Helpful tips to write a continuous essay.

POPULAR TYPES OF ESSAYS

A) NARRATIVE WRITING
1. What is a narrative?
A narrative tells a story or describes a sequence of events. It may be about something
unusual, for example, a strange encounter or event, a sudden catastrophe, a crisis, a
conflict, a victory, an exciting adventure or discovery. However, it may also be about
ordinary experiences, the things that happen everyday.
2. Tips on writing a narrative
a. Mind maps and graphic organizers help create an interesting essay.
b. The essay should be written based on the five senses.
Sense of sight colourful lights, wide variety of food, lush
greeneries, dark stormy, tall, dark and handsome
man.
Sense of smell - smell of coffee brewing, aroma of crisp fried
chicken, pungent smell of rotten eggs.
Sense of touch soft silky material, rough surface, warm pot, hot
Iron slimy dirty plates.
Sense of taste - bitter coffee, sweet and savoury puff, hot and
spicy chicken, sour grapes.
Sense of hearing - blaring of horns, the sound of footsteps, doors
creaking, brakes screeching.

B. DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
General guidelines :-
1. The purpose of writing is to describe the details of a specific event.
2. Since you have no notes to fall back on (not like in Directed Writing), you need to come
up with your own details.
3. You can use your senses to help you give the details :
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you taste?
What do you feel?
What do you think?
4. When describing an event, you can think of :
the purpose of the event
the date, time and venue
the people/audience/participants/guests involved
the sequence of events the highs and the lows, incidents, etc.
everything you see, hear, taste, feel or think
other peoples views
a good introduction and a good conclusion
They are three (3) types of descriptive essays. They are :
a) Describing a scene/event
b) Describing a place
c) Describing a person

A) DESCRIBING AN EVENT / A SCENE
When describing a scene or event, you are required to write in some details about the
people and activities going on.
Guidelines in writing descriptions of scenes/events
Be clear about what scene/event you are describing
Description must be lively and interesting
Describe activities in details
Activities are arranged in order
Highlight person involved & what are they doing
Capture the mood of the scene (noise, lights & colours)
B) DESCRIBING A PLACE
When describing a place, you are required to describe the place in detail. In your
description, include the people and activities going on.
Guidelines in writing descriptions of places
Give an introduction to the place
Give a physical description of the place (from outside moving to inside)
Describe what you see and hear
Describe in details the activities and attractions
Can include your personal feelings about the place

DOS DONTS
1. Have a good grasp of the topic
2. Write about the place/scene only if you
have the knowledge about it
3. Describe the activities of the peoplein it
4. Write about your feelings /impressions of
the place or scene
5. Write concluding lines about your
description


1. Choose a topic if you dont understand it
2. Try to describe a place/scene if you are
not sure about it
3. Leave out the activities of the people in
it
4. Leave out your feelings about the place/
scene
5. End your description without a
conclusion

Make the writing more vivid by using
adjectives e.g. panoramic, pollution-free
adverbs e.g. freely, smoothly
pairs of words e.g. hustle and bustle
idiomatic expressions e.g. in all weathers
similes e.g. as pretty as a picture
figurative language e.g. rough it out

C. DESCRIBING A PERSON
When describing a person/a group of people, you should give enough details about the
person/people. Include their lifestyle, contributions if any and daily activities.

Guidelines in writing descriptions of a person
Be clear about who you are describing
If he/she is a famous person, mention why is he/she famous
If it is about a group, some knowledge about them is vital
Your description must be interesting
Mention the special features why that person is outstanding
Use present tense if the person is still alive

DOS DONTS
Write a clear description about the
person or group of people

Highlight his/her/their qualities

Describe his/her/their interests clearly

Describe the lifestyle of that
person/group correctly

Conclude the description orderly
Give a poor description of the person or
group of people

Leave out his/her/their qualities

Leave out his/her/their interests

Forget to mention about the lifestyle of
the person/group

End the description abruptly