Difference Between Narrative Essays and Descriptive Essays – JSS1 English Lesson Note (First Term)

A narrative essay tells a story of events in the order they happened, while a descriptive essay paints a picture of a person, place or thing. The two types differ mainly in the writer’s objective.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain what a narrative essay is;
2. explain what a descriptive essay is;
3. state the main difference between a narrative essay and a descriptive essay;
4. identify whether a given topic needs a narrative or a descriptive essay;
5. write an essay on a given topic.

What is a narrative essay?

A narrative essay tells the reader about the writer’s experiences as a story made up of a sequence of events.

• Purpose: to tell what happened, so the reader follows the story from start to end.
• Order: events come in the order they happened, from first to last.
• Tense: mostly the past tense, for example “I walked to the market.”
• Person: often the first person (I, we, my), because the writer tells his or her own experience.
• Characters and setting: the people in the story and the place and time where it happens.
• Climax: the most exciting or important moment in the story.

Examples of narrative essay topics

• An Unforgettable Experience: tells one event you can never forget.
• How I Spent My Last Holiday: tells what you did, step by step.
• A Day I Will Never Forget: tells the events of one special day.
• My First Day in Secondary School: tells what happened from morning to closing time.

What is a descriptive essay?

A descriptive essay does not relate a story, but gives the reader a descriptive account of something or someone.

• Purpose: to help the reader see, hear, smell, taste or feel what is described.
• Order: details are arranged by place or feature, for example from top to bottom or from near to far.
• Tense: usually the present tense, for example “The market is noisy.”
• Language: many adjectives, and sometimes similes, for example “as bright as the sun.”
• Senses: the writer uses the five senses to give clear details.

Examples of descriptive essay topics

• My Favourite Teacher: describes looks, character and habits.
• My School: describes buildings, field, classrooms and pupils.
• A Busy Market: describes sights, sounds and smells.
• My Best Friend: describes appearance and character.

What are the five senses used in a descriptive essay?

The five senses are sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, and a good descriptive essay uses them to give detail.

What is the difference between a narrative essay and a descriptive essay?

The clear difference between the two lies in the writer’s objective: a narrative essay tells a story, and a descriptive essay describes.

How does one topic look as a narrative and as a descriptive essay?

The same subject can be written in either style, depending on what the writer wants to do.

How can you tell which type of essay a topic needs?

Read the topic and look for a clue word that shows whether you must tell or describe.

• Narrative clues: “How I spent…”, “A day I will never forget”, “An experience”, “The story of…”.
• Descriptive clues: “Describe…”, “My school”, “My best friend”, “A scene in the market”.
• Test question: ask “Am I telling what happened, or showing what something is like?”

How do you write a narrative essay?

1. Choose one clear experience that fits the topic.
2. List the main events in the order they happened.
3. Write an introduction that gives the time, place and people.
4. Write the body, one paragraph for each main event, in the past tense.
5. Show the climax, the most exciting moment.
6. End with how the story finished or what you learnt.
7. Read through and correct spelling and punctuation.

How do you write a descriptive essay?

1. Choose the person, place or thing to describe.
2. List its main features, using your five senses.
3. Write an introduction that names the subject and gives a general picture.
4. Write the body, one paragraph for each group of features, for example looks, then character.
5. Use suitable adjectives and, where fitting, similes.
6. End with a short remark on how you feel about the subject.
7. Read through and correct spelling and punctuation.

Evaluation

1. Define a narrative essay in one sentence.
2. State two differences between a narrative essay and a descriptive essay.
3. Say whether each topic needs a narrative or a descriptive essay: (a) A Day I Will Never Forget, (b) My Village, (c) How I Spent My Holiday.
4. Write an essay on the topic: My Favourite Teacher.
5. Write an essay on the topic: An Unforgettable Experience.

Assignment

1. Write two short paragraphs of about five sentences each. The first is a narrative on “My First Day in Secondary School”. The second is a descriptive paragraph on “My School”.