Bay.
• Ancient pyramids and settlements in the Bolivian Amazon.
• An embarrassing moment in your life.
• Walking the Great Wall of China: the ultimate experience.
• My strange “addiction” to jogging.
• Canadian night festivals.
• Voyages of Christopher Columbus.
• The best gift ever received from my parents.
• Weekend living at the cabin.
• The ultimate daring thing you will always remember.
• How I discovered my personal hobby.
• My most challenging moment in school.
• Women’s suffrage movement.
• My biggest superstition and its impact on my lifestyle.

The best topic for a descriptive essay can often come from your experience. Thus, it should be easy to write about, since you already have necessary information and do not need to do any serious research. Using the above list, if you fail to find a topic that connects with previous incidents in your life, just choose a similar subject matter but such that is somehow related your to your own experience or is easy to explore.

Interesting Descriptive Essay Topics

There are descriptive ideas that are relatively more interesting compared to others. Essays about such ideas can help readers better understand an interesting experience or event, imagine and see a vivid picture, or observe and analyze a person from a more intriguing perspective. Here are 15 interesting ideas for a descriptive essay to consider:

• The feeling of being in love.
• A holiday on a secluded island.
• Traits of people you really admire.
• A woman’s life in the Middle East.
• Your biggest life-changing moment.
• My first sleepover.
• Best FIFA World Cup final ever.
• Recounting the joyous moment of your day.
• My biggest fear or terror.
• Earth’s appearance from out of space.
• My imaginary best friend from childhood.
• The TV series you enjoyed the most.
• Apollo 11: the 1969 NASA moon landing.
• Surviving the cold Arctic conditions.
• My backpack adventure in Australian rainforest.

Good Topics for Descriptive Essays

If you are wondering what are some good topics for a descriptive essay, you’ll probably find a suitable answer in this segment. The section outlines topic examples you can use for your essay. A good descriptive essay topic should capture your reader’s attention. You can write about multiple ideas, including a person you admire, a special place or object, a favorite childhood memory, or a beautiful landscape. Good descriptive essay titles should be creative, engaging, and thought-provoking. Below are some examples:

• My first time on a cruise ship.
• This year’s Thanksgiving dinner with my family.
• Your first experience with a foreign culture.
• Your most treasured childhood toy.
• How New York looks from Empire State’s 86th floor observatory.
• My sweet 16 birthday party.
• Picturing a clear night sky in the countryside.
• The first time seeing the northern lights in Iceland.
• My best friend’s wedding reception.
• One day in the army.
• A walk through the Central Park.
• Challenges of living with food allergy.
• The prom night experience.
• Main features of Twitter.
• Most beautiful beaches around the world.

Easy Descriptive Essay Topics

Easy ideas for descriptive essays require you to use just your five senses, your imagination, or memory to create a vivid image of the subject in the reader's mind. It also should take you a relatively shorter period to work on such uncomplicated descriptive ideas. You can choose descriptive paper topics from some of the examples provided below:

• Special days spent with your grandparents.
• Best places to explore in my hometown.
• A perfect summer day.
• The house of my dream.
• The most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen.
• Your ideal picnic spots.
• Your favorite moment in “ Avengers: Endgame ”.
• Describing my family members.
• Walking tour through Times Square in New York City.
• How does freshly-baked bread smell?
• My sense of humor.
• Perfect gifts for your partner.
• My first public speech: a recount of how I felt inside.
• World’s greatest conspiracy theory.
• My favorite school teacher.

Funny Descriptive Essay Topics

Allowing the imagination to run wild can lead to interesting ideas, particularly when looking for funny descriptive essay topics. Here we have compiled fifteen funny descriptive essay topic ideas for you to write about. The topics will help you produce a unique and humorous essay. From describing some weird costume to documenting habits of a quirky pet, these topics for descriptive writing are sure to inspire your creativity and provide you with a fun writing experience.

• An outlandish Halloween outfit to fit my body.
• People’s attempts to break odd world records.
• Charlie Chaplin: the funniest silent play character.
• How I fell for an April Fool’s Day prank.
• Most hilarious Super Bowl commercials ever.
• Funny moments during Donald Trump’s presidency.
• Funny experience in an eating competition.
• Diving into the mysterious world of wild street cats.
• The “No Sweets for Adults” law in Chesapeake City, Virginia.
• Funny life of Peter Griffin in the “Family Guy” TV show.
• Amusing ghost stories as presented in Hollywood movies.
• Funniest punishment ever experienced for losing a bet.
• An encounter with a celebrity lookalike.
• My queer self-made alternatives to online entertainments.
• Explaining the behavior of an eccentric pet.

If you are searching for other paper ideas such as division and classification essay topics or informative essay topics , you will find them on our platform.

Descriptive Essay Ideas for Students

Students often struggle with finding the right ideas for their descriptive essays. While some topics may seem easier than others, there are plenty of creative and unique directions that can be explored. This section compiles descriptive writing ideas for various learning levels. From descriptive research topics in education to discussing the effects of climate change on nature, these ideas enable students to grow their knowledge and develop their researching skills.

Descriptive Writing Topics for Middle School

Descriptive writing topics for middle school can range from describing a favorite vacation spot to giving a detailed characterization of a person or place. Working on descriptive essays can help students to hone their writing skills, enabling them to better observe and detail their surroundings. Below are fifteen descriptive paper ideas for middle school students to explore:

• My dream smartphone.
• My favorite activities in the gymnasium.
• Fishing and camping with my father.
• Most important and cherished tradition in my family.
• Recounting the visit to Jurassic Park.
• Your most enjoyable activities outside school.
• An unforgettable moment of wisdom with my teacher.
• My best outfit.
• My first time in a live sports event.
• Game night experiences with my family.
• A rollercoaster ride with friends.
• Most beautiful success story in my life.
• A summer vacation memory.
• Why my best friend is my security blanket.
• My lucky charm.

Descriptive Essay Topics for High School

Ideas for descriptive writing at high school level are relatively more demanding in terms of the effort needed to develop them comprehensively. You may be required to provide more descriptive details compared to the lower learning levels or even conduct additional research. In certain instances, suitable topics may only be derived from the high school curriculum. Here are some of the examples of descriptive essay topics for high school students:

• Importance of summer school.
• How I trained my dog.
• How the solar system works.
• Kobe Bryant: the mamba mentality.
• A unique family heirloom.
• Effect of domestic violence on students’ performance.
• Qualities of a good roommate.
• Abraham Lincoln: the greatest American president.
• My journey as an artist: the development of skills.
• America’s Independence Day: the Fourth of July celebration party.
• Thomas Edison’s light bulb invention.
• Greatest moment of personal growth.
• The Pleiades star cluster.
• Dream career: my aspiration to be an engineer.
• Assassination of J.F. Kennedy .

Descriptive Essay Topics for College Students

Descriptive essay topics for university students are even more in-depth compared to the two previous academic levels. Learners tend to focus on topics within their area of specialization. College students are expected to think big and be more creative. Students in high learning institution can be additionally asked to provide educated opinion on the subject matter. Learn some of the descriptive essay topics for college students to get your creative juices flowing:

• My online virtual learning experience in college.
• Yuri Gagarin’s journey to space.
• The role of your mentor in shaping your life.
• How did you get your first tattoo?
• Causes of college dropout: my personal experience.
• The Holocaust: its history and consequences.
• Greta Thunberg’s inspirational story.
• Experiencing the pilgrimage to Mecca.
• Preparing for a date: things to do.
• Inside an anthill: a view from a tiny camera inside the colony.
• How do you prepare for exams.
• Muhammad Ali: his life and achievements.
• Components of Martin Luther’s greatest speech.
• Most beautiful locations in Europe.
• Fastest travel route from Alaska to Ushuaia.

Topics for Descriptive Writing by Categories

A descriptive writing topic can come from many different categories. To help you select an essay idea based on your preference, we have compiled multiple topics and arranged them into various groups. We have focused on six primary categories in this section: objects, family and people, events, traveling, experience, and hobbies. You are free to either pick descriptive writing ideas from the lists provided, or use them as foundation for developing your own ones.

Descriptive Essay Topics About an Object

Do you want to write impressive descriptive topics about an object? In this section, you can explore the list of proper descriptive essay ideas revolved around specific entities. When analyzing objects, your sharp observation skills and basic knowledge about these items are important. Here are examples of topic ideas for descriptive essays:

• My most valued object.
• Toys I own as an adult.
• The rarest metal on Earth.
• World’s most powerful supercomputer.
• Components of my living room.
• Things you will find in my wallet.
• World’s oldest tree: its physical appearance and history.
• Items in my bank safety deposit box.
• A detailed description of the most comfortable bed in USA.
• Burj Khalifa : world’s tallest building.
• Historical significance of Eiffel Tower.
• Features of iPhone 13.
• Inside a Tesla Cybertruck.
• The largest flower in the world.
• Japanese katana: appearance, types, materials.

Family and People Descriptive Essay Topics

You can base your depictive essay on matters pertaining to family and people. Relationships with friends and relatives constitute an integral part of every person’s life, so you will definitely have enough matter and stories to address. In this section, we have outlined sample descriptive essays topics that draw their talking points from the subject of family bonds and friendship. You can deliver a narrative involving memories of time spend together, or expressively discuss some outstanding features of your loved ones. Below are some of the descriptive paragraph topics for papers to get you started:

• My favorite family member.
• The best part of my Christmas holiday with my family.
• Effect of divorce on childhood development.
• Pillars of a strong family.
• Financial benefit of a marriage institution.
• Challenges of being a last-born in a family.
• Things I miss the most about my childhood friend.
• The relationship between my step-family and me.
• The day I met my best friend.
• Our secret family recipe.
• The best Valentine’s Day experience with my partner.
• Growing up in a multi-cultural family.
• Biblical definition of marriage.
• Components of our family portrait.
• Impact of extended family on my personal growth.

Look through our definition essay topics to find more ideas on family. 

Descriptive Essay Topics About Events

Over the course of our lives, we witness multiple events ranging from personal parties to ceremonies of national magnitude. Generally, rather than giving personal opinions or using rhetoric approach, you should prioritize providing objective information and key facts when working on topics for descriptive essay writing about events. Below is a list of essay topics for descriptive papers to help you in brainstorming.

• Saint Patrick’s Day celebration in America.
• Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
• Chronological events leading to start of World War I.
• End of Cold War.
• September 11 terrorist attacks.
• My first job interview: how I performed.
• The birth of my first born and how it affected me.
• Relevance of the Ramadan celebration in the Islam religion.
• Effect of “Tomorrowland Music Festival” on today’s morality.
• 2026 FIFA World Cup: the next tournament in Canada, Mexico, and USA.
• The incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 2022 Grammy Award.
• How I proposed to my partner.
• The best sports event I ever attended.
• The Winner of the 2022 Formula 1 Series.
• How I survived an extreme weather condition: a close call.

Once you have selected your preferred essay topics for descriptive papers, you should strive to expound particulars related to the occurrence in a chronological manner. This ensures that the reader is able to seamlessly follow the directions of your thoughts.

Traveling Descriptive Essay Topics

Writing a descriptive paragraph idea about traveling can be a great way to capture the moments and memories of your journey. These topics for descriptive writing can help you create a vivid and interesting essay about your travels.

• Tourist destinations that left me with a lasting impression.
• Exploring unfamiliar culture of Amazon tribes.
• The most stunning natural landscape you’ve seen.
• Best cheap meal you have ever had while traveling.
• Most memorable people you met on your trip.
• The most thrilling journey to the Maldives.
• Unique souvenirs you brought back from Africa.
• Exploring local customs and traditions of Native American communities.
• The Swiss Alps train: The Glacier Express.
• Magical views of Niagara waterfalls in Canada.
• A journey to the Himalayas : the city of immortal beings.
• Challenges you faced while traveling through a non-English speaking country.
• Exploring the local cuisine of Istanbul.
• The most interesting thing you learned on your recent trip
• How I met my travel companion.

Descriptive Essay Topics About an Experience

Writing topics for a descriptive essay about an experience can be a great way to explore and share recollections of your life. Although not everyone is ready or comfortable to share their past, there are people who enjoy talking about the affairs that touched them to their friends, families, and even strangers. Find 15 topics for descriptive papers about an experience to get you started listed below:

• An experience that changed your outlook on life.
• A summer night that was particularly memorable.
• Witnessing Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory.
• An experience that made you feel scared and develop a phobia for height.
• Places that fill you with joy and nostalgia.
• A moment of relief.
• My experience learning abroad.
• The biggest public humiliation that I will never forget.
• A dream that stayed with you.
• A time when you felt overwhelmed.
• A special experience with a family member.
• Self-realization in my time of adversity.
• The story of my first heartbreak.
• How I coped with being hospitalized for weeks.
• Recounting my visit to a home for the elderly.

Ideas for a Descriptive Essay About Hobbies

Writing descriptive essay topics about hobbies can be a great way to express yourself and explore your passions. Whether it's a hobby you've been doing for years or something new that you've recently taken up, there are countless topics to pick from when it comes to creating a descriptive essay. Below are ideas for descriptive essays to get you started:

• My inspiration for taking up a new hobby.
• Athletics as hobbies: their conversion to professions.
• How my parents helped me pick my hobby.
• Impact of hobbies on my relationship with family and friends.
• Effect of sedentary hobby on your health.
• Recounting the event that made me fall out of love with my traveling hobby.
• How physical hobbies improved my physiological health.
• My favorite childhood hobby.
• Financial implication of having a hobby.
• My best friend’s unusual hobby.
• Extreme and dangerous hobbies taken up by my friends.
• How sharing hobbies with my neighbor developed our friendship.
• Pressures resulting from doing ballet dancing as a hobby.
• My hobby’s contribution to my career development.
• Biggest lessons learned from my childhood hobbies.

If you need more essay ideas, don’t forget that we have an extensive blog that offers different titles, including narrative essay topics and ideas for expository essays .

Bottom Line on Descriptive Essay Topics

Descriptive writing essay topics can range from narrating a personal experience to describing a place, person, or thing. It is important to include enough details in your essay so the reader can form a vivid picture. When choosing topics to write a descriptive essay on, you should consider the age and other specifics of the target audience and know your primary intentions in delivering information. It is also vital to be creative and use unique language to make the essay stand out. With the right topic and approach, a descriptive essay can be an engaging and enjoyable writing experience. Do not forget to adhere to grammar rules and employ appropriate lexis when working on topics for descriptive essays!

Our team of professionals provides top-notch academic writing service. Order your perfect descriptive essay from us. We will get it done as soon as possible. Our writers are ready to help you find the easiest path to success!

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120 Descriptive Essay Topics to Spark Your Creativity

Writing a descriptive essay is a creative task. It requires using sensory language and expressive means, such as similes, metaphors, personifications, etc., for creating a vivid description of an object, place, person, or experience. The best descriptive essays are usually based on the writer's personal lived reality. However, some good descriptive essay topics require research and imagination to explore. Your instructors might give you one of such assignments to see how well you have absorbed class materials and how confident you are with the knowledge.

Finding a suitable topic to explore is no mean feat. With this blog, we hope to help you with the task. Below, you will find 120 topics grouped by a common theme and academic level they are suitable for. Some of the ideas for descriptive essays are linked to full samples in our free database. Read them to understand descriptive writing better and maybe borrow a trick or two to make your own essay even more compelling.

How to Choose a Descriptive Essay Topic

Before we proceed to our descriptive essay topics list, let's first prime you on brainstorming the ideas and finding suitable topics independently.

The first thing you need to ask yourself is, "What are my limits?" Are you free to use your imagination, or are you restricted to the facts you have witnessed? For example, for your history class, they might ask you to write a descriptive essay of an archeological site you've been digging. That would be a description based on your experience. However, they could also ask you to reconstruct the site and describe what it could look like centuries ago. That would be an assignment based on research but also requiring your imagination and creativity.

With that in mind, you need to inspect what resources you have at your disposal. If you have to base your essay on research, look at what literature you have readily available. If sources abound, you can narrow your topic down for a more efficient search. If, however, the information is scarce, scale up a bit to find more data.

If you have to write a description based on your experience, the best strategy for a good descriptive essay topic would be to go for something that made a strong impression on you. This way, it would be easier to create a powerful description from memory. Also, make sure you touch on points relevant to your class or this particular assignment. For example, you need to write about the importance of emotional intelligence in your practice as a nurse. For this, you must select a case that is both memorable to you and relevant to the topic.

Descriptive Essay Topics for Middle School

First, let us zero in on the academic level. Here are some fun descriptive paper ideas suitable for middle-school students. Some of the suggestions are easy; others are more challenging. However, they all provide an opportunity to give a colorful description and tell a story through images.

• Describe your favorite animal
• Describe a fantastical journey through a human body affected by fast food
• My last weekend and how I spent it
• Describe the dawn or the sunset
• Describe your pet (or your friend's pet if you don't keep pets)
• Describe your favorite item of clothing
• Describe your last weekend
• Describe the best journey you ever had
• Describe your best friend
• Describe your classroom
• Describe your street
• Describe your house

Descriptive Essay Topics for High School Students

If you have been given a descriptive writing assignment but no prompt hinting what to write a descriptive essay on, try these suggestions. Feel free to change them. Treat them as brainstorm starters.

• A childhood memory that stuck with you
• A time you lost someone dear to you and how you persevered
• What are your personal reactions to The Princess Bride movie ? Be descriptive.
• Retell Frankenstein from the POV of the Creature
• Describe your family home
• Describe the last party you've been to
• Describe a book character (how you picture them based on the information from the book)
• Describe waking up early
• Describe your favorite smell
• Describe a chance encounter that left a lasting impression
• Describe the most fun activity you have ever participated in
• Describe a thing that annoys you the most. What makes it so noxious?

Descriptive Essay Topics for College Students

As a college student, you must be looking for more original topics to write a descriptive essay on since you've most likely already explored the easier ones from above. Look in this section or further – in the thematic groups. Read the papers attached as examples if the topic interests you but seems too challenging. Also, don't forget that you can get personalized essay writing help for any type of assignment – creative descriptions included. 

• Describe your favorite place on campus
• Describe your experience with contemplating art
• Describe a hot day
• Describe events from The Great Gatsby from an unconventional POV
• Describe a vivid childhood memory
• Describe a gathering (a club meeting, a political rally, etc.)
• Describe a construction site
• Describe a frightening experience you went through
• Describe building a healthy habit (or breaking a bad one)
• Describe a wedding you have attended
• Describe a trip home during the break
• Describe your new room away from home

Descriptive Essay Ideas About an Object

Describing an object is probably on the easier side of this assignment. However, with these original descriptive writing topics, an essay about an ordinary thing can be just as impressive and sophisticated as a description of unique experiences.

• My notebook
• Describe a tool you use every day and its importance
• The thing that has shaped your childhood
• Describe your most treasured possession
• Describe a piece of jewelry you wish you owned
• Describe a thing that has a story attached to it (a family heirloom, a museum exhibit, a memento, etc.)
• Describe your favorite piece of furniture
• Describe a thing that used to scare you as a child
• Judge a book by its cover: pick up and describe a book you've never read
• Describe a remarkable door
• You are living in the Iron Age. Describe the most valuable thing you own
• Describe an item that belongs to a friend or a family member. What can it tell about its owner?

Topics for a Descriptive Essay About an Experience

Speaking of experiences. If you are tired of well-thumbed issues like triumphs and defeats, choose your next topic for a descriptive essay from the list below. Write a different story that is meaningful and impactful.

• Describe how you tried something for the first time
• Describe a music concert or a festival you've been to
• Describe the feelings of an unfairly incarcerated person
• Describe a difficult situation that taught you something valuable
• Describe living through a natural disaster
• Describe the feeling of sorrow
• Describe your experience watching a classic movie
• Describe how you combat stress
• Describe the sadness of leaving
• Describe recovering from an illness
• Do you remember how you learned reading? Tell about the experience
• Describe your visit to a beauty salon or a barbershop

Examples of Descriptive Essay Topics About a Place

Descriptive paper topics suggested below give you only a general direction for your thoughts. In contrast, a sample attached to each title describes a concrete and very specific place. That is why we advise you to explore the attached pieces for more inspiration.

• Write about a public place that continues to evoke powerful, emotional memories for you
• Describe a restaurant in your area
• Describe a house
• Describe your hometown
• Describe ocean shore
• Describe a museum or an art gallery you've attended
• Describe a park or a natural spot you like
• Describe your favorite place on earth
• Describe the best place to study
• Imagine a public space designed for teens. Describe it. Where would you place it?
• Do you remember your first trip out of town? Where did you go? Be descriptive.
• Describe a place where you feel most safe

Interesting Descriptive Essay Topics About a Person

Describing a person is not an easy task, especially if you need to remain neutral and objective. These topics for descriptive essays about people will be an excellent exercise for you.

• Describe a person from your class that you find interesting
• Describe a person you have helped recently
• Describe a stranger who showed you kindness
• Describe one of your parents
• The most unforgettable person in your life
• Describe a person you can call your mentor
• Describe your professor
• Describe someone you see often but not acquainted with (a cash-desk clerk, a bus driver, a dog-walker from your street, etc.)
• Describe a celebrity you find the most inspiring
• Describe a fictional character you had a crush on
• Describe an influential political figure of today
• If you could interview any historical personality, who would it be? Describe them

Descriptive Essay Topics About Art, Culture, and Esthetics

The area we have outlined in the subheading is vast, so these topics are there to give your creativity a little nudge. Play with them and transform them to suit your assignment.

• Describe a cultural artifact (a sculpture, a painting, a museum exhibit, etc.)
• Describe a creative work you have produced
• A documentary that fascinated you
• Describe an impact of a poetic work on you
• Describe characters on your favorite TV show
• Describe a dance show
• Describe a thing you would call kitschy. Explain your choice
• Describe a ceremony or a ritual you partook in
• Describe a night in a movie theater from the perspective of a first-time goer
• Describe a consumer good from the point of view of its esthetic value
• Describe a building. What's its purpose? How is it conveyed through architecture?
• Describe a historical costume representative of a particular era

Imaginative Topics for a Unique Descriptive Essay

How about running away with your imagination and creating something that doesn't exist? No one said that your description must be documental.

• If you could rule the world, how would it look like? Describe your perfect vision
• Describe the art to an alien
• Describe how your childhood experiences have formed your personality
• Describe a magical creature you wish existed
• Describe a robot you could befriend
• Describe an ordinary day from the point of view of an inanimate object
• Describe a technological artifact from another planet
• Describe a day in a park without using sight
• Describe a sci-fi landscape
• Describe an immortal being
• Describe flying over your hometown
• Describe turning into an animal

Descriptive Essay Topics About Business and Technology

Serious topics can be approached creatively as well. Descriptive essays give a human dimension to business and tech – which is always good for a better understanding their purposes.

• Internet hoaxes you've come across
• Describe a product to a potential consumer
• Describe your short-term (3 years) career goals
• Describe customer experience in a chain restaurant or reseller's
• Describe an innovative shop window display
• Describe your workday or shift
• Describe a place of work you see yourself in 5 years
• Describe an ergonomic design you admired
• Describe a perfect gadget that doesn't exist yet
• Describe your first computer
• Describe a technology that should replace human labor. Why would it be better this way?
• Describe an item that will be in each household twenty years from now

If one of the topics above caught your fancy, but there is no sample, don't despair. We can write one exclusively for you. Moreover, if you have written a draft but you think it could be more expressive and vivid, send it to us for editing, and we will make it shine!

Jana Rooheart

Jana Rooheart came to WOWESSAYS™ with a mission to put together and then slice and dice our vast practical experience in crafting all kinds of academic papers. Jana is an aspired blogger with rich expertise in psychology, digital learning tools, and creative writing. In this blog, she willingly shares tricks of pencraft and mind-altering ideas about academic writing any student will find utterly beneficial.

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Descriptive Essay Writing

Descriptive Essay Topics

Interesting Descriptive Essay Topics - 2024

14 min read

Published on: Jun 2, 2023

Last updated on: Mar 1, 2024

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A descriptive essay paints a vivid picture through words, capturing intricate details, sensory experiences, and emotions. That is why selecting the right topic is crucial to creating a stimulating reader experience when writing this type of essay . 

A descriptive essay topic should evoke touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste to contribute to the essay's success in conveying a vivid image. So, picking the right topic needs to be done correctly and carefully. 

In this blog, we'll explore various interesting topics to spark your creativity and enhance your descriptive writing skills. Read the blog if you are looking for some interesting descriptive essay ideas.

Let's dig in!

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Descriptive Essay Topics: Favorite Things And Activities

• Describing the ritual of Sunday morning pancake breakfasts
• The comfort of a well-worn reading nook
• A walk through the blossoming rose garden
• Exploring the delights of stargazing
• The joy of crafting personalized handwritten letters
• Describing the thrill of a roller coaster ride
• The tranquil routine of sunset yoga by the seashore: a mindful retreat.
• A culinary adventure in the kitchen
• The excitement of exploring antique markets
• Describing the cozy atmosphere of a family movie night

Descriptive Essay Topics: Geography And Traveling

• Navigating the hidden gems of an ancient city
• Describing the mesmerizing colors of a remote tropical sunset.
• Journey through the dynamic landscapes of a national park
• The bustling energy of a local bazaar
• Exploring the mysteries of an underwater cave
• A descriptive study of traditional architecture in a foreign country.
• Describing the rich cultural tapestry of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The awe-inspiring beauty of the Northern Lights
• A descriptive exploration of the diverse flora and fauna in a rainforest.
• The tranquil serenity of a remote desert oasis

Descriptive Essay Topics: Memories And Associations

• Unraveling the nostalgia of childhood hide-and-seek games
• Describing the aroma of Grandma's kitchen
• A walk down memory lane
• The timeless melody of a family heirloom
• Recalling the excitement of a first day at school
• A descriptive exploration of a sentimental family photograph album.
• The echoes of laughter in an old family home
• Describing the texture of a childhood blanket
• A day in the life of a cherished childhood toy
• The significance of a faded ticket stub

Descriptive Essay Topics: Philosophy, Science, And Religion

• Describing the intersection of science and spirituality
• The philosophy of time
• The ethical implications of genetic engineering
• Describing the metaphysical aspects of quantum physics
• The philosophy of consciousness
• Navigating the intersection of religion and environmental ethics
• Describing the aesthetics of mathematics
• The philosophy of mind-body dualism
• Exploring the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence
• Describing the role of rituals in religious practices

Descriptive Essay Topics: Tv, Literature, Art

• Describing the impact of television on modern culture
• The artistry of surrealistic paintings
• A literary analysis of dystopian fiction
• The evolution of TV series finales
• Describing the symbolism in classic literature
• The influences of pop art on contemporary visual culture
• A descriptive exploration of magical realism in literature
• The cinematic world of film noir
• The impact of digital media on traditional art forms
• Describing the multifaceted characters in a favorite TV drama

Descriptive Essay Topics: History

• A descriptive exploration of ancient civilizations
• The historical significance of a local landmark
• Describing the impact of a historical invention on society
• A journey through the streets of a historical city
• The role of women in a historical revolution
• Describing the cultural exchange along the Silk Road
• The influence of historical wars on art and literature
• A descriptive study of everyday life in a historical period
• The economic evolution of a historical trading port
• Describing the architectural marvels of a historical era

Descriptive Essay Topics: Daily Life

• A descriptive analysis of morning routines
• Describing the culinary delights of a family dinner
• The tranquil routine of evening strolls
• A day in the life of a remote worker
• Describing the bustling energy of a local market
• The sounds and sights of a city commute
• A descriptive exploration of weekend rituals
• The comforts of home
• The dynamics of family game night
• Describing the joys and challenges of parenthood

Descriptive Essay Topics: Professions

• Describing the real-life struggles of a firefighter
• The precision of a surgical theatre
• A day in the life of a wildlife photographer
• Describing the challenges of a humanitarian aid worker
• The creative chaos of a graphic designer's studio
• A descriptive exploration of archaeology
• The rhythm of a musician's practice
• Describing the dynamic world of event planning
• The artistry of culinary professions
• A day in the shoes of a space scientist

Descriptive Essay Topics for Students

Before selecting the topic for a descriptive essay, make sure it tells the reader about the essay. Here, we have compiled a list of topics for students from different academic levels to write a good essay.

Descriptive Essay Topics for University Students

• Exploring the intricate details of an ancient architectural masterpiece.
• Describing the rich biodiversity within a pristine rainforest ecosystem.
• Painting a verbal picture of the subatomic realms in quantum physics.
• Unveiling the diverse cultures thriving in a bustling urban landscape.
• Crafting a vivid portrayal of a serene sunset atop a remote mountain peak.
• Delving into the marvels of the human brain through descriptive language.
• Illuminating the traditional artisan crafts that persist in a globalized world.
• Indulging the senses in a descriptive exploration of global culinary delights.
• Detailing the silent witnesses to history in centuries-old trees of ancient woodlands.
• Capturing the awe-inspiring beauty of a starlit night sky in the cosmos.

Descriptive Essay Topics for College Students

• Analyzing details in modern art installations for a descriptive study.
• Exploring visual and textural aspects of urban graffiti.
• Describing light and shadow in contemporary photography.
• Investigating the unseen microorganism world descriptively.
• Experiencing sensory delights at an open-air market.
• Unraveling the urban soundscape
• Navigating fashion trend evolution
• Describing subtle expressions in dance: Body language and emotion.
• Capturing rustic charm in forgotten countryside villages verbally.
• Inside a musician's mind: describing creative processes.

Descriptive Essay Topics for High School

• Exploring the impact of social media on teenage identity.
• A day in the life of a local ecological reserve.
• The intricacies of high school subcultures.
• The sounds of a high school cafeteria.
• Describing the journey of a historical figure.
• A walk through a local farmer's market.
• The essence of high school sports events.
• The artistry of a high school theater production.
• Describing the charm of a historical landmark in your community.
• A descriptive exploration of a science fair.

Descriptive Essay Topics for Middle School

• Exploring historical marvels: artifacts revealing tales.
• Pet escapades: a day in furry companions' life.
• Neighborhood park enchantment: a magical nature journey.
• Middle school science buzz: the thrill of experiments.
• Vibrant carnival world: an adventure of colors.
• Fire station dynamics: heroes in action unfold.
• Intriguing library ambiance: a study in fascination.
• Cosmic wonders unveiled: a descriptive journey.
• Mural masterpieces: creativity painted on walls.
• Historical event unraveling: past tales brought alive.

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Descriptive Essay Topics for Different Grades

The selection of a good descriptive essay topic is a difficult task for school students. Have a look at the following list of topics.

Descriptive Essay Topics For Grade 4

• A magical day in a candy wonderland
• The curious adventures of friendly robots
• Exploring the whimsical world of talking animals
• My enchanted garden
• A day in the life of a silly superhero
• The mystical kingdom under my bed
• Describing the colorful personalities of classroom pets.
• The incredible journey of my lost toy
• A picnic with alien friends
• The rainbow circus

Descriptive Essay Topics for Grade 6

• A funny memory
• Your favorite item of clothing
• Performing in front of a crowd
• Your lucky charm
• Your favorite movie
• Your worst nightmare
• The perfect day on the beach
• An embarrassing moment
• The perfect meal for you
• The most beautiful place for you

Descriptive Essay Topics for Grade 7

• A day in the life of an imaginary creature
• Exploring volcanic eruptions
• Secret time-traveling machine adventures
• Enchanted forest walk
• Whimsical talking animal world
• Joyful chaos at a school carnival
• My time as a detective
• Journey to the center of the Earth
• Feast with extraterrestrial friends
• Colorful universe in my toy box

Descriptive Essay Topics for Grade 8

• The street from home to school
• The pet you love the most
• The best habit of your favorite person
• Your dream house
• Your favorite childhood memory
• Your favorite hideout while playing hide and seek
• A list of your favorite restaurants
• What makes me laugh
• What is the world’s biggest secret?
• My first school teacher

Descriptive Essay Topics for Grade 9

• The relationship between productivity and musical tones
• Life is beautiful if we stop complaining
• A day spent in school after vacations
• How does the solar system work?
• Things to learn from life
• Effects of domestic violence on children
• My favorite sport
• My love for country people
• My first visit to a mosque
• Changing a car tire

Descriptive Essay Topics for Class 10

• Exploring the cultural mosaic of a vibrant city market
• A day in the life of an urban street artist
• Intricacies of technological evolution
• Descriptive exploration of historical monuments in your city.
• Sensory symphony of a night market
• Unveiling the architecture of sustainable green buildings
• Dynamic energy of a music festival
• Day in the shoes of a social activist
• Artistry of cinematic masterpieces
• Describing the serenity of a coastal landscape

Descriptive Essay Topics For Grade 12

• Philosophy and AI Intersection
• Decoding quantum entanglement
• Postmodern literature analysis
• Bioethical dilemmas in medical tech evolution.
• Socioeconomic impacts of global climate change.
• Intricacies of International Diplomacy
• Identity intersection in societal constructs.
• Cybersecurity impact on global economies
• Ethical quandaries in genetic engineering.
• Architectural innovations in urban sustainability.

Common Descriptive Essay Topics

Here is a compilation of descriptive essay topics that have been categorized into different groups.

Descriptive Essay Topics about an Event

• Describe the electric atmosphere of a music festival.
• Describe a thrilling sporting event: the roar of the crowd.
• Describe behind the scenes at a carnival: colors and chaos.
• Describe the unveiling magic of a fireworks display.
• Describe the enchanting glow of a night market.
• Describe a vibrant parade: colors, costumes, and celebrations.
• Describe exploring the buzz of a busy street fair.
• Describe the serenity of a sunrise yoga event.
• Describe a cultural festival: tastes, sounds, and traditions.
• Describe the dynamic energy of a political rally.

Descriptive Essay Topics about Objects

• Describe the elegance of a vintage pocket watch.
• Describe the intricate details of an antique writing desk.
• Describe the simplicity and charm of a well-worn teddy bear.
• Describe the mesmerizing glow of a stained glass lamp.
• Describe the rugged beauty of a weathered leather journal.
• Describe the delicate craftsmanship of a porcelain teapot.
• Describe the sleek design of a modern smartphone.
• Describe the timeless allure of a classic wristwatch.
• Describe the vibrant colors of a handwoven tapestry.
• Describe the rustic charm of a vintage typewriter.

Descriptive Essay Topics on Places

• Describe the tranquility of a hidden beach cove.
• Describe the bustling energy of a busy city street.
• Describe the serenity found in a mountain retreat.
• Describe the historic charm of an old town square.
• Describe the vibrant atmosphere of a local farmers' market.
• Describe the awe-inspiring beauty of a dense forest.
• Describe the eclectic charm of a neighborhood coffee shop.
• Describe the grandeur of an ancient cathedral.
• Describe the coziness of a quaint mountain cabin.
• Describe the futuristic appeal of a modern art gallery.

Easy Descriptive Essay Topics

If you are seeking easy topics, we have a range of simple descriptive essay options that are perfect if you're new to this genre.

Narrative Descriptive Essay Topics

• My favorite restaurant to check out
• An Adventure in the Andes
• A perfect companion for me
• Describe your favorite celebrity.
• The birth of a child
• Describe something that made you laugh to death.
• An encounter with an online criminal
• What’s your favorite scene from a book?
• Describe all heroics attributed to King Arthur
• The wonders of Australia and New Zealand

Funny Descriptive Essay Topics

• Describe the antics of your mischievous pet.
• Describe a hilarious encounter at a comedy club.
• Describe the chaotic scene of a family game night.
• Describe the amusing sights at a quirky local fair.
• Describe the funny mishaps during a camping trip.
• Describe the comical chaos of a surprise birthday party.
• Describe the eccentric characters at a neighborhood potluck.
• Describe the laughter-filled moments at a comedy movie night.
• Describe the humorous chaos of a kitchen cooking adventure.
• Describe the amusing incidents at a lively karaoke party.

How to Select a Descriptive Writing Topic? 

Crafting a compelling descriptive essay requires a suitable topic. It's crucial to consider the following points:

Factors for Selecting a Descriptive Essay Prompt

• Interest Alignment: Choose a topic aligning with personal experiences or passions.
• Vivid Imagery Potential: Opt for a subject allowing vibrant descriptions and sensory details to create a vivid description.
• Audience Engagement: Consider topics relatable or intriguing to your intended readers.
• Abundance of Details: Pick a subject providing ample material for rich descriptions.
• Emotional Connection: Select prompts evoking strong emotions or personal connections.

Utilizing Descriptive Essay Samples

• Understanding Structure: Review examples to grasp the descriptive essay outline and its components.
• Techniques and Language: Analyze how vivid descriptions are crafted and sensory details are used.
• Inspiration Source: Use examples to spark ideas and creativity for your chosen prompt. You can read and get inspiration from expertly crafted samples in our descriptive essay examples blog!

The Bottom Line!

We hope that these descriptive essay topics have inspired you and given you some ideas for your own essay. Writing a descriptive essay requires vivid descriptions and sensory details, and it's a chance to paint a picture with words. Remember choosing the right topic is essential for writing a good descriptive essay. And if you're struggling to choose one or feeling uncertain about your writing skills, seek professional help. 

Unlock the potential of your writing with our professional essay writing help , specializing in crafting vivid and engaging descriptive essays.

Our descriptive essay writing service is designed to bring your ideas to life, painting a picture with words that capture the reader's imagination. Whether you're struggling with structure, style, or just getting started, we're here to guide you every step of the way. And for those seeking an innovative edge, explore our AI essay generator . This tool is your key to effortless, high-quality writing. 

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50 Descriptive Essay Topics

Make your reader see, smell, hear and feel with these inspirational descriptive essay topics ! We’ve collected 50 descriptive essay topics to sprout some flowery language. Our descriptive essay topics are designed to spark creative thinking and can be modified for students in elementary, middle and high school. They are grouped by topic for easy student and teacher reference. Feel free to print the entire list for plenty of inspiration for your next descriptive essay assignment!

Descriptive Essay Topics: Place

• Describe your favorite place.
• Describe your ideal bedroom.
• Describe the house in which you grew up.
• Describe what the first house on the moon would look like.
• Describe some of your favorite places in your hometown.
• Describe a peaceful place that you’ve visited.
• Describe a place that exists only in your imagination.
• Describe a friend’s or family member’s house where you enjoy spending time.
• Describe your perfect fantasy vacation destination.
• Describe your favorite store.
• Describe your favorite teacher’s classroom.
• Describe a museum that you’ve visited recently.
• Describe a place you have dreamed about that doesn’t exist in real life.
• Describe a place where your pet likes spending time.
• Describe an outdoor place that you know well.

Descriptive Essay Topics: People

• Describe your favorite person.
• Describe each of your family members.
• Describe a famous person that you would like to meet.
• Describe one of your friends.
• Describe one aspect of someone that you like (for example: laugh, style of dress, words that the person likes to use, etc.)
• Describe yourself to someone who has never met you.
• Describe the average human to an alien who has never before seen a person.
• Describe your pet.
• Look at some old family photos and describe an older family member as he or she was when at your age.
• Describe someone whom you miss.

Descriptive Essay Topics: Objects

• Describe an object that is special to you.
• Give a tour of one room in your house by describing the most important objects in that room.
• Describe one of your favorite outfits.
• Describe your favorite toy as a child.
• Describe how you get around (for example: a bicycle, skateboard, sneakers, your parents’ car, the school bus).
• Describe your favorite piece of furniture where you like to spend time and relax.
• Describe something that you would bury in a time capsule to tell people about what life is like today.
• Describe an object that has been in your family for a long time.
• Choose a piece of food to eat; then, write a description of it that includes the way it looks, smells and tastes.
• Describe a smartphone to a time traveler from the 1900s.

Descriptive Essay Topics: Memories

• Describe your oldest memory.
• Describe your best summer vacation.
• Describe a memorable concert you attended.
• Describe a memorable trip you took.
• Describe a special time that you and your family had together.
• Describe the first time you met one of your friends.
• Describe a time you met someone famous.
• Describe one of your happiest memories.
• Describe one of your saddest memories.
• Describe a time that you felt scared.
• Describe a time that you felt excited.
• Describe a time that something totally unexpected happened.
• Describe a memory of someone whom you miss.
• Describe one of your most memorable first days of school.
• Describe one of your most embarrassing moments.

Looking for more essay topics? Compare and Contrast Essay Topics Cause and Effect Essay Topics Narrative Essay Topics Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics

125 Descriptive Essay Topics

Writing a descriptive essay is an excellent way for students to detail a particular experience related to a person, place, object, situation, emotion, or abstract feeling.

However, while this exercise in creativity showcases a student’s ability to put words into sensory focus, it can be rather challenging to complete because the subject matter is so open-ended.

This is especially true when choosing the topic for a descriptive essay since finding a suitable topic will depend on a student’s ability to find the right words to describe it.

If you are a student that has received a descriptive writing essay assignment from your professor, fear not! This incredible list of 125 descriptive essay topics will ensure that you have a great starting point from which to craft your essay.

Before choosing a topic, check out the secrets to writing a descriptive essay that will help get you the grade you deserve on your writing assignment.

Critical Elements of a Descriptive Essay

Unlike essay styles that are fact-based, it is essential to remember that a descriptive essay is based on abstract observation. Its purpose is to describe a topic, person, place, object, situation, emotion, or abstract feeling.

To do this, descriptive essays require sensory words that create vivid imagery in the reader’s mind to make them feel like they are in the moment being described. Sensory words include, but are not limited to:

• Taste – sweet, salty, bitter, sour, metallic, spicy, and tart.
• Touch – smooth, bumpy, coarse, prickly, wet, sticky, dry
• Sight – colorless, colorful, blurry/blinding/too bright to see clearly
• Season – fall, winter, summer, spring, crisp, humid, wet, freezing,
• Sound – hectic, chaotic, quiet, thunderous, loud, jarring
• Smell – musty, earthy, damp/wet, dusty, smoky, stinky, fragrant
• Appearance – sharp, glossy, faded, gleaming, sleek, shiny/glossy
• Feelings – happy, sad, angry, frustrated, excited, afraid/scared

Other sensory words may describe the color of a person’s hair, the mood or energy in a room, and even the temperature. When choosing a topic for your descriptive essay, be sure to pay close attention to sensory words that could serve as the backbone of your paragraphs.

Additionally, because of the nature of the writing, it is 100% okay to embellish or even exaggerate certain sensory words to make them seem even more engaging and tangible for the reader.

How to Structure a Descriptive Essay

Even though this essay will rely on sensory words to create a vivid image of what is being described, it is essential to remember that a descriptive essay still needs to have an intro, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

The first sentence of an introduction paragraph for a descriptive essay should contextualize the scene. Take the time to describe the place where the event takes place, including setting details like time of day, weather, season, and the current mood of the scene.

Body of the Essay

Once a student has established where they are, it is essential to detail what else is happening in the following paragraphs. This means describing elements of the scene in detailed description using humor, sensory language, and vivid imagery.

Consider incorporating details about what people are doing, the noises they are making, the smells permeating the air, visible colors, and surrounding textures.

A descriptive essay conclusion should serve as a recap in which you describe one final element of the scene or an observation about what was seen, heard, smelled, or touched.

Additionally, this is when you could include a reflection of how the scene made you feel in order to leave your reader with an intangible lasting impression.

What Should Never Go into a Descriptive Essay

To make sure that you are writing a descriptive essay and not another form of writing, students should be careful not to mention or use the following:

• Dialogue. Remember that the descriptive essay is meant to retell one single image, moment, or experience.
• Chain of events. The scene should exist in its own bubble of storytelling, free from erroneous events before or after the scene takes place.
• Characters. While secondary details may go along with the scene, such as people who add to the mood, this is still not an appropriate essay to mention, create, or develop the backstory for a literary character.

With the do’s and don’ts of descriptive essay writing above, students can choose any of these topics to help spark inspiration during their next descriptive essay writing assignment.

Descriptive Essay Topics About People

• My favorite teacher
• My first crush
• My best friend
• The girl I have a massive crush on right now
• My newborn baby sibling
• A member of my family
• My partner in crime
• The cutest baby I have ever seen
• The most annoying person I know
• Someone who has inspired me the most
• My first job
• The student that I want to be like
• A significant mentor in my life
• My closest friend’s child
• The most intelligent person I know

Descriptive Essay Topics About Places

• My hometown
• The most beautiful place in nature that I have ever seen
• A favorite spot on the school campus
• My favorite coffee shop
• My favorite country
• A place I want to visit before I die
• My favorite movie theater
• The best beach in the area
• My favorite retail store
• The worst place on campus
• A place where I have experienced fear
• Where I was happiest
• The place where I am the most relaxed
• A place I can’t seem to get enough of
• My dream house
• My favorite art gallery
• The museum that always seems to disappoint me
• A location I know well
• Where I would choose to live if money were no object

Descriptive Essay Topics About Objects & Things

• My favorite book
• A piece of jewelry that holds a special meaning for me
• The best meal I have ever eaten
• My favorite decoration in my room
• The best painting I have ever seen
• A piece of clothing that makes me feel beautiful
• An item that brings back a fond memory for me
• My favorite sports team’s jersey
• My favorite outfit to wear while hanging out with friends
• A book that changed my life
• My favorite book series
• The next book I want to read
• An item that is very special to me
• My most treasured possession
• A movie that holds a very dear place in my heart
• Something I would never throw away despite its flaws
• A personal memento from someone who has passed away
• A ridiculous thing I own
• An item that makes my life easier
• A piece of technology that has changed my life for the better
• My favorite poem or short read
• The best song I have ever heard
• What I collect obsessively

Descriptive Essay Topics About Animals

• The most intelligent animal I have ever known
• A pet that has been with me through thick and thin
• An animal that fascinates me most
• The most dangerous animal I’ve encountered
• An extinct creature I would love to see resurrected
• A dangerous animal I have a healthy respect for
• The cutest animal in the world
• What creature would be my best friend if it could talk?
• My favorite wildcat
• An experience I had with an animal that genuinely touched me
• The strangest pet I’ve ever owned
• My favorite zoo animal when I was a child
• What I love most about being a pet owner
• My favorite farmyard animal
• The most exotic animal I have ever seen
• One animal that should be extinct
• A farm animal that is my spirit creature

Descriptive Essay Topics About Food

• My favorite meal to cook for myself on a day off
• The best meal I ever ate out at a restaurant
• What makes the perfect sandwich to me
• My go-to comfort food when I’m having a bad day
• My local specialty
• My favorite dish at a restaurant I frequent
• The best meal I have ever had in my life is
• My most embarrassing/funniest food-related story
• What I always order when dining out with friends
• A new flavor combination of food that intrigues me
• A dish I love to cook when I’m in a happy mood
• The best dish at a restaurant I don’t want to admit I frequent
• A food I wish didn’t exist because it makes me fat
• The best meal my mom ever made for me

Descriptive Essay Topics About Nature

• A creature I met in the wild
• A tree outside my house
• Something I would save if a forest were on fire
• A stream that runs near my home
• The most beautiful sunset I have ever seen
• My favorite type of plant or flower
• An outdoor activity I enjoy
• My favorite forest animal
• A flower I want to grow in my garden
• Something about nature that makes me feel small
• The most dangerous/fascinating type of weather phenomenon I have ever seen
• The best view I have ever seen
• Where I go to relax outside
• What natural phenomenon fascinates me the most
• The most beautiful place in nature that I’ve ever visited
• A moment with nature that left a lasting impression on me.
• My favorite park or garden

Descriptive Essay Topics About Memories & Personal Experiences

• The weirdest dream I ever had
• One of my worst nightmares
• My biggest fear in life is
• A memory from my childhood that brings a smile to my face
• The worst thing that has ever happened to me unexpectedly
• The best thing that has ever happened to me unexpectedly
• One of my most treasured memories is
• My first memory of meeting someone who changed my life
• An event that inspired me to start this blog
• A random act of kindness I received unexpectedly
• Something amazing about myself that I never thought possible
• A time I wished I didn’t have to grow up/be an adult
• The best vacation I’ve ever taken
• What makes a perfect day for me
• One of my favorite things to do when it’s raining outside is
• The moment that made me realize I was officially an adult
• The most exciting dream I’ve ever had
• My biggest regret is

With these 125 descriptive essay topics and the handy writing guide above, students can craft a vivid and engaging descriptive essay!

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75 Interesting Descriptive Essay Topics

Working on academic papers is a must, no matter how intensely students hate this task. Descriptive writing could be interesting, but for reaching success here, it is essential to find good descriptive essay topics. A lot of things depend on creativity and imagination, but your personal interest is even more important. We’re going to help you find a topic that will suit your tastes, but first, let’s figure out  what is a descriptive essay ? These assignments are a piece of writing focused on re-creating a specific experience, place, person, or event: a writer’s goal is to present it in a detailed and clear way. So, each student must pick a subject and describe it, building a vivid picture of it in the minds of their audience.

Descriptive writing prompts are important because they help you sharpen your memory, analyze your thoughts and reactions, and train your writing as well as expand your vocabulary.  They are also exciting, but of course, this factor relies on which topic you select. There are some tips and suggestions that could guide you in this process, so if you need assistance, we are here to help you.

Strategies for Choosing Great Descriptive Essay Ideas

Many students underestimate the importance of topics. They are happy to grab the first one they see, and then they face hours or even days of boring research and inefficient drafts, ending up with a mediocre paper a professor cannot evaluate highly. This is a big mistake, so if you’d like to avoid such unfortunate results, keep tips below in mind.

• Go for personal focus. Never choose descriptive essay prompts that you don’t care about. They should be personally interesting for you — this is the only way to make sure that your paper is pleasing to everyone related to it. Writers can do a good job only if they enjoy what they’re doing (unless they are already experienced enough, but it’s a rarity among students). So, look into your memory. Think about something you’d like to describe: it could be a trip somewhere, a favorite place, or even a beloved person.
• Consider the volume. It is vital to base a topic on the word count you’ll have to cover and the amount of details available to you. Let’s look at these examples: you decided to write about an instance where you met your favorite actor. The problem is, you saw him briefly and nothing truly of note happened, so you could come up with several descriptive paragraph topics, but it won’t be enough for a 5-page essay. You’d have to choose another theme in this case. Equally, if you have a large idea that could make for 10 pages while the task requires you to write only 1, this isn’t the best decision. So never forget about word count and adjust volume of your ideas accordingly.
• Adjust topic based on vocabulary. If you study at college, you likely have an average vocabulary fitting the academic sphere. In case you study at university, your word supply is more complex, so you could afford to look at more creative descriptive topics. High school students have less diverse vocabulary, so evaluate your skills objectively. This factor affects the choice you will make, so if you plan to describe a fight you witnessed, you should assess whether you know enough words and expressions for it.
• Look for supporting sources. They are not always necessary, but they’ll definitely be a plus. If you choose a more scientific kind of work, you should support your opinions and impressions with other people’s words. Look for such sources, but be sure they are credible. Focus on articles and books, not on blogs and general sites.

75 Topics for Descriptive Essay on Different Levels

Another option for choosing an inspiring topic entails looking through relevant lists. We composed one specifically for the sake of students who are looking for inspiration yet can’t settle on any exciting ideas. You won’t experience any troubles with using it: either pick an option directly from it or use some of them as a foundation for developing your own.  We concentrated on five major categories, each having 15 descriptive topics in it.

Descriptive Essay Topics About Famous People

There are lots of ideas for descriptive essay in this category. With how many famous people have changed our world, you could pick any of them to craft your essay.

• Donald Trump: Describe His Rise to Power and His Eventual Downfall
• Explain What Diaries Belonging to Marilyn Monroe Revealed About Her Past
• Why Is Mother Theresa Known All Over the World? Describe Her Life and Personality
• Describe the Real Circumstances Surrounding Discoveries That Christopher Columbus Made
• Describe the Productive Life of Walt Disney & His Legacy
• Explain Why Leonardo Da Vinci Is Considered Unique:  Focus on His Discoveries and Inventions
• Explore Rise of Any Popular Soviet Leader to Absolute Power
• Who Is Greta Thunberg? Talk About Her Personality as Expressed By Her Ideas

There are also fictional famous people: they could make for good descriptive essay titles.

• Harry Potter: Describe His Heroic Attributes and How They Relate to His Personality
• Explain the Mystery Posed by the Figure of Merlin: What Do We Know About Him?
• Describe All Heroics Attributed to King Arthur
• Describe Changes in Attitude toward Vampires That Jacob Black Experienced
• Talk About the Love Story between Jack and Rose from Titanic
• Voldemort: What Events in the Life of Tom Riddle Created a Monster
• Describe What Makes Katniss from Hunger Games an Inspiring Power Leader

Descriptive Topics About Celebrities

We are surrounded by celebrities. If you’d like to explore one of them, check this descriptive essay topics list.

• Mads Mikkelsen as the Most Atypical Star in the Global Movie Industry
• Describe Problems that Johnny Depp Has Been Experiencing Recently
• Tragedy and Comedy of Jim Carrey’s Life: Describe This Mix
• Describe the Changing Array of Roles Performed by Emma Watson
• Daniel Radcliffe and His Attempts to Move On From Harry Potter
• Explore and Explain Leonardo DiCaprio’s Struggles to Receive Oscar
• Dive Into Descriptions of Reasons for Charles Chaplin’s Popularity
• How Morgan Freeman Changed Entertainment Industry
• Acting in Violent Movies: Describe What Roles Sylvester Stallone Played
• Elaborate on How George Clooney Started Being Considered an Icon of Attractiveness
• Describe Career of Steven Spielberg Along with His Success and Failures
• Sad Stories: Describe What Choices Kate Winslet Makes in Her Movies
• Being a Pirate: Talk About Adventures Orlando Bloom Had When Playing Will Turner
• Creativity and Elegance of Keira Knightley:  Describe Life Journey of This Actress
• Describe Singing Career of Hugh Jackman and How It Mixed with His Actor Choices

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Descriptive Essay Topic Ideas About Places

People love travelling all over the world, so there is a thousand of descriptive writing topics to select from.

• Talk About the Most Beautiful City You Have Ever Visited
• Quiet Night in a Forest: Describe Beauty Around It
• Seeing Red Sea for the First Time: Focus on Details Surrounding This Experience
• Describe Your Home and Elements That Make It Dear to You
• The Coziest Café with the Most Delicious Food: Share Your Experience
• Garden That Stays in Your Memory: Describe What Plants It Had
• Visiting Museum: Discuss Atmosphere, Interior, and Displayed Objects
• First Visit to 3D Movie: How Did It Go?
• Moving to a New House: Describe First Impressions of How It Looked Liked
• Choose a Church That Impressed You & Share Details About Its Design

How about descriptive writing ideas for fictional places? They could be just as exciting.

• Describe Hogwarts As It Is Portrayed in Harry Potter Books
• Narnia, Its Delights and Horrors: Focus On Attributes That Make It Memorable
• Describe Gritty Setting of Games of Thrones (TV Show or Book)
• How Does Universe of Hunger Games Function? Describe Its Major Features
• House of Cullens From Twilight: Talk About Its Inward and Outward Appearance

Descriptive Essay Prompts About Objects

Wherever you look, you’ll see objects of different kinds. Pick a good descriptive essay topic from the ones that trigger your interest.

• How Cell Phone of Your Dreams Would Look Like
• The Most Comfortable Bed in This World: Give a Detailed Description
• Describe Each Component of Your Make-Up: What Are They, What Color They Have, & What Are They For?
• Describe the Scent of Your Favorite Perfume: Focus on Each Undertone to Create a Clear Image
• Your Favorite Food: Describe a Meal Complete with Three Different Dishes
• Talk About Diary You Had: Its Cover, Pages, Purpose, & Importance
• Describe How the Most Exquisite Box of Chocolates You Have Seen Looks
• Book Cover That Made You Immediately Want to Buy Book Itself
• Backpack You Carry Every Day: What Makes It Comfortable & Special?
• Describe How You Choose Your Handbag From Start to Finish
• Kitchen in Your House: Describe Its Design, Key Objects, & Their Purposes
• The Most Exquisite  Bouquet of Flowers That Stands Out in Memory
• Blanket You Use During Winter: What Is Its Appearance, Thickness, and Warmth Level?
• Movie You Watched for More Than Ten Times
• A Pair of Shoes That Begs to Be Bought: How Would You Describe It?

Memories Topics

We all have memories that make us into who we are. These examples of descriptive essay topics could help you recall meaningful events that deserve to be written about.

• Describe the Best Birthday Celebration You Have Ever Had
• The  Day When Someone You Love Broke Your Heart
• Seeing My Future Pet for the First Time & Falling in Love With It
• Day of Heartbreaking Loss and My Reaction to It
• Finale of a Movie I Watched That Made Me Feel Over the Moon From Joy
• Terrible Disappointment After the Show I Loved Ended Badly: Details & Reaction
• How My Best Friend and I Shared Our First Serious Secret We Never Disclosed to Others
• Your First Joined Trip with Family: Fun and Excitement of It
• Guilt I Felt After Betraying Someone I Loved
• How Going on the First Date Felt Like: Describe This Time and Your Emotions
• Getting a Gift I Always Dreamed About: Celebration That I Could Never Forget
• Describe an Event That Helped You Understand What Career You Would Like to Have
• City I Used to Live In: Describe Its Physical Appearance and Places It Had
• Visiting Escape Room: Challenges, Excitement, Fear, & Complexity
• The Happiest Day I Could Remember in My Life

Make Writing Exciting and Look for Help When In Need

As you had a chance to see, there are plenty of diverse ideas for descriptive essays. So, if you cannot come up with something on your own, don’t let it worry or embarrass you. Look for assistance: check related lists online, talk to other people, visit forums for discussions and brainstorm with your classmates. If you aren’t sure whether you feel up to writing, you could always let us know, and our team will gladly help. Inspiration is a big part of writing success, so it’s vital not to make a mistake when choosing what your paper is going to be about. Try to find it, and your chances at succeeding will grow!

Can’t come up with a topic for you paper? We’ve prepared a collection of essay topics for you

Want to write a winning essay but lack experience? Browse our free essay samples

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100 descriptive essay topics for easy writing.

July 18, 2019

What is descriptive writing? Descriptive writing is used as a tool to help develop your ability to paint a picture – in a sense – by using citing details that bring the subject to life. You see this often in fiction writing, but it has its merits in academic writing as well since writers are always trying to capture the reader’s attention. It is, then, a great skill to learn early in your academic life (like in high school or early college) since it can assist you in a number of other writing assignments by having you expand your vocabulary and keep the reader captivated with your descriptions.

What Is a Descriptive Essay?

This kind of writing assignment asks you to describe an object, a place, a person, or something that evokes the use of the five senses. It’s really open to anything the writer chooses and does not require an argument or opinion. It is usually limited to about a few hundred words, but some assignments may be as long as several pages. The trick is to write on a subject that you are comfortable with describing in extended detail since this is what most grading rubrics will be scoring on.

How to Start a Descriptive Essay

So now you’re probably wondering “How to start a descriptive essay?” The best approach is to simply start writing with keenness to the five senses. Write about sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste. A great descriptive paragraph will paint a picture in the reader’s mind. Professional writers can help you get started. Afterward this you can create a basic outline and then revise your content accordingly. You will always want to stick with your chosen subject, but the more vivid your writing is the great your success will be in creating a great written work.

100 Good Descriptive Essay Topics

Our descriptive essay topics list was put together by educators, students, and college admissions officers as a means to expose students to the most interesting ideas worth writing and reading about. They aren’t the only things you can write about but you can certainly get a sense of what piques their mind. Even if you don’t’ have a descriptive essay assignment on the horizon, you can benefit from a little practice, and the descriptive essay topics below are great places to find a little inspiration.

Easy Essay Topics

• Write a descriptive essay about a place you’ve never visited in your life.
• Describe something that you are addicted to (e.g., a food, an activity, a song, etc.).
• Write about a favorite vacation spot from your childhood.
• Describe a favorite “natural” location such as a forest or a desert.
• Write an essay about a favorite photograph from your childhood.
• Describe your favorite book, movie, song, or television show.
• Write about a childhood memory that scares you.
• Describe a room that has a special memory or evokes a feeling.
• Write about a favorite place that you have visited in the past.
• Describe a person you have met that you are afraid of or threatened by.

Essay Topics about Sports

• Describe your favorite sport in a way that would convince others to try.
• Write about your favorite professional sports memory.
• Describe the worst sports injury you have personally suffered.
• Write about your favorite professional athlete and the reasons why.
• Describe your favorite moment from 2019’s Women’s World Cup.
• Write about your all-time inspired sports moment.
• Describe the best professional sporting event you have seen.
• Write about an oddball sport that no one knows about.
• Describe the positive effects of participating in sports.
• Write about motorsports and their place in American sports.

Topics on Politics and Government

• Describe government choices that have changed a country’s history.
• Write about the different types of political terrorism.
• Describe the different consequences and early causes of war.
• Write about a political figure that has influenced you.
• Describe the different types of election processes.
• Write about one of the major political parties in the U.S.
• Describe a progressive ideal which has been accepted widely.
• Write about a political bargaining tool used in negotiations.
• Describe government branches and their different purposes.
• Write about socio-political changes in your city or town.

Topics on Information Technology

• Describe how social media has changed the landscape of communication.
• Write about the most popular trends in marketing and social media.
• Describe how dictatorships limit internet access for political gain.
• Write about how mobile technology is making Americans illiterate.
• Describe how social media helps poorer populations’ access benefits.
• Write on the place information technology has affected globalization.
• Describe how home health care managed is changed by information tech.
• Write about how the nuclear family home as changed because of IT.
• Describe how information technology improves our abilities to invest.
• Write about small business needs when considering information tech.

Topics on the Globalization and Environment

• Describe the cultural and social manifestations of environmental issues.
• Write about the effects of globalization on international politics.
• Write about intelligence sharing and how globalization affects it.
• Describe how brain-drain has been affected by environmentalism.
• Write about how the world’s environmental landscapes are changing.
• Describe the difference between globalization and knowledge exchange.
• Write about how political parties influence environmental global issues.
• Describe the needs populations have to protect environmental areas.
• Write about the main reasons globalization has affected international trade.
• Explain how environmental issues have increased in the last 20 years.

Topics on Local Government and Public Issues

• Write about your community’s efforts to clean up public pollution.
• Explain why it is important to keep your streets clean and safe.
• Write about a problem that affects your community because of nature.
• Describe a local issue that has brought the public in turmoil.
• Write on how public community service helps bring people together.
• Describe small government rules to protect gun owners’ rights.
• Write about the rules and regulations concerning elderly rights.
• Describe how local governments benefit from more recreational spots.
• Write about local rules regarding abortion rights for women.
• Describe Planned Parenthood funding through taxes in your town.

Topics on Space Exploration and More

• Write about the reasons why the U.S. should consider a Mars expedition.
• Describe how a mixed group of astronauts from different nations is best.
• Write about the needs to invest in more space research for human advances.
• Explain how the United States should invest in more spaceship technology.
• Describe your favorite interstellar space mission from the last half-century.
• Write about how non-rocket space launches revolutionize NASA’s program.
• Explain why companies like Space-X should be sharing technology internationally.
• Describe what it means for the world to invest in space exploration in general.
• Write about the benefits of returning for a manned mission to the earth’s moon.
• Explain the different types of spacecraft that are most popular around the world.

Topics on Educational Issues in Public Schools

• Describe the benefits of having shorter school days at the high school level.
• Explain why students are more inspired when they receive less standard homework.
• Write about the subjects that are most important in today’s curriculum.
• Describe what it’s like to have new, more socially conscious subjects in the curriculum.
• Explain the benefits of teaching religion in public schools in today’s society.
• Write about the educational system’s use of cursive writing lessons today.
• Describe the use of homework each day to evaluate elementary students’ progress.
• Explain how technology is used to enhance daily lessons and encourage learning.
• Explain the reasons why schools are considering late start times for students.
• Describe how standardized tests are created and scored by administrators.

Topics on Descriptive Personal Experiences

• Write about a childhood adventure that is something you want to do again.
• Describe a situation at school or in your personal life where you have been stressed.
• Write about something that motivates you to put in more effort than usual.
• Explain a difficult obstacle high school students must learn to overcome.
• Write about the different types of common household pets that are friendly.
• Describe something that makes people fail and ways to overcome the challenge.
• Write about something that elementary students find annoying in their daily lives.
• Explain how people use comfort zones to avoid trying new cultural foods or cuisines.
• Describe a type of food from an international culture you have recently discovered.
• Write about different types of desserts offered at five or four-star restaurants.

Topics about Travelling to Distant or International Places

• Explain what it’s like to attend school abroad in cultural and societal terminology.
• Describe how different countries treat leisurely travelers from the United States.
• Explain what travel agencies do to ensure travelers feel welcome and safe abroad.
• Explain how traveling with friends adds an element of safety when one is abroad.
• Write about a country you would like to visit that isn’t a popular tourist destination.
• Describe a travel-based piece of writing that explains everything about going abroad.
• Write about a historic city with plenty of public places that emphasize local culture.
• Describe the most visually stunning religious sites most people know little about.
• Explain the ways European travel between countries is easier than on other continents.
• Write about traveling with the military or similar opportunities by armed forces.

The above descriptive essay topics for college students are completely free to use. Share them with your classmates and don’t hesitate to brainstorm modifications to them. These are all suggestions and should be customized to your specific needs. If you need more help, you should try to find descriptive essay examples on the web, preferably those created by professional writing sites. You can also find a lot of great resources to help with different types of academic assignments such as expository writing, persuasive writing , narrative writing, and more.

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Need editing and proofreading services, guide to a perfect descriptive essay [examples & outline included].

• Tags: Academic Writing , Essay , Essay Writing

A descriptive essay is the most creative of all essay types. It involves the use of sensory descriptors and impactful narratives to depict an object, person, or even something abstract like an emotion. This type of essay is administered by teachers and professors to gauge your understanding of language. 

In this article, we will guide you through everything there is to know about descriptive essays. This includes the descriptive essay definition, some descriptive essay topics, and various examples. To help you in your essay-writing process, we have also included an outline of a descriptive essay. 

But let’s start from the beginning: What is a descriptive essay?

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What is a descriptive essay?

A descriptive essay is a highly creative form of writing which describes an object, person, location, experience, emotion, or situation. It makes use of vivid imagery and different figures of speech to create a beautiful and immersive experience for the reader.

This type of essay is often assigned in creative writing courses in schools or colleges. It does not involve the presentation of arguments or information. It just involves creatively expressing yourself with the help of various language devices. 

Unlike a narrative essay which involves telling a story, a descriptive essay only focuses on one particular object or idea. Although most essay topics are non-fictional, descriptive essay topics can either be fictional or non-fictional. 

Let us look at a few examples of topics for a descriptive essay.

Descriptive essay topics

Since writing a descriptive essay is a creative form of writing, it can cover a wide range of topics. These topics can range from practical experiences such as “My Grandpa’s Couch” to thought experiments such as “Living in a world with no concept of time”. 

Here are a few more descriptive essay topics:

• Exploring a ghost town
• A starry night in the mountains
• A day in the life of an explorer
• Trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Wandering through the Swiss meadows 
• My childhood home
• Memories of grandma’s farm
• Experiencing euphoria for the first time
• My description of utopia
• My most treasured possession

Descriptive essay structure

Since descriptive essays are highly creative in nature, the descriptive essay structure is much more fluid as compared to most academic essay types. Although they do follow a general structure, there is no specific descriptive essay format. It serves more as a guideline than a hard and fast rule. 

Descriptive essays generally don’t revolve around proving a point or making an argument. The goal is to simply provide a vivid and detailed description of a particular subject.   

Let’s study the basic structure of a descriptive essay:

1. Introduction

Wondering how to start a descriptive essay? Like all essay types, the introduction of a descriptive essay is composed of three key elements: A hook, some background information, and a thesis statement. 

However, the thesis statement of a descriptive essay is different from the thesis statements of most academic essays. It simply makes a claim regarding the subject of your choosing.

Here’s an example of a descriptive essay introduction: 

• Background information
• Thesis statement

The last day of school—a momentous occasion that marks the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and growth. Excitement hangs in the air as students gather for one final day of shared experiences and unforgettable memories. The hallways buzz with chatter and laughter, mingling with the anticipation of summer freedom. It’s a day of mixed emotions, as the promise of lazy days ahead clashes with the bittersweet farewell to teachers and classmates who have become like family. The last day of school is a mosaic of emotions, a snapshot of a moment that holds the weight of an entire academic journey, and a prelude to the new adventures that lie just beyond the horizon.

2. Body paragraph 

A descriptive essay usually has three body paragraphs. However, the length and number of paragraphs may vary depending on the complexity and scope of your essay topic. 

A body paragraph comprises of a topic sentence that focuses on a particular aspect of the subject. The topic sentence is elaborated upon by sensory, contextual, and emotional descriptors. Each paragraph ends with a transition sentence that provides context for the next paragraph.  

Let’s understand this better with the help of an example: 

• Topic sentence
• Description
• Transition sentence

Classrooms brim with finality and accomplishment. Doodles and scribbles now grace once-neat desks, testifying to idle daydreams and shared laughter. Colorful displays and academic achievements adorn the walls, silently witnessing each student’s growth. Empty lockers echo the countless exchanges and whispered secrets they once held. Yearbooks circulate like cherished artifacts, pages filled with smiling faces and heartfelt messages. Laughter and hugs fill the hallways as friends make promises to keep in touch and embark on summer adventures. The last day of school etches indelible memories, a tapestry of nostalgia and celebration that encapsulates the joy, camaraderie, and growth of their academic journey.

3. Conclusion

The conclusion of your essay should begin with the restatement of your thesis statement along with its broader implications. You can then provide a quick summary of all the important aspects mentioned in the body paragraphs. 

Finally, you can end your essay with a powerful statement or a clincher. This can include anything from a powerful lesson to a thought-provoking quote. The goal is to leave the reader with something to think about.

Here’s an example: 

• Restated thesis statement
• Summary of body paragraphs
• Concluding statement

As the final bell echoes through the hallways and students scatter in all directions, school leaves behind a lingering sense of closure and anticipation. It is a day filled with mixed emotions—a blend of nostalgia for the memories created, gratitude for the knowledge gained, and excitement for the new chapter that awaits. The last day of school symbolizes a milestone in each student’s journey, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It is a time to reflect on the growth, challenges overcome, and friendships forged along the way. The last day of school is not an end, but rather a stepping stone towards new horizons, where each student will continue to learn, explore, and thrive.

Now that we’ve understood how to structure a descriptive essay, let’s figure out how to write it!

How to write a descriptive essay

In order to write a perfect descriptive essay you must effectively make use of multiple creative writing devices. These creative writing devices include figures of speech, imagery, sensory and emotional descriptors, as well as evocative language.  

If you find the essay writing process challenging, we’re here to equip you with essential tips on writing a descriptive essay. Let’s take a look at how to write a descriptive essay: 

1. Use figures of speech

Literary devices such as similies, metaphors, and imagery are creative devices that describe an object or a person in a figurative sense. These creative devices add an element of interest to your essay, making it more vivid, vibrant, and colorful. 

The use of figures of speech can turn an otherwise boring piece of writing into a masterpiece. Take a look at the following example:

On that spot stood an old banyan tree with thick bark and intertwining branches.

Although this example is a good start, it can be made much more interesting with the use of figures of speech.

On that spot stood an old banyan tree with its resolve as strong as iron. Its arms intertwined as they reached for the skies, yearning for the sun.  

The use of literary devices such as personification and metaphor makes the banyan tree in the second example come to life. This is how you can make your writing more vivid, descriptive, and poetic.

2. Use your senses

Sensory descriptors are one of the most important aspects of a descriptive essay. The key is to make the reader experience what you’ve experienced. This means appealing to all five senses of the reader. 

Although the visual aspect is important, you should also focus on how something sounds, feels, and smells. The experience of touching, smelling, or feeling something is more evocative than simply viewing it. 

Some sensory descriptors are used in a literal sense:

The smell of rain in July takes me back to my childhood. The pitter-patter reminds me of my mother’s footsteps, bringing us delicious snacks. 

They can also be used metaphorically:

The beautiful, cold gaze of the moon stunned us all.

3. Use evocative language

It is a good idea to use strong, evocative language that conveys an intense action or emotion. Creative use of words is an important factor in writing a descriptive essay since passive language leads to a dull, boring essay.  Let’s take a look at the following sentences: 

The 100-meter race was completed by Usain Bolt in under 10 seconds.

Usian Bolt whizzed through the 100-meter race in under 10 seconds!

The use of the word “completed” indicates no action and the use of passive voice makes the example dull. On the other hand, the phrase “whizzed through” indicates speed and intensity which makes the second example much more interesting to read.

Now that we’ve understood the different methods of writing a descriptive essay, let’s understand its outline.

Descriptive essay outline

The outline of a descriptive essay is less structured compared to most academic essay types. It merely serves as a guideline that you can use to flesh out your essay. It also helps you develop a coherent structure and logical flow for your topic sentences. 

In order to help you further develop your essay, we’ve created an outline for your reference. The following descriptive essay outline revolves around the nostalgia experienced when going through an old diary.

Turning the Pages of Time

I. Introduction

A. Hook: Engaging opening sentence to grab the reader’s attention.

B. Background: Briefly explain the significance of finding your old diary and the memories associated with it.

C. Thesis statement: Clearly state the main idea of the essay, highlighting the emotional journey of rediscovering your old diary.

II. The discovery

A. Setting the scene: Describe the circumstances and location where you stumbled upon your old diary.

B. Initial emotions: Express the range of emotions that flooded your mind upon finding the diary.

C. Anticipation: Share the anticipation and curiosity about what lies within the pages of the diary.

III. The diary’s contents

A. Opening the pages: Describe the physical act of opening the diary and the smell and texture of the pages.

B. Memories unfolded: Reflect on the memories and experiences captured in the diary entries.

C. Emotional impact: Discuss the emotional response evoked by reading your own words and reliving past moments.

IV. Nostalgic reflections

A. Time traveling: Explain how reading the diary transported you back to the time and place when the entries were written.

B. Reconnecting with your past self: Describe the process of reconnecting with your past self and reevaluating your thoughts and experiences.

C. Lessons and insights: Highlight any valuable lessons, self-discoveries, or personal growth revealed through the diary’s contents.

V. Resonating with present self

A. Relevance to current life: Discuss how the insights and reflections from the diary still resonate with your present self.

B. Perspective shifts: Explain any shifts in perspective or newfound understanding that arose from revisiting the diary.

C. Appreciation: Express gratitude for the diary and its role in preserving and enriching your personal history.

VI. Cherishing the rediscovery

A. Preservation: Discuss the steps you took to preserve and protect the diary after finding it.

B. Future reflections: Share your intentions and plans for continuing the habit of journaling or preserving personal memories.

C. Closing thoughts: Reflect on the lasting impact of finding your old diary and the value of personal reflection and self-expression.

VII. Conclusion

A. Recap: Summarize the emotional journey of rediscovering your old diary.

B. Significance: Emphasize the personal and emotional significance of reconnecting with your past self through the diary.

C. Closing remarks: Conclude with a reflection on the power of personal artifacts and the importance of preserving one’s history.

Now that we have taken a look at the descriptive essay structure let’s look at an example.

Descriptive essay example

To help you better understand the process of descriptive essay writing, we’ve constructed an example. The following example revolves around an imaginary situation. It describes the writer’s voyage through the cosmos.

Exploring the Cosmos

As the rocket engines ignited, the powerful thrust propelled us into the vast expanse of space. The vibrations rattled through the cabin, merging with the palpable anticipation that filled the air. We were embarking on a remarkable journey through the cosmos, leaving behind the familiarity of Earth and venturing into the unknown.

Outside the small window, the twinkling stars grew brighter, casting a mesmerizing glow on the infinite darkness. The view was awe-inspiring as if we were floating amidst a sea of diamonds, each one beckoning us to explore its mysteries. The depth and grandeur of space stretched out before us, reminding us of the minuscule nature of our existence in the universe.

As we traversed through the cosmic void, weightlessness engulfed our bodies, releasing us from the Earth’s gravitational pull. Every movement became a ballet, effortlessly gliding from one corner of the spacecraft to another. The sensation was both exhilarating and disorienting as if the boundaries of physical limitations had dissolved.

The silence in space was profound, a symphony of tranquility. Without the interference of atmospheric sounds, we were left with the gentle hum of the spaceship’s systems and the rhythmic beating of our own hearts. It was a humbling reminder of the vastness and serenity that lay beyond our home planet.

Farther into our journey, celestial bodies came into view, captivating us with their sheer beauty. The fiery hues of neighboring planets illuminated the darkness, displaying their own distinct personalities. We marveled at the majestic rings of Saturn, a delicate masterpiece encircling the giant planet, and the crimson swirls of Jupiter, a tempestuous giant with its own cosmic dance.

Time seemed to lose its grip on the vastness of space. Hours felt like mere moments as we traveled through light-years, witnessing the unimaginable beauty of celestial phenomena. We were reminded of the sheer magnitude of the cosmos, a testament to the wonders that lie beyond our earthly confines.

Eventually, the time came for us to return to our home planet. As we reentered Earth’s atmosphere, the fiery descent illuminated the sky, marking our triumphant return. The journey through space left an everlasting mark on our souls, forever changing our perception of our place in the universe.

Our journey was more than a physical exploration; it was a voyage of wonder and introspection. It taught us the fragility and interconnectedness of all things and ignited an insatiable curiosity to continue unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. We were forever transformed by the immensity and beauty that awaited us beyond our pale blue dot in the vast expanse of space.

After writing the essay, it’s important to edit and proofread it, which is a not easy. If you find essay editing challenging, you can consider taking the help of an essay editing service .  

Want to keep reading? Here are the newest articles we’ve worked on:

• How to Start an Essay
• Expository Essays | Step-by-Step Manual
• How to Write an Argumentative Essay
• Types of Essays
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Descriptive Essay

Descriptive Essay Topics

Top 250+ Descriptive Essay Topics & Ideas

18 min read

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Are you a student struggling to find that perfect descriptive essay topic that not only ignites your creative flair but also captivates your readers? 

The quest for the ideal subject for your descriptive essay can be a challenging one. It might leave you feeling stuck in the initial phase of your writing journey. But fear not!

In this blog, we'll address this issue head-on, providing you with 100+ best descriptive essay topic ideas. We will also provide you with the tips to choose the right topic for your academic needs. 

So without further delay let’s get started!

• 1. General Descriptive Essay Topics
• 2. Descriptive Essay Topics for Different Academic Levels 
• 3. Descriptive Essay Topics For High School Students
• 4. Descriptive Essay Topics For College Students
• 5. Descriptive Essay Topics For University Students 
• 6. Descriptive Essay Topics About  Daily Life 
• 7. Descriptive Essay Topics About Favorite Things And Activities 
• 8. Descriptive Essay Topics About  Memories and Associations
• 9. Descriptive Essay Topics About Science
• 10. Descriptive Essay Topics About History
• 11. Descriptive Essay Topics About TV, Literature, Art 
• 12. Descriptive Essay Topics About  Geography and Traveling  
• 13. Descriptive Essay Topics About Philosophy and Religion
• 14. Descriptive Essay Topics about Professions
• 15. Narrative Descriptive Essay Topics
• 16. Funny Descriptive Essay Topics 
• 17. Good Descriptive Essay Topics 2024
• 18. Descriptive Essay Topics: Miscellaneous
• 19. How to Select the Right Descriptive Essay Topic

General Descriptive Essay Topics

Descriptive essay topics can fall into various categories, each offering a unique lens through which you can explore your creativity. Here are the four general categories of descriptive essay topics:

Descriptive Essay About a Place

• Describe a serene beach at sunrise.
• Describe a bustling street market in your city.
• Describe a hidden waterfall in a lush forest.
• Describe the interior of a historic cathedral.
• Describe a cozy corner in your favorite cafe.
• Describe a vibrant and colorful flower garden.
• Describe the atmosphere of a crowded concert venue.
• Describe the view from the top of a mountain.
• Describe the charm of a quaint European village.
• Describe the ambiance of a local library during a rainy day.

Explore our comprehensive guide for a deeper understanding of crafting a descriptive essay about a place .

Descriptive Essay About a Person

• Describe a remarkable teacher who influenced your life.
• Describe a close family member who inspires you.
• Describe a childhood friend and the adventures you shared.
• Describe a mentor or role model from your community.
• Describe a famous historical figure you admire.
• Describe a compassionate healthcare professional you've encountered.
• Describe a talented musician and their impact on you.
• Describe a remarkable athlete and their dedication.
• Describe a wise and experienced grandparent.
• Describe a stranger whose kindness left a lasting impression on you.

For an in-depth understanding of crafting a descriptive essay about a person , explore our comprehensive guide.

Descriptive Essay About a Memory

• Describe a vivid childhood memory that shaped your personality.
• Describe a memorable family holiday celebration.
• Describe the excitement and nervousness of your first day at school.
• Describe a cherished memory of a special family meal.
• Describe a moment of personal triumph that you'll never forget.
• Describe the sights, sounds, and emotions of a childhood birthday party.
• Describe a bittersweet memory of saying goodbye to a close friend.
• Describe a memorable road trip with friends or family.
• Describe the feeling of achieving a long-standing personal goal.
• Describe a moment of unexpected kindness that touched your heart.

Descriptive Essay About an Object

• Describe your most treasured childhood possession.
• Describe a piece of artwork that resonates with you.
• Describe an antique family heirloom and its significance.
• Describe your favorite piece of clothing and why you love it.
• Describe a technological gadget that you can't live without.
• Describe a musical instrument and its role in your life.
• Describe a book that has had a profound impact on you.
• Describe a piece of jewelry with sentimental value.
• Describe a quirky or unique souvenir from your travels.
• Describe an everyday item with personal significance, like a favorite coffee mug. 

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Descriptive Essay Topics for Different Academic Levels 

When it comes to descriptive essays, the choice of topics can vary greatly depending on your academic level. To help you find the perfect descriptive essay topic, we've curated a list that caters to students at different academic levels. Let’s check out:

Descriptive Essay Topics For Grade 5

• Describe your favorite place in your house.
• Describe a special day at the park with your friends.
• Describe your favorite meal and why you like it.
• Describe a memorable school field trip.
• Describe your favorite book characters and why you like them.
• Describe your dream treehouse or hideout.
• Describe a fun and exciting family game night.
• Describe a pet (real or imaginary) that you would love to have.
• Describe a visit to the zoo or an animal sanctuary.
• Describe a memorable moment from a recent family vacation.

Descriptive Essay Topics For Grade 6 

• Describe your ideal superhero and their special powers.
• Describe a unique and magical land you've imagined.
• Describe your favorite fictional place from a book or movie.
• Describe a special tradition your family has during the holidays.
• Describe a fascinating historical event that interests you.
• Describe a place you'd like to explore in the future.
• Describe a creative invention you'd like to create and how it works.
• Describe a sport or game you enjoy playing or watching.
• Describe an interesting art exhibit or museum you visited.
• Describe a talent or skill you'd like to develop and why.

Descriptive Essay Topics For Grade 7 

• Describe a place you find truly mysterious and explain why.
• Describe an important lesson you've learned in life and how it changed you.
• Describe a famous historical event from multiple perspectives.
• Describe a work of art or sculpture you find intriguing and its symbolism.
• Describe the sights, sounds, and emotions of a bustling city street.
• Describe your favorite spot in a local park and its significance to you.
• Describe the interior of a unique and fascinating museum.
• Describe a childhood memory that holds a special place in your heart.
• Describe the process of a hobby or activity you are passionate about.
• Describe an interesting and significant cultural celebration or festival.

Descriptive Essay Topics For Grade 8 

• The moment I conquered my biggest fear.
• An unforgettable encounter with a wild animal.
• A day in the life of an influential person from history.
• The sensory experience of a busy metropolitan area.
• The most important lesson I've learned in middle school.
• My ideal futuristic city and how it functions.
• The experience of solving a complex puzzle or problem.
• A piece of art that has left a lasting impression on me.
• An exploration of a local urban legend or mystery.
• The emotions and events surrounding my first school dance.

Descriptive Essay Topics For High School Students

Whether you're a freshman or a senior in high school, these descriptive essay topics are designed to challenge your descriptive writing abilities. Check out the topics below:

Descriptive Essay Topics For Grade 9

• Share your experience of overcoming a significant personal challenge.
• Explain the impact of a novel that influenced your perspective on life.
• Detail a memorable day when you ventured out of your comfort zone.
• Elaborate on the emotional journey of leaving behind your childhood home.
• Provide an account of a scientific discovery or theory that fascinates you.
• Unpack the sights, sounds, and culture of a foreign destination you've visited.
• Depict the essence and symbolism of a famous work of art or sculpture.
• Tell the story of a historical figure's life and their lasting legacy.
• Examine the role of technology in shaping modern society.
• Reveal the emotions and transformations experienced during your first year of high school.

Descriptive Essay Topics For Class 10

• Explore the impact of a historical event on the present day.
• Investigate the portrayal of gender roles in modern cinema.
• Discuss the societal effects of a prominent technological advancement.
• Elaborate on the importance of environmental conservation efforts.
• Uncover the cultural significance of a local festival or tradition.
• Examine the challenges and rewards of volunteering in your community.
• Tell the story of a prominent figure who has shaped your worldview.
• Depict the complex and evolving nature of friendship in adolescence.
• Share the experience of a life-changing travel adventure.
• Explain the role of social media in shaping youth culture and relationships.

Descriptive Essay Topics For College Students

As college students, your descriptive essays can reflect the myriad experiences and perspectives that shape your academic journey. Here are some thought-provoking descriptive writing topics to inspire your next piece.

Descriptive Essay Topics For Grade 12

• Examine the impact of a significant historical figure on today's society.
• Explore the evolution of your personal beliefs and values over time.
• Investigate the representation of societal issues in contemporary art.
• Discuss the role of ethics in modern scientific research and innovation.
• Elaborate on the challenges and rewards of pursuing a creative passion as a career.
• Uncover the complex dynamics of familial relationships in the digital age.
• Depict the influence of technology on the future of education.
• Explain the impact of a current global event on international relations.
• Share the transformative experience of a meaningful community service project.
• Examine the intersection of culture, identity, and social justice in the 21st century.

Descriptive Essay Topics For University Students 

• Investigate the impact of social media on mental health and well-being.
• Explore the cultural significance of a local tradition or festival.
• Examine the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
• Discuss the environmental effects of urbanization and city planning.
• Elaborate on the role of technology in reshaping the workplace of the future.
• Uncover the challenges and solutions in addressing global climate change.
• Depict the influence of contemporary art movements on society and culture.
• Explain the evolution of feminist theory and its relevance in today's world.
• Share the experiences and impact of studying abroad on personal growth.
• Explore the intersections of psychology, technology, and human behavior in the digital age.

Descriptive Essay Topics About  Daily Life 

• Explore the daily routines and habits that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
• Examine the role of technology in shaping our daily interactions and relationships.
• Discuss the sensory experiences and rituals of a morning routine.
• Investigate the impact of cultural diversity on everyday life in a multicultural society.
• Depict the challenges and rewards of balancing work and personal life.
• Uncover the small, meaningful moments that make up a typical day.
• Explain the influence of daily news consumption on individual perspectives.
• Elaborate on the role of time management in achieving daily goals.
• Share the experience of adapting to new daily routines during a significant life change.
• Discuss the importance of mental health practices in managing the stresses of daily life.

Descriptive Essay Topics About Favorite Things And Activities 

• Explore the joys of your favorite childhood toy or game.
• Investigate the role of a beloved hobby in your life and personal development.
• Discuss the sensory experience of savoring your favorite meal.
• Examine the significance of a treasured book in your collection.
• Depict the emotions and memories associated with your favorite vacation destination.
• Uncover the impact of your preferred sport or physical activity on your well-being.
• Elaborate on the role of music in your life and your favorite musical genre.
• Explain the fascination and inspiration provided by your favorite work of art.
• Share the excitement and memories linked to your preferred outdoor adventure.
• Discuss the cultural significance of a favorite tradition or celebration in your life.

Descriptive Essay Topics About  Memories and Associations

• Explore a childhood memory that has profoundly shaped your values.
• Investigate the memories and emotions tied to a significant family event.
• Discuss the impact of personal achievement on your self-esteem.
• Examine the associations and significance of a treasured family heirloom.
• Depict the sensory experiences and emotions linked to your first love.
• Uncover the lessons and personal growth resulting from a challenging life experience.
• Elaborate on the memories and significance of a place you once called home.
• Explain the nostalgia and emotions connected to a favorite childhood game.
• Share the cultural associations and experiences tied to a traditional holiday celebration.
• Discuss the transformative influence of a mentor or role model in your life.

Descriptive Essay Topics About Science

• Describe the process of photosynthesis in plants and its importance.
• Explain the impact of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Discuss the principles of genetic inheritance and their real-world applications.
• Elaborate on the role of renewable energy sources in combating climate change.
• Investigate the phenomenon of black holes and their significance in astrophysics.
• Explore the potential benefits and ethical concerns of gene editing technology.
• Depict the inner workings of the human circulatory system and its vital functions.
• Examine the impact of artificial intelligence on various industries and society.
• Uncover the principles of quantum mechanics and their implications in technology.
• Explain the process of geological plate tectonics and its role in shaping the Earth's surface.

Descriptive Essay Topics About History

• Describe the events and consequences of a significant historical battle.
• Discuss the cultural and architectural aspects of an ancient civilization.
• Explain the impact of a historical treaty or agreement on global relations.
• Elaborate on the life and achievements of a prominent historical figure.
• Investigate the causes and effects of a major revolution in history.
• Explore the social and political aspects of a pivotal historical movement.
• Depict the cultural exchange and influence of the Silk Road in ancient times.
• Analyze the historical development of a specific art or architectural style.
• Uncover the role of propaganda in shaping public opinion during a historical period.
• Discuss the impact of a historical migration or diaspora on different regions.

Descriptive Essay Topics About TV, Literature, Art 

• Describe the impact of a classic novel on your perspective and values.
• Explain the intricate plot and character development in a popular TV series.
• Explore the cultural significance of a famous work of art or sculpture.
• Investigate the symbolism and themes in a renowned piece of literature.
• Discuss the role of technology in the evolution of modern art forms.
• Depict the emotional resonance of a memorable scene from a favorite movie.
• Analyze the influence of a specific art movement on contemporary artists.
• Uncover the historical context and social commentary in a classic film.
• Elaborate on the use of color, composition, and techniques in a famous painting.
• Examine the impact of a renowned playwright's work on theater and culture.

Descriptive Essay Topics About  Geography and Traveling  

• Describe the geographical features and natural beauty of your dream travel destination.
• Explore the cultural diversity and traditions in a specific region you have visited.
• Explain the significance of a historical landmark in a foreign country.
• Discuss the impact of climate and weather on your travel experience.
• Depict the mesmerizing sights and sounds of a bustling international market.
• Analyze the influence of geography on the development of different cuisines.
• Investigate the role of eco-tourism in preserving natural wonders and wildlife.
• Elaborate on the historical and cultural context of a remote village you've explored.
• Uncover the experience of traveling alone and the lessons it taught you.
• Examine the effects of mass tourism on a popular vacation destination.

Descriptive Essay Topics About Philosophy and Religion

• Describe the teachings and core beliefs of a major world religion.
• Explore the ethical and moral dilemmas presented in a philosophical thought experiment.
• Discuss the influence of a specific philosopher's ideas on contemporary society.
• Elaborate on the historical and cultural context of a religious pilgrimage.
• Investigate the symbolism and rituals of a religious ceremony or festival.
• Uncover the philosophical arguments for and against the existence of a higher power.
• Examine the impact of religious art and architecture on sacred spaces.
• Analyze the principles of a philosophical movement and its influence on thought.
• Depict the evolution of a particular religious tradition and its adaptations.
• Discuss the role of philosophy and religion in shaping individual values and ethics.

Descriptive Essay Topics about Professions

• Describe the day-to-day life of a firefighter and the challenges they face.
• Explore the responsibilities and skills required for a career in nursing.
• Discuss the impact of modern technology on the field of journalism.
• Depict the work environment and tasks of a marine biologist.
• Investigate the role of a social worker in supporting individuals and communities.
• Explain the significance of ethics in the legal profession.
• Elaborate on the art and science of being a chef in a high-end restaurant.
• Analyze the daily routines and decision-making of a software developer.
• Uncover the evolving role of a teacher in the digital age.
• Examine the challenges and rewards of being an environmental scientist.

Narrative Descriptive Essay Topics

• Describe a life-changing journey you embarked on.
• Narrate the story of a significant personal achievement.
• Share an account of a memorable family reunion or gathering.
• Recount a day when you had to make a difficult decision.
• Describe a unique cultural festival or event you attended.
• Share the experience of overcoming a personal fear or phobia.
• Narrate the story of a close friendship that has stood the test of time.
• Describe a turning point in your academic or professional life.
• Recount an adventure in the great outdoors that challenged and inspired you.
• Share the story of a significant encounter with a stranger that left a lasting impact on you.

Funny Descriptive Essay Topics 

• Describe the chaos of preparing for a surprise birthday party.
• Share the hilarious mishaps of a family camping trip.
• Narrate the comical events of a memorable April Fools' Day prank.
• Recount the antics of a mischievous pet in your household.
• Describe the humorous challenges of learning a new dance style.
• Share the comical misunderstandings during a language barrier encounter.
• Describe the quirks and idiosyncrasies of a funny coworker or classmate.
• Narrate the lighthearted moments of a quirky family holiday tradition.
• Recount the humorous experiences of trying to assemble a piece of furniture.
• Share the story of a hilariously disastrous cooking experiment.

Good Descriptive Essay Topics 2024

• Describe the enchanting beauty of a secluded forest.
• Describe a day in the life of a bustling city street.
• Describe the sensory experience of a local farmer's market.
• Describe the soothing sounds of waves on a tranquil beach.
• Describe the intricate details of an antique family heirloom.
• Describe the charm and character of a quaint European village.
• Describe the cultural richness of a traditional ethnic festival.
• Describe the architectural wonders of a historic city.
• Describe the emotions and camaraderie of a family gathering.
• Describe the vibrant colors and flavors of a street food market.

Easy Descriptive Essay Topics

• Describe the first time you rode a bicycle
• Describe your grandfather’s favorite chair
• Write about your wardrobe.
• Describe the clock hanging on your kitchen’s wall
• Describe your pet
• Describe your favorite toy from childhood
• Describe the scariest memory of your childhood
• Describe the day you met your best friend after years
• Describe your favorite restaurant
• Write about the day when you first time saw the movie at the cinema.

Descriptive Essay Topics: Miscellaneous

• Describe the serenity of a starry night in the countryside.
• Describe the sensory delight of a summer thunderstorm.
• Explore the aura of an ancient and historic library.
• Depict the intricate details of a beloved childhood toy.
• Explain the bustling energy of a busy urban subway station.
• Share the captivating beauty of an underwater coral reef.
• Describe the tantalizing aroma of a gourmet kitchen.
• Elaborate on the charm of a cozy, old-fashioned bookshop.
• Discuss the breathtaking sights from the top of a skyscraper.
• Share the nostalgia and magic of a vintage movie theater.

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How to Select the Right Descriptive Essay Topic

Selecting the perfect topic for a descriptive essay is a crucial step in the writing process. To make the most of your writing prompts and capture real-life moments effectively, consider these tips.

• Personal Connection: Choose a topic that resonates with you. Whether it's a person, place, or object, your passion will shine through your writing.
• Vivid Memories: Think about your life experiences. Recall moments, whether heartwarming or embarrassing moments, that left a lasting impression. These can be excellent essay topics.
• Uniqueness: Opt for something distinctive. While common topics have their place, selecting an unusual topic can make your essay stand out.
• Spending Time: Dedicate time to brainstorming. Allow yourself to explore various options, and don't rush the decision. It's all part of the creative process.
• Real-Life Stories: Real-life situations often make for compelling essays. They're relatable and offer ample material for vivid descriptions.
• Objects and Places: Objects or places with sentimental value can be incredibly descriptive. The emotional connection will fuel your writing.
• Writing a Descriptive Essay: Keep the purpose of the essay in mind. Ensure your topic aligns with the goal of painting a vivid picture for your readers.

Need examples to grasp the concept of writing a descriptive essay? Check out our descriptive essay examples blog!

Wrapping Up! With this comprehensive list of top 250+ descriptive essay topics, you now have a vibrant palette from which to paint your narratives. However, if you have time constraints, do not hesitate to ask for professional help. 

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40 Topics to Help With Descriptive Writing Assignments

A Helpful List for Writing Paragraphs, Essays, and Speeches

• Writing Essays
• Writing Research Papers
• English Grammar
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Descriptive writing calls for close attention to factual and sensory details: show, don't tell . Whether your subject is as small as a strawberry or as large as a fruit farm, you should begin by observing your subject closely. Examine it with all five senses, and write down any details and descriptions that come to mind.

Next, go a little further afield with your list and associate your chosen topic or object with memories, opinions, and impressions. This list may give you some ideas for metaphors and possibly even a direction for your paragraph or essay. Then make a list of verbs that could be associated with your topic or object. This will help you have more variety than just "buzzing be" verbs and keep the writing and imagery descriptive and active.

After your brainstorming phase, go through your list and decide which details and descriptions you like the most and are most significant. Don't cross off the others, though. At this point in the project, you want to be open to any direction your imagination and writing take you.

Good advice from Steven King from his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft :

If you want to be a successful writer, you must be able to describe [your subject], and in a way that will cause your reader to prickle with recognition. ... Thin description leaves the reader feeling bewildered and nearsighted. Overdescription buries him or her in details and images . The trick is to find a happy medium.

40 Topic Suggestions

To get you started, here are 40 topic suggestions for a descriptive paragraph, essay, or speech. These suggestions should help you discover a subject that especially interests  you . If you don't start out with a topic that you're willing to spend some time with, your writing will show your lack of enthusiasm. If 40 is not enough, try this list of more than 400 writing topics .

If you need some advice for the drafting phase, see " Composing Descriptive Paragraphs and Essays " and " How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph ."

• a waiting room
• a basketball, baseball glove, or tennis racket
• a smartphone
• a treasured belonging
• a laptop computer
• a favorite restaurant
• your dream house
• your ideal roommate
• your memory of a place that you visited as a child
• an accident scene
• a city bus or subway train
• an unusual room
• a child's secret hiding place
• a bowl of fruit
• an item left too long in your refrigerator
• backstage during a play or concert
• a vase of flowers
• a restroom in a service station
• a street that leads to your home or school
• your favorite food
• the inside of a spaceship
• the scene at a concert or athletic event
• an art exhibit
• an ideal apartment
• your old neighborhood
• a small-town cemetery
• a photograph
• a hospital emergency room
• a particular friend or family member
• a storefront window
• an inspiring view
• a work table
• a character from a book, movie, or television program
• a refrigerator or washing machine
• a Halloween costume

King, Stephen. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft . Scribner, 2000.

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Journal Buddies Jill | October 27, 2023 April 4, 2022 | Writing by Grade Level

30 Captivating Descriptive Essay Topics for Students

30 Good Topic Ideas for a Descriptive Essay — Our list of descriptive essay topics will help your students see that writing can be very enjoyable when they are writing about something that is relatable.

A Few Words About Descriptive Writing Essays

Announcing to your class of high school students that you are assigning an essay as homework is likely to elicit groans and moans from the teenagers who don’t want to spend endless hours researching and writing a paper.

However, when you inform them that their next writing task is going to be a descriptive essay, they may feel less irritated at the idea.

A descriptive essay is a piece of writing that requires a student to describe — in detail and from every aspect — a person, place, object memory, emotion, conflict, situation, favorite hobby, or experience.

High school students, in particular, tend to enjoy this form of writing, largely because they have a lot of freedom and flexibility to express themselves through their writing. These descriptive essay topics for grade 9 (and beyonare sure to inspire some great works!

30 Descriptive Essay Topic Ideas

Encourage your writers to choose their personal favorite topic from these descriptive writing topics to help your high school students build upon their existing writing skills and learn to love the writing process.

Descriptive Writing Topics About Places and Experiences

• Write an essay about your favorite home that you have lived in, and what made that home so special.
• Describe your elementary school or middle school.
• Write about your favorite place to be. Why do you like to be there? How do you feel when you are in that space?
• Describe a significant experience that changed your life.

• Describe the most beautiful outdoor attraction that you have seen. Do you visit this area often? Why or why not?
• Where do you feel that you learn best? Write about this special space.
• Describe a time when you felt pure happiness.
• Write about a transformative experience during your childhood. How do you feel that this experience impacted your current course?
• Describe the type of place where you want to live in the future.

Descriptive Writing List of Topics About People and Emotions

• Write an essay about a person who raised you.
• Describe your best friend and the feelings that you have when you spend time together.
• Write about the period in your life when you were transitioning from a kid into a young adult. How did you feel? What happened during this time?
• Describe your pet and the way that your pet makes you feel.

• Write about the person that you feel is the most influential historical figure.
• Write a descriptive essay about a time that you met a complete stranger.
• Write a descriptive essay about yourself.
• Describe the most influential teacher that you have had.
• Write an essay describing how you felt on the first day of school.

Good Descriptive Essay Topics About Objects and Memories

• Write an essay about your favorite toy from your childhood.
• Describe an object that has sentimental value to you.
• Write an essay about your earliest memory. Why do you feel this memory stands out to you?
• Describe a piece of furniture in your home. Why did you choose this piece of furniture?

• Describe an object that you are hoping to purchase. What are you doing to work toward your goals?
• Describe an object that you remember from your grandparents’ house. What memories are tied to this object?
• Write about an object that makes you think about your best friend.
• Describe your favorite book and the impact it had on your life.
• Write about what you might find inside your purse or wallet.

I hope you enjoyed this list of writing ideas and find that it inspires loads of creativity in your writers. You may use them with students of the high school grade levels or other ages as you see fit. Younger children might enjoy writing about some of the following descriptive paragraph topics:

• favorite movie or concert
• a family member or celebrity
• most memorable birthday
• the best summer vacation or the perfect vacation
• a dream house or ideal bedroom
• favorite classroom
• favorite song

Tips for This Type of Essay

Of course, there is still a format and style to be followed when writing a descriptive essay.

These tips can help your students complete their best possible descriptive essay:

Tip #1 — Encourage your students to brainstorm the topics and ideas that they are passionate about. When they relate to what they are writing about, the words will come more naturally.

Tip #2 — Tell your students to pick a topic and get organized before they start writing. (Indeed, multiple drafts may be needed prior to creating the final version of the essay.) This will help them build out their ideas and fine-tune their descriptions throughout the writing process.

Tip #3 — Remind your students that they should use bold, vivid language with lots of sensory details — but that their sentences should remain clean, crisp, and concise. Choosing one powerful adjective is better than adding several flowery words to every description

In order to get your students on board with this assignment and to help them create a piece of writing that others can relate to, you will want to provide them with several descriptive essay topics and ideas to choose from.

Final Words of Inspiration

Your high school students are starting to prepare for the next stage of their education. Many are looking to become a college student which is why they need to practice their writing skills in order to compose effective and compelling essays for their college applications.

They also need to build upon their existing foundation so that they can thrive in a university environment, where writing will play a pivotal role in almost all of their courses.

Our list of descriptive essay writing topics will help your students see that writing can be very enjoyable when they are writing about something that is relatable. With the right topics and ideas in front of them, they will always want to keep on writing!

96 More Free Essay Writing Prompts

• 30 Descriptive Writing Prompts to Teach Kids about Storytelling
• Take Creative Writing to another Level with these 31 Creative Essay Prompts
• 35 Awesome Kids Essay Topics

Until next time, keep on writing…

If you enjoyed these Descriptive Essay Topics & Ideas, please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. I appreciate it!

PS Check out this essay writing resource —> How to Write a Descriptive Essay Outline

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270 Good Descriptive Essay Topics and Writing Tips

As simple as it is, the purpose of the descriptive essay is to explain or portray its subject. It can focus on any topic or issue you want to write about. Be sure that any middle school, high school, or college student can manage this type of creative writing assignment! You just need a good descriptive writing topic.

This article will help you find the best idea for your paper. Read on to see a list of descriptive essay topics, prompts, tips, and a writing guide. And don’t hesitate to ask our custom writing experts to help you write a short story or a complicated paper. They will help with any topic for descriptive essay.

• 🔝 Top 10 Topics

✅ Types of Descriptive Essays

• ✍️ Writing Tips
• ⚙️ Process Description
• 💭 Narrative
• 🖥️ Technical
• 🤔 Associations
• ❤️ Favorite Things

🔍 References

🔝 top 10 descriptive essay topics.

• Your go-to confidant
• Your own superstition
• How you revise for exams
• Your favorite time of the day
• Your favorite character trait
• What makes you respect a person
• What makes you dislike a book
• How you overcome hardships in life
• Something you can’t imagine your life without
• The most memorable movie you watched as a child

The first thing you need to know is that there are two types of descriptive essays:

• Concrete – an essay about something specific that human senses can perceive. Describe the things you can see, touch, smell, feel, and hear.
• Abstract – an essay about something you feel emotionally or perceive cognitively. Write about emotions, situations, experiences, relationships, and art.

This article lists topics for concrete as well as abstract descriptive essays. Choose one you like the most, and get down to writing!

✍️ Descriptive Essay Writing Tips

Writing a descriptive essay is about making the readers want to taste the food or watch a movie you discussed. Here are a few things that will help you write an excellent descriptive essay on any topic.

• Topic and a thesis. Review this article and choose a subject you like the most. Next, come up with the thesis statement. The statement should be attention-catching and reflect the main focus of the paper.
• An outline. This step is essential for essays of any length. Start the outline with an introduction and finish with a conclusion. Write out the main themes/thoughts, make them into paragraphs.
• Introduction (with a thesis)
• The moment Oreo got into my arms
• Choosing the name
• Playing with Oreo for the first time
• The five senses. Including sensory details will take your paper on another level! Write out the details and adjectives that engage each of the senses.
• Smell: sweet, fresh, pleasant, etc.
• Touch: fluffy, soft, warm, scratching, etc.
• Hearing: mewing, loud, quiet, etc.
• Vision: sizes, colors, movements, etc.
• Taste: sweet milk, refreshing water, etc.

Tip: use transition words, such as afterwards, before that, in the meantime . It will make your essay logically flow.

• Write, write, write. Time to fill out your outline! Choose clear and vivid language. In conclusion, leave the reader with an “I’ve been there with you” or “I know what you’re talking about” feeling.
• Review and turn in. Proofread what you wrote and ask a peer to do the same. Make as many changes as needed. After polishing your paper, turn it in and expect a good grade.

⚙️ Process Description Topics for an Essay

A process essay explains how to do something. It can also describe how something occurs. Cooking instructions, a tutorial, or chronology of events can serve as a basis for a descriptive paper. Take a look at this list of interesting topics:

• Learning to drive a car. 
• How to a cook a Thanksgiving dinner.
• Ways to match colors in clothing.
• Giving a cozy look to a room.

• How to build a wooden table.
• How can you open a coffee shop? 
• Organizing a road trip.
• Easy way to save money for a car.
• The process of learning to ride a bike.
• How can you become a professional Instagram influencer? 
• Describe the development of an embryo. 
• What is water cycle in nature?
• Learning to play an instrument .
• How to choose a university degree. 
• How does the wind form?
• The process of creating a video game.
• Describe the lifecycle of a flower.
• The stages of making a movie.
• How is electricity generated?
• The process of launching a spaceship.

💭 Descriptive Narrative Essay Topics

The main objective of a narrative essay is to tell a story. Descriptive words can help your audience to relive the event with you. Write out your memories, and use them as a foundation for the paper.

• The day you got a pet .
• Describe a life-threatening experience.
• The moment you realized you are in love .
• When was the happiest day of your life?
• A day when you changed your opinion about someone.
• Describe an experience of losing something valuable.
• Write about overcoming the saddest event in your life.
• Describe the beginning of a precious friendship .
• Your favorite vacation experience.
• A day when you got a bad grade.
• What is your most vivid childhood memory?
• Describe a case of misunderstanding.
• The toughest task you had to fulfill.
• Recall a day when you broke something.
• A situation when you had to act like an adult.
• What was the hardest conversation you’ve ever had? 
• The experience of going through heartbreak.

• Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision.
• Write about moving to another city.
• One time when you ate eating something very delicious.

🖥️ Technical Description Topics for an Essay

If you’re a tech lover, this section is just what you need. A technical descriptive essay can focus on any mechanism or invention. Help the reader to understand the function of a piece of technology. But first, check out the following list of ideas for a technical descriptive paper:

• Functions of a smart watch.
• What’s the purpose of an iPod?
• Describe the parts of an AK-47.
• How does touch screen work?
• Explain how a smartphone can count steps.
• What are the main features of virtual assistants?
• How do computers read CDs?
• Describe the structure of a camera lens.
• The functioning of wireless headphones.
• What’s the purpose of car cylinders?
• How does artificial intelligence evolve?
• What are the parts of an old-fashioned TV screen?
• How do solar panels work?
• Describe the functions of unmanned vehicles.
• How do ATMs detect values of bills?
• How does traffic pulse technology work?
• How does virtual reality function? 
• Purpose of 5G mobile technology. 
• Describe the parts of a speed sensor.
• Explain the functioning of a weather station.

🏫 Descriptive Essay Topics about School

School life is diverse and filled with all kinds of events. This section is all about your personal experience at school. Tell the reader about a memorable episode or a significant person from your life as a student.

• Describe your favorite subject to study.
• Who is your favorite teacher?
• The best holiday you’ve ever celebrated at school.
• Tell the reader about a recent field trip with your class.
• Describe an event during a school bus ride.
• What it’s like being in a school choir.
• The prom night of your dreams.
• How do you usually do your homework? 
• Bonding with friends from school.

• What is your best friend like?
• Recall the first visit to a principal’s office.
• The experience of playing on a football team.
• Say why you like taking part in the drama class.
• Giving a speech in front of your class.
• What is it like to win a school competition?
• The saddest day in school.
• Recall an embarrassing moment during a break.
• The most memorable art class.
• Describe your favorite science project.
• Reasons why you like your school.

🧶 Descriptive Essay Topics about Hobbies

Everybody has some sort of hobby. Choose one of the things you enjoy doing the most. You can imagine describing it to people who barely know anything about your hobby. Make sure to provide insightful information on your favorite activity. This list of ideas will help you come up with an exciting topic for an essay!

• How to explore cooking as a hobby. 
• What do you like about knitting?
• Why do you enjoy fishing?
• What dancing means to you.
• Do you play sports as a hobby?
• Playing card games can be a hobby.
• What instrument do you play? 
• Say why you love singing.
• What is great about recording videos?
• Why do you like journaling?
• Playing video games for relaxation. 
• How did you start painting?
• What do you enjoy about crafting?
• Why is car repair fun?
• Do you consider shopping a hobby?
• Your favorite thing about gardening. 
• Meditation as a way to relax. 
• Your favorite thing about magic tricks.
• Do you watch movies as a hobby? 
• What do you enjoy about reading ?

🎨 Descriptive Writing Topics about Art

Writing a descriptive essay on art can be an exciting assignment. It will require your observations and knowledge. Research the necessary information about the chosen subject. It will be better if you spend some time observing and appreciating the artwork before writing about it. Use these elements as a foundation for your paper.

• What are the peculiarities of abstract paintings? 
• Describe the process of creating a portrait.
• What are the main features of the still life genre?
• Why are shades essential in a drawing?
• Variations of texture in art.
• Use of focal points in photography.
• How can a person appreciate a painting ?
• What do you like about Van Gogh’s art?
• Your impression of The Kiss by Klimt .
• Primary colors of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa .

• Describe the process of creating a marble sculpture.
• Essential elements of sculpting.
• Your impression of Michelangelo’s David. 
• What makes Dama Velata by Corradini beautiful?
• Describe the process of carving.
• What are the main features of poetry ?
• The artwork of your favorite album.
• Write about your impression of Greek mythology .
• Describe the life of a famous artist.
• A piece of art that impacted you the most.

🎥 Descriptive Essay Topics about Movies

A descriptive essay about a movie might seem like an easy assignment. However, it’s not that simple when your task is to review a film. You can focus on the characters, the plot, or the film’s technical side. Use critical thinking and analytical skills.

• Describe the Corleone family from The Godfather .
• What makes Doctor Zhivago poetic?
• The use of slow motion in The Matrix . 
• Write about your impression of Knives Out .
• Cinematography in Gravity .
• Visual effects used in City Lights . 
• What do you like about music from Singin’ in the Rain ?
• Character development in Forrest Gump .
• The ending of Inception .
• What was your reaction to the twist in A Beautiful Mind ? 
• Describe the main characters from Catch Me if You Can .
• Speak about the plot of Shawshank Redemption .
• What’s your favorite scene from Dark Knight Rises ? 
• The plot of Titanic .
• What makes The Truman Show funny?
• The pivotal scene from Braveheart .
• What was your impression of The Help ?
• Family dynamics in the Pursuit of Happiness .
• Friendship in Green Book .
• What makes Groundhog Day heartbreaking?

📚 Descriptive Writing Topics about Books

As a student, you are getting familiar with various books and authors. Think about the book that you enjoyed reading the most. Write about characters, the storyline, your impressions, or the lesson learned from a book.

• What’s your favorite book, and why?
• A novel that played a significant role in your life.
• Write about a book character that impressed you the most.
• A fictional world where you would like to live.
• What’s your favorite scene from a book?
• Which fictional character could become your friend?
• The novel that resonates with you the most?
• Your impression of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland .
• Graphic elements used in The Book Thief .

• Summarize the plot of Gone with the Wind .
• Describe the character of Huck Finn from Mark Twain’s books.
• Share your impression of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• What’s your favorite scene from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott ?
• Describe the relationship between the main characters in Pride and Prejudice .
• The plot of The Da Vinci Code .
• Love in The Little Prince .
• The dystopia of The Hunger Games .
• Describe the main characters from Frankenstein .
• What is the central scene in Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden?
• Share your impression of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.

🏝️ Descriptive Paper Topics about Places

In a descriptive essay places can be real or imaginary. Consider the location that impressed you the most or a place you want to visit. You can describe your favorite spot in the city or a fiction kingdom. This list will help you land on the best topic for the descriptive essay.

• Your favorite corner in your house.
• Describe your dream room.
• The house you want to live in: what does it look like?
• Your favorite coffee shop .
• Study spot of your choice.
• Describe a perfect restaurant.
• What is your grandparents’ house like?
• Write about your favorite place to hang out.
• Your favorite vacation destination.
• A place where you got lost.
• Which fiction location do you want to visit?
• A European city you’d like to see.
• What is the most beautiful place you’ve seen?
• Which state do you want to visit?
• Describe the most beautiful tropical island in the world.
• What historical site do you wish to see?
• The mall where you like to go shopping.
• Which century would you like to time-travel to? 
• A place you’d never want to visit.
• Describe a perfect park.

🤔 Descriptive Essay Topics: Associations

Associations are mental connections between ideas, feelings, objects, or events. The human brain makes them automatically. Take your time to write a descriptive essay about associations. The following list will help you choose a good topic for a paper:

• What do you associate with family holidays?
• Feelings while listening to your favorite song.
• What does a favorite TV show remind you of?

• What comes to your mind when you’re looking at an old caste?
• Associations you have when watching a favorite movie.
• How does rainy weather make you feel?
• What does your favorite painting remind you of?
• Your feelings after reading a poem.
• Memories associated with your childhood house.
• What comes to your mind when talking about family?
• What do you picture when thinking about traveling overseas?
• Thinking about a vacation .
• What do you mentally picture when looking at business clothes?
• What emotions do you connect with sports activity?
• What do you associate with saying goodbye?
• A mental image you have of yourself.
• What comes to your mind when talking about love? 
• What does the taste of chocolate remind you of?
• What do you think about while eating your favorite food?
• Things you associate with your name.

👫 Descriptive Essay Topics about People

A descriptive essay about people can focus on several aspects of a person. You can describe somebody’s appearance, behavior, or personality. But there is one important thing to keep in mind: be polite!

• A famous person from my city.
• Describe your parents’ personalities.
• The appearance of your favorite movie star.
• Describe your best friend.
• An athlete you look up to.
• The person you miss the most.
• What are your grandparents like? 
• The personality of your childhood toy.
• A historical figure you’d like to meet.
• What character traits do you value in people?
• A person you will remember forever.
• A person you have strong feelings for.
• Describe your siblings. 
• Somebody you respect .
• The kind of person you want to become.
• Which celebrity would you like to meet?
• Describe your appearance .
• Your favorite teacher’s personality. 
• Someone you ran into recently.
• Cultural differences you notice in people.

❤️ Descriptive Writing Topics: Favorite Things

Did you ever have a favorite toy? Or maybe you’ve bought something special recently? Describe an object that you have appreciated at some point in your life. This list will help choose the topic for your essay:

• Your favorite breakfast food.
• What hot beverage do you enjoy?
• The most beautiful sea landscape you’ve ever seen.
• The prettiest building in your city.
• A doll you treasure.

• Your first bicycle ride.
• Which outfits are you always ready to wear?
• A car you wish to have.
• Your favorite sports equipment.
• An electronic device you use daily.
• Flowers you enjoy the most.
• A sculpture you wish to have at your house.
• Which pair of shoes you wish would never wear out? 
• A notebook you want to keep your whole life.
• Your favorite genre of literature.
• A musical Instrument you cherish the most. 
• A must-have household object.
• Which kitchen item does your family often use?
• The painting you admire the most.
• What’s your most prized possession?

📅 Descriptive Essay Topics about Events

Did you notice how often you describe events to people around you? It happens naturally! Review your memories for exciting or significant events. Practice your storytelling skills and use descriptive vocabulary in your paper:

• Cruise you wish to go to.
• The most memorable day at school.
• The best Christmas in your life. 
• Fun memories you share with your friends.
• An unusual historical event.
• The most exciting birthday party .
• Describe an event when you got lost.
• A memorable camping trip.
• Fun hiking experience.
• A story of how you took part in a competition.
• Experience while attending a sports game. 
• What childhood events impacted you the most?
• Describe your dream trip.
• An event that made you nervous.
• Describe your first date .
• A fun movie night experience.
• Write about your favorite sleepover.
• A memorable event you watched on TV.
• Your first time being on stage.
• The worst experience at the doctor’s office.

We hope this article was helpful. Good luck with your descriptive essay!

• Writing Descriptive Essays: Purdue University
• Descriptive Essay: Excelsior College
• Descriptive Writing: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• The Descriptive Narrative Essay: Southeastern Louisiana University
• This List of 50 Low-cost Hobbies Will Excite You: Lifehack
• 40 Most Beautiful Places in the World: Harper’s Bazaar
• 30 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives: Lifehack
• A Definition of Descriptive Detail: Colorado State University
• Different Kinds of Association: Wall Street International Magazine
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Descriptive Essay Topics for College Students

Table of contents

• 1 What to Write Your Descriptive Essay About
• 2 How to Choose a Descriptive Essay Topic?
• 3.1 Topic Ideas on Person I know Closely
• 3.2 Descriptive Essay Topics on Famous People
• 4.1 Washington
• 4.2 New-York
• 4.4 Virginia
• 4.5 California
• 4.6 Florida
• 4.7 Illinois
• 5.1 Descriptive Essay Topics on Education System
• 5.2 Topics on current issues in 2022
• 6.1 List of Topics on Events
• 6.2 List of Topics on Objects
• 6.3 List of Topics on Feelings and Emotions

What to Write Your Descriptive Essay About

There are various topics that you can choose from whenever you are short of ideas on how to title an essay that is described based. Ideally, good descriptive topics are known to be the pillar that supports your creativity as well as help you understand your environment. It is through such writings that you gain the experience to engage in conversations that help you analyze your surroundings. In this article, we will highlight a list of essay topics that will give you an idea of what to present in the intro, body paragraphs, and also conclusion.

All the descriptive essay topic ideas we have here are accurate and popular. This means that any essay topic from the list can help you. First, you need to know what is a descriptive essay and why writing a descriptive essay is so important for you and your education. It is one of the writings that will help you more than you may believe. This is why descriptive essays are so common these days. Most students actually like writing these due to the appeal and great list of possibilities.

How to Choose a Descriptive Essay Topic?

There are a few things we will have to mention here. The first one is the most obvious. Always choose the essay topic you are passionate about, or you find it interesting. If you do this, you will have fun writing, and you will want to work on that paper. If you don’t, you will end up with a paper that you don’t like and you hate working on. This causes stress and forces you to complete the task in less time. As you can assume, this has a huge negative effect on the overall quality and makes your paper poor. This also means that your grade will be lowered, and this is something you don’t want.

The next thing you will want to consider is experience and knowledge. If you have these two that are related to one of the topics. Go for it. You will have the knowledge, meaning you will need to do less research, and you will have a better time writing the actual paper. If you have the skills related to that topic, you can use these as well, and you can make the whole process better and easier.

The last thing here is also very important. You will want a topic that has tons of data and facts, so you can use that. If you have a topic that has no data to use, you will need more time for research, and you will need a lot of time to invest into that paper. This is not something you will actually like or want to do.

Popular Descriptive Essay Topics for College

To get your reader’s attention, make sure that your essay topics for college contain all five human senses. This includes touch, smell, sight, taste, and hearing. The topic or issues to discuss vary from one person to another. Still, some of the ideas that are quite conversant to many people and that are likely to have more content to discuss include themes of people you know closely, famous people, and famous places. In the lack of a better word, descriptive writing is complicated and you need to pay close attention to body paragraphs and the intro. We hope these descriptive essay ideas can help you with the whole task and help you get a better grade.

Topic Ideas on Person I know Closely

These ideas are very common and very popular. You will probably have to write a couple of them in your lifetime. Here are a few examples you will want to consider before you start.

• My best friend
• My worst enemy
• My favorite teacher
• Describe someone whom you miss
• Favorite colleague
• My ideal roommate
• The idea parent
• Memorable person
• Describe yourself to someone who has never met you
• Describe a famous person you would like to meet
• The person who made a difference in my life

Descriptive Essay Topics on Famous People

Once again, you will have to write about a person. But, here you will need to use actual data related to that person and also include interesting facts, if possible.

• Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) – American singer, actress, model
• Abraham Lincoln (1809-1965) – US president during the American civil war
• Mother Teresa (1910-1997) – Catholic missionary nun
• Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) – American Boxer
• Bill Gates (1955- ) Microsoft founder
• Nelson Mandela (1918- 2013)-South African President
• Martin Luther King, Jr (1929-1968) – Civil rights activist
• Charles Darwin (1809-1882) – British scientist
• Albert Einstein (1879-1955) –Theory of relativity
• Lionel Messi (1987- ) Argentinian footballer
• Donald Trump (1946- ) President of the United States
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College-Level Descriptive Essay Topics on a Famous Place Near Me

Here you will have to write about a place. Ideally, you will choose a place where you have lived, live now, or where you want to live. These are essential and have a huge role in your education. We can add that these topics are more important than you may believe.

• Unites States Capitol and Capitol Hall
• The White House
• The Lincoln Memorial
• The Washington Monument
• National Mall and Veteran Memorials
• The Statue of Liberty
• Central Park
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Broadway and the Theater District
• 9/11 Memorial and Museum
• Times Square
• San Antonio’s River Walk
• Space Center Houston
• Big Bend National Park
• Padre Island National Seashore
• The Texas State Capitol in Austin
• Colonial Williamsburg
• Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive
• Virginia Beach
• Monticello and Charlottesville
• Jamestown and Yorktown
• San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge
• Yosemite National Park
• Death Valley National Park
• Walt Disney World
• Kennedy Space Center
• Miami Beach and the Art Deco Historic District
• Everglades National Park
• SeaWorld Orlando
• Willis Tower Skydeck
• Millennium Park & Cloud Gate
• Magnificent Mile in Chicago
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Topic Ideas for College-Level Descriptive Essay

Unlike high school, descriptive essays that only require you to use a rhetorical style that incorporates the five senses and other details to provide the reader with a clear picture of what is being represented; most essay topics for college require you to be thorough.

This means that you should be able to differentiate between showing vs. telling, incorporating observation details, deciding on the purpose of the description, as well as, organizing the ideas to provide a surreal quality paper. As a college student, it is advisable to focus on current issues as well as those that directly affect you.

The types of essays can be complicated and time-consuming and is the reason why most students choose to seek descriptive essay writing services from online platforms. And although this is a reliable option, here are a few examples that can give you an idea of what to write in your next paper.

Descriptive Essay Topics on Education System

• Dress codes and school rules. Do you think some are outdated?
• The ideal modern teacher
• Education vs. religion
• Your perception of standardized testing
• What do you think about multicultural education?
• Describe school violence and how to minimize and deal with it
• Are teachers supposed to only strictly teach? What is the role of a teacher as a moral guide and negotiator?
• Describe private education
• Describe how the internet has impacted the education system
• Does education ever stops, or it continues during the entire life
• How do you stay motivated while in school?
• Do we need grades in the modern education system?
• Should parents be involved in the education process?
• Why is it important to teach sex education?
• What is your take in elite schools? Are they increasing the divide between the rich and poor?
• What is the appropriate age for children to start attending school?
• Is the Electoral College a necessity?
• Why there are low graduation rates in urban areas

Topics on current issues in 2022

• Do you feel safe with the current school shooting?
• Impacts of cultural fragmentation
• Describe the current climate change reality
• Have the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) been achieved after 4 years?
• Walking the walk on financing a better future
• What do you expect from the modernized UN?
• What is your response to humanitarian crises?
• Describe how the world is at a defining moment for collective action. Discuss climate change, economic turmoil, and inequalities.
• Does God Hate Women? Discuss based on the Bangladeshi murder case
• Describe your opinion on the ever-growing authoritarianism and social inequalities

Easy Definition Essay Topics

Away from the technical topics, you can still come up with an outstanding descriptive paper based on basic things. A perfect list of topic ideas, whenever you are wondering how to write a descriptive essay,  could be based on places, objects, events, feelings, and emotions, among others. Keep in mind that these topics are easy and simple, but this doesn’t mean you should rush things and try to complete the task in no time. You still have to invest a lot of time and effort and try to make your writing spotless. Choose wisely and once again, try to find a topic that makes a lot of difference, and you really like. This is a simple and effective strategy even professional writers use.

List of Topics on Events

• A near-death experience
• Horse riding
• A bonfire night
• A visit to a new country
• My experience of bungee jumping
• Growing up in a small village
• My first day as a student
• The most embarrassing day of my life
• An event that changed my life
• The moment I discovered who my true friends were
• Making a speech in front of the president
• A night walk
• A snowy day
• The longest trip ever

List of Topics on Objects

• My first smartphone
• The dress I wore on my prom night
• Living a day without my smartphone
• The school bus
• Describe the childhood toy that you liked to play with
• The best gift I have ever received in my life
• The best film I have ever watched
• Describe your dormitory
• Describe a food you love the most
• Describe your favorite book
• Describe a new car
• Describe a picture
• An object that is special to you
• Your ideal apartment
• Traveling without your backpack
• Describe a shopping mall

List of Topics on Feelings and Emotions

• The experience of falling in love
• The saddest moment of my life
• The happiest moment of my life
• A time that I felt scared
• A rime that I felt excited
• The most embarrassing moments
• My association with Christmas
• My oldest memory

There is a high chance that you will be required to write a descriptive essay at some point in college, and it is advisable to learn about this type of assignment. Make sure to follow the instructions provided by your teacher, and when you are short of ideas on what to write in your descriptive paper, the above essay descriptive topics are perfect to choose from. Since the main point is to give your reader a pictorial description, make sure to include all the five major senses from smelling, taste, hearing, sight, and touch. If possible, pick the one descriptive essay topic you like the most, and you love writing about. Here you can see countless descriptive writing topics. So, you can pick one that will be just right. Then invest a lot when working on body paragraphs.

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How to Write a Descriptive Essay?

If you were wondering - 'what is a descriptive essay?', then our helpful guide will clear all your confusion. Our experts from the descriptive essay writing service explain the descriptive essay definition as a writing type that calls for the authors to explain specific objects, people, memories, events, places, or experiences. It should appeal to the reader’s senses to help them create this experience. For example, a descriptive essay about the beach can use the following descriptions - the sounds of the waves and birds, the smell of the sea, the feel of the ocean spray, the color of the sea against the sky, and even the taste of the salt in the air. This gives the reader more than just an understanding of the beach; it helps them feel the setting as they are right there. Now, let's explore the descriptive essay writing specifics and get familiar with some useful techniques!

Meanwhile if you want unique ideas for a descriptive essay, contact our paper writing service to provide you with excellent descriptive essay topics!

How to Start a Descriptive Essay?

To begin, you need to have a few descriptive essay topic options. According to custom writing experts, popular description subjects include a person, a place, an experience, or a memory. Once your theme is chosen, you will begin your outline, much like any other essay. Your outline is where you chart your topic, examples, and details in the relevant order to help create a flow of information and details before you begin descriptive writing.

Descriptive Essays about a Place

Descriptive essays about a place are common because when talking about a specific place, you're naturally trying to create an experience for your reader. So with this descriptive essay example, you will explain how it looks, smells, feels, sounds, etc., enhancing it with concrete details and figurative language. An example would be the beach essay referenced earlier in this article. When writing about the beach, you can talk about how all your senses experience the beach. Similar descriptive essay examples about a place include:

• Describing your favorite vacation spot
• Your dream house in detail
• Painting a picture of the neighborhood you grew up in on a summer day

The end goal for a descriptive essay about a place is to help the reader feel like they are there, seeing the things you’ve seen, and experiencing the location just as you did.

Meanwhile, if you need some help with other assignments, use our nursing essay writing services . Don't forget to check out our essay service review to feel confident in us!

Descriptive Essays about a Person

Descriptive essays about a person are very common as well. The following are great examples:

• Your mom or dad
• A role model
• Your favorite celebrity
• Your childhood or current best friend

And the list goes on. Your essay should include descriptions of how the person looks, a scent that may be associated with them, like a favorite perfume or cologne they wear, how their voice sounds, and how their hand feels when you hold or shake it or even the feel of their hair. There are many ways to incorporate the five senses that help the reader feel like they have met the person and can visualize them.

Descriptive Essays about an Experience or Memory

A descriptive essay can also be about an experience. Describing your dream wedding or even your actual wedding is a great example of a descriptive essay about an experience. A helpful list of descriptive essay ideas and topics can be found here. As long as you include details in a way that helps the reader to not only visualize the wedding but to feel like they were there listening to the music, tasting the food, dancing with friends, etc. it is a descriptive essay. Additional topics for descriptive essays about memories include:

• Your earliest childhood memory
• Your first day of school
• What happened the first time you drove a car

Outline for a Descriptive Essay

A descriptive essay format is much like any other essay where you need to capture the reader’s attention. The best way to do that is with an 'attention grabber' thesis statement. This can be the first sentence in the introductory paragraph that evoke personal feelings in your reader. Next, you need to present the topic in your descriptive essay introduction. Whether it’s a memory, object, person, or place, you need to establish the topic and why it’s relevant without giving away all the exciting information. Then, to follow the topic, you need to include a description and why it may be relevant or interesting to the reader. Remember to keep it exciting with a clear and concise language to keep your audience engaged.

Finally, you need to include what is known as “sensory language”. This is how you incorporate the five senses into your essay. By using key details and descriptions you can relate your topic to all five senses, or as many of the senses as possible, to create that experience for your reader. When using sensory language you can go so far beyond just telling a story and for the reader, it is much more interesting than reading a plain story. With sensory language the reader gets to imagine they are there, going through the experience or seeing the object or at the place you are describing. It is much more of an exciting literary experience reading a descriptive essay than any other type of essay.

How to Conclude

The last section in your descriptive essay outline is the conclusion. Here, you want to do more than simply restating your topic and details. Once you have given all the information about your subject, your conclusion allows the reader to reflect on those details. Why is this topic important? This is your chance to tell them! Explain the reasoning behind your topic. Why did you write about that? Why does that experience, person, etc., stand out to you, and why should they matter to the reader? Finally, the conclusion gives you a chance to offer all that information to your readers.

Another unique aspect of a descriptive essay conclusion is the second 'attention grabber.' You hooked the audience at the beginning with a statement that excited them to continue reading. This same idea should be used in your conclusion to help readers to remember your entire essay. Rather than just reading, enjoying it, and moving on, you want your essay to permeate your readers' mind and stay there for a long time. By closing with a statement that reinforces the ideas you’ve written about but is also thought-provoking and profound, readers will think about your essay long after they’ve read it. After all, isn’t that always our goal when writing?

More Academic Help

When writing a descriptive essay, or any kind of paper for that matter, it is always a good idea to read other examples. This way, you can see how others are using descriptive language, how their paper flows, etc. If you need such examples, order essay samples from our descriptive essay writer pros and review them in more detail.

Writing a sample of descriptive essay can be daunting when you’re struggling with the topic. You might be unsure how to incorporate the senses into your text, help paint an even more vivid picture of your topic, or hook your audience to entice them to read and remember your essay. However, it doesn’t have to be. With the information and links provided in this article and the help from some professional essay writers , your next descriptive essay writing experience should be a breeze.

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Descriptive Essay Guide With Excellent Essay Topics

Table of Contents

An essay is a short literary piece. Descriptive writing are a genre of essay aimed at describing something – they provide a vivid and detailed explanation of the topic in question. If you need to write a descriptive essay but can’t find a suitable topic, this guide on descriptive essay topics is for you!

Crafting an enthralling piece that readers can engage with is the over-arching aim of every writer. It is not enough to tell the readers something — give them a clear picture of it.

This guide offers some creative descriptive writing topics, including the parts of a descriptive essay.

What is a Descriptive Essay?

A descriptive essay aims to describe something. It could be an event, a predicament, or someone. Typically, descriptive essays are written based on the experience or imagination of the writer.

They test your ability to use language originally and creatively to convey a memorable image of what you’re describing. Such essays are common writing exercises in high school and composition classes.

Descriptive essay topics are those that describe something in great detail . They let students develop the ability to create a written account of a particular experience. Descriptive essays allow for artistic freedom (the goal is to paint a vivid, moving image in the reader’s mind).

Descriptive essays have a distinct structure consisting of the introduction, body, and conclusion. You must build a strong and engaging writing style to write a successful descriptive essay.

Parts of A Descriptive Essay

It’s important to note the difference between a description and a descriptive essay.

A description has one or several paragraphs with no specific structure. It aims to describe something without following a particular pattern. On the other hand, a descriptive essay consists of five or more paragraphs with a well-defined and complete structure. It is written coherently and consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Let’s see what goes into crafting a compelling descriptive essay.

1. Introduction.

The introduction should provide the reader with background information about the topic. It should tell the reader what the piece is about without giving away spoilers.

Use catchy words that will grab the reader’s attention and hook them. End your introductory paragraph with your thesis statement. It should concisely summarize what you will say in the following sections.

2. Body paragraphs

The body paragraphs should provide detailed information about the topic. It typically consists of three sections with evidence to back up your thesis. The last sentence of the body paragraph should allow for a smooth transition into the conclusion.

3. Conclusion

The conclusion section should give the reader a summary of the essay and its overall purpose. It should summarize the critical points with a restatement of the thesis to allow the reader view the topic in a particular light. Ending the essay in an impactful and exciting way is essential to leave the reader with a sense of awe.

Descriptive Essay Topics for Struggling Students

Here are some of the best descriptive essay topics for struggling students.

Favorite Activities and Things.

• My favorite movie
• My favorite movie character
• The book I love the most
• My best friend
• The house of my dreams
• My first trip overseas
• My first memory
• The concert I will never forget
• My first tears of joy

Geography and Traveling (Real and Imaginable)

• The most exciting cruise
• The most beautiful place on earth
• Top 10 destinations in Europe
• The most attractive places in Asia
• The wonders of Australia and New Zealand
• A space journey
• The beauty of the starry sky
• What can an astronaut see?
• Canadian White nights
• A seaman: one day on a ship
• In the heart of Africa
• Napoleon: the king of Europe
• The Mayflower   – the Voyage of hope
• A visit to the historical museum
• The tragedy of Pearl Harbor
• A pirate of the Caribbean
• The most important event in our history.
• Julius Caesar: the legendary commander.
• The greatest person in our history.
• A hot summer day
• One day in school
• A Christmas story
• My childhood
• An exciting picnic with my parents
• My first date
• A warm winter evening
• One day at the seaside
• My favorite pet
• A fairy tale from my childhood

An easy way to write a compelling descriptive essay is to draft an outline. Begin with an introduction, setting the pace for the rest of the piece. Provide background information that lets the reader understand what the writing is about .

Proceed to the body paragraphs, discussing the topic of the essay in detail. End with a conclusion that summarizes your essay. If you’re struggling to choose a topic to write on, our list will come in handy.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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July 22, 2019

Assignments and descriptive essays are problems every pupil faces during learning duration. Regardless if it’s impossible to perform everything your professor gave you, you’ve kept to understand how exactly to compose in numerous designs, meet all the needs, including all the essentials you need to have in your text. Most of us have actually our personal guidelines to hold through the project period, and now we each one is specialists within our very own kind of paper.

He would probably recall a descriptive essay if you ask a college student to name the easiest type of paper. But exactly what is a descriptive essay and why is it so easy to compose? Or even you want to discover the most useful site doing projects? We’re here to help you out on that concern and give you extra essay that is descriptive to create your university life easier.

What is a Descriptive Essay and How Does it change from a straightforward Description?

The goal that is main of description essay is always to describe something, be it someone, a predicament or simply one thing you wish to tell individuals about. While writing this kind of descriptive essay, you must compose the text using your experience that is own and. No researches, no opinions that are outer just the mind, along with your head. Only sensory information is used to know the descriptive subject. The description for the plain things is clear and simple. Imagination, though, creates pictures within the relative head associated with reader, making this experience unique and personified.

It would sound right to begin the introduction having a description associated with context of this subject on that the whole description would focus. Doing so puts things into perspective for the reader.

How does it change from a description? a description that is simple be just several sentences or one long paragraph whenever a descriptive essay usually contains five paragraphs. It has its style and features a thesis within an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a summary.

How to Compose a Descriptive Essay?

With regards to composing, you should know regarding the structure since it varies from all of those other forms of descriptive essay. To begin with, you ought to find the topic through the speech that is descriptive you’ll be interested in. Then, you’re free to plan down your components. Even as we stated previously, an essay that is descriptive five components:

• Introduction . Within the introduction you ought to consist of your thesis statement and dwell in the subject. This is the component, that will grab the interest of this reader, so it must be written simply and smooth, giving some crucial back ground information for the reader to comprehend your topic better. Don’t forget to make a transition from the history data and your thesis statement. In descriptive essays, the thesis often takes up one complete sentence.
• 3 human body paragraphs . Three human anatomy paragraphs must have evidences which will show your thesis. Then pick them right from your notes to prove your thesis if you find yourself struggling with this part, use five simple tables to arrange sensory information you have about your topic and.
• Conclusion . This last an element of the paper concludes all the details and gives a listing of it. You ought to have your remarks that are last this component and rephrase your thesis statement.

Prior to starting on your essay that is descriptive about destination or even a person, you have to know what you can reveal and explain it generally speaking. Here are some regarding the a few ideas:

• favorite trip and so forth.

Pre-writing stage

To begin with, think of just what you’d want to write on and pick a subject from descriptive speech subjects, social problems topics or process essay subjects that may match the theme. Involve some inspiration from the essays of other folks. Search around for descriptive writing topics and prompts if you can’t think of one thing unique yourself. Expository essays are easy to write when you have sufficient inspiration in the chosen descriptive topic.

Steps to start a descriptive essay?

Yourself struggling after getting some descriptive essay ideas, think of the main statement you can use in your creation if you find. This step could be the the one that makes away your primary thesis statement and keywords that will explain your descriptive subject. Once we already mentioned, make five tables for five senses. This arrangement is likely to make it a lot easier to transfer your data to your step that is next.

Create a draft of one’s expository essay

Take care to produce a draft that will become a version that is close of descriptive essay. Pick all the keywords you need to include them in to the five paragraphs. Don’t forget to help make three points to prove your thesis statement and describe your subject. Make just an illustration which is extended by one other details you’ll add during the step that is next.

Adding details to your descriptive essay using the help of enriched English vocabulary and online dictionaries

It is ok when you yourself have limited vocabulary because this step will add more value to your expository writing. Add whatever you want and describe it correctly so that your audience will be interested in just what you had written. Create an image in their mind using the sensory terms there is in online dictionaries like Oxford, Cambridge or Macmillan ones. Ensure that they are going to touch on your own descriptive topic and prolong the human body paragraphs.

Take care to revise and edit the paper with the aid of various free online checking that is grammar

It, make sure to use online grammar checking tools to have your back covered in case your eyes miss something before you check your descriptive essays for mistakes by rereading. You need to use sentence structure corrector by EduBirdie just by uploading your text here. You’re also absolve to make use of paraphrase device and also make a paper unique or purchase it at on line email composing solution in case you want someone else to check on it before you do it on your own.

Edit the essay that is descriptive

Prior to starting editing your paper, take a long break. You can day friends, go for a walk, and also have a nap or even a of good sleep night. The mind ought to be fresh before you return and reread your essay. Take all the right time you require, read it down loud, add or remove sentences, verify that you’ve got placed everything precisely. It’s beneficial to double-check sentence structure just in case tools that are online one thing. Would your paper sound right if perhaps you were the reader? Perhaps you’ll have to rewrite paragraphs that are whole they would make more sense and convey the descriptive topic better.

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Suggestion: Ask your family member or a friend to be controlled by your descriptive essay, ask them to criticize that which you’ve written. It will assist your practice in the foreseeable future.

The 125 Descriptive Essay Topics for each and Every Struggling Student

You can always find descriptive writing topics on the web and choose one for your theme when you can’t choose your own descriptive topic. There are several things you’ll come up with as an author which means you need certainly to decide if it’s going to be about a place you’ve visited, someone you realize or something completely various. Whatever the case, here are our topics for descriptive essay for the struggling students.

Topics to explain someplace

• My favorite place in my hometown
• A room that is favorite my house
• Your house I spent my youth in
• My perfect vacation
• I wish I lived for the reason that home
• My perfect space
• The area I would like to see
• My dream apartment
• My personal favorite classroom
• I prefer learning in this cafe
• My favorite restaurant to check out
• I had a fantasy about any of it spot
• This store is my personal favorite to shop in
• I walk my dog in this park
• A museum that we visited recently
• The road I love to walk around
• The things I see from my screen
• A town I obtained lost in

If you’d like to describe a person

• My mother is the most person that is creative
• My dad is the most interesting person
• An individual we look up to
• The best singer
• The best dancer
• An athlete that made me like activities
• My friend that is best
• I’d like to meet up with this celebrity
• Meet the writer of the essay
• They are missed by me
• It is an typical individual
• I’d like to meet up with this person within the past
• A perfect companion for me personally
• I prefer this in someone
• Why is me appreciate someone
• A complete stranger that caught my eye
• Why I love my boyfriend (girlfriend)

Your memories and topics about your experience

• This is my perfect date
• The time I visited a different country
• How I rode a horse for the time that is first
• Once I discovered my personal favorite hobby
• I want to become how I decided who
• My perfect trip
• Most readily useful childhood memory
• The way I invested my time with my grandparents
• Exactly How my parents raised me
• Best memory with my friend that is closest
• The first day of school
• Once I became a freshman
• The most useful party of my life
• The way that is best I invested my weekends
• My most birthday that is interesting
• The things I remember from my 12th birthday celebration
• My pet in youth
• The time I went to a dental practitioner
• My very first crush
• The last play I’ve seen
• The best concert I attended
• This made me scared
• This made me excited
• I skip today
• My funniest memory
• The day we came across my friend

Things and object in your lifetime

• My thing that is favorite to with
• My TV that is favorite show
• An thing that is expensive love to have
• My research basics
• My anti-stress doll
• What I always have in my own pocket
• Furniture that helps me relax
• My sleep makes me feel comfortable
• My youth doll
• Why I prefer my smartphone
• This thing is special if you ask me
• A doll we nevertheless play with
• My first automobile
• These things are collected by me
• I’d send this to your future
• We never leave the house without your
• I’d send this to your past
• Explaining a smartphone to someone from the ’60s
• I like my laptop
• My favorite food
• I like to cook your
• My family treasures
• What’s in my own pocket
• What’s in my own bag
• The best tattoo

Hobbies, procedures, and occupations

• My future job
• Something I love to do in my spare time
• My friend’s hobby
• The way in which my loved ones people unwind
• The best club
• My fantasy job
• My brand new hobby
• Morning the way I start my
• How I frequently end my day
• Preparing for a date
• Writing my very first tale
• Learning something new
• Passing an exam
• The way in which I learn
• Exactly How the gym is visited by me
• Drawing a portrait
• Just how to bake a pie
• When you need to end your relationship
• How exactly to escape a robber
• Exactly What assists me flake out

Behavior and character

• I prefer this trait in an individual
• This trait is hated by me in an individual
• An emotion I hate to feel
• The way I react to a surprise
• Exactly What makes me laugh
• How to get my attention
• Why is me writing essays review feel scared
• Steps to make my children people excited
• My animal peeve
• An addiction I have
• Something I quit doing
• My life as being a vegan
• Just What influences me as being a individual
• Once I feel unfortunate
• Once I desire to quit
• The way I get motivated
• What annoys me
• Traits that my friend have commonly

Bear in mind that your descriptive topic reflexes the main reason why you chose to write your essay. You ought to convey your own feelings and explain this primary point out your readers. Proceed with the framework, make use of your tips and everything shall be alright with your future essay. You can make use of paper assistance at Edubirdie or subject phrase generator! Our professional article writers will be happy to help you along with your research. Good luck!

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Frequently asked questions

How do i come up with a topic for my descriptive essay.

If you’re not given a specific prompt for your descriptive essay , think about places and objects you know well, that you can think of interesting ways to describe, or that have strong personal significance for you.

The best kind of object for a descriptive essay is one specific enough that you can describe its particular features in detail—don’t choose something too vague or general.

Frequently asked questions: Writing an essay

For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:

• Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
• Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
• Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

Your essay’s conclusion should contain:

• A rephrased version of your overall thesis
• A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
• An indication of why your argument matters

The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.

The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.

An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

Let’s say you’re writing a five-paragraph  essay about the environmental impacts of dietary choices. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :

• Research has shown that the meat industry has severe environmental impacts.
• However, many plant-based foods are also produced in environmentally damaging ways.
• It’s important to consider not only what type of diet we eat, but where our food comes from and how it is produced.

Each of these sentences expresses one main idea – by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance. Each paragraph will expand on the topic sentence with relevant detail, evidence, and arguments.

The topic sentence usually comes at the very start of the paragraph .

However, sometimes you might start with a transition sentence to summarize what was discussed in previous paragraphs, followed by the topic sentence that expresses the focus of the current paragraph.

Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.

In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

In rhetorical analysis , a claim is something the author wants the audience to believe. A support is the evidence or appeal they use to convince the reader to believe the claim. A warrant is the (often implicit) assumption that links the support with the claim.

Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, building up logical arguments . Ethos appeals to the speaker’s status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them. Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.

Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle . They are central to rhetorical analysis , though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.

The term “text” in a rhetorical analysis essay refers to whatever object you’re analyzing. It’s frequently a piece of writing or a speech, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, you could also treat an advertisement or political cartoon as a text.

The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain the effect a piece of writing or oratory has on its audience, how successful it is, and the devices and appeals it uses to achieve its goals.

Unlike a standard argumentative essay , it’s less about taking a position on the arguments presented, and more about exploring how they are constructed.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

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ICSE English Composition: 25 Latest Topics

by Yash Soni on Sep 27, 2022

ICSE English language exams for Class 9 & 10 include composition writing as a mandatory question. Make sure you read important tips to write compositions in ICSE before you begin your practise.

Below are 25 trending composition topics in ICSE that you can use to practise essay writing:

Descriptive Essays

• Describe your favourite place in the world.
• Which of your family members do you spend the most time with? Describe your experience of being with them.
• Describe what you like about your house and give a sneak peek of your surroundings.
• Imagine a time you accomplished a personal goal. Give a brief description of the goal you were after and how you achieved it. Describe how you felt when you achieved it.
• Life revolves around people. Describe how one person has had a significant influence on your life.

Narrative Essays

• Narrate an experience you had when you were expected to perform well but for some reason were not able to. Narrate what happened and why it happened. In what way did it teach you something?
• Think of a time when you found yourself in an embarrassing situation. Narrate how you got into that situation, how you dealt with it, and the lesson you learnt from it.
• Explain how your teacher has influenced your life. Refer to relevant incidents or relate appropriate anecdotes to show how the actions of your teacher and his/her example have affected your life.
• Narrate an incident when you had difficulty travelling from one place to another. Mention what made it difficult for you to travel and where did you go?
• Narrate an incident when you were caught in a traffic jam for hours. What difficulties did you face? What were the consequences?

Argumentative Essays

• "Teenagers today are more worldly-wise than their parents." Express your views for or against the statement.
• "Plastic bags are convenient and should not be banned by the government." Give your views for or against this statement.
• "Book reading is a dying phenomenon of life nowadays." Throw light on the factors responsible for it and give suggestions for its improvement.
• "The use of Mobile Phones must be allowed in schools." Express your views for or against this statement.
• "Money causes more harm than good." Express your views for or against this statement.

Story Writing

• Write an original short story that ends with the words: "... I put the keys back into the drawer, hoping no one would notice they had been touched."
• Write an original short story that begins with the words: "The day started off well enough, who thought it would..."
• Write an original story that ends with the words: "... it came as a blessing in disguise."
• Write a short story which illustrates the truth of the statement, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.'
• Write an original story which illustrates the truth of the statement, 'One lie leads to another'.

Picture Composition

You can practice this essays and get it evaluated from your class teacher and get a better understanding of your performance. You can also improve your grammar as students lose lot of there marks due to grammar.  Our Top 5 essay writing tips can also be a game changer for your upcoming exams.

Also checkout Almond Books English Compositions for Class 9 and 10

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• icse english language

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