What a Sense-Of-Place Essay Needs

Kate Beck reports:

"A sense-of-place essay...requires you to describe a particular location...and you will write your essay so that the reader believes she has been there. Knowing what you need for this type of essay will give you the tools you need to share with your reader...Selecting the right topic can make all the difference when you begin writing your essay. To make writing easier, make a list of places that make you feel a strong connection. Close your eyes and picture the location. Your essay will require details, so make sure you have a clear image of the places you write down. Once you have a list of places, choose the place that has the most meaning to you. When you have a clear image and a strong connection to the place, you may find you have more to say and there is less likelihood of suffering from writer’s block...Details make up the main part of a sense-of-place essay, so you will need to consider all of your senses: sight, sound, taste, smell and touch...Use specific details when you describe the place. Do not simply state 'the dishes.' Perhaps the dishes were mismatched plates, each with a chip along the edge. These details create a sense of place and build a connection with the reader...Along with concrete details about a location, a sense-of-place essay requires you to reflect on the place and your own connection to it...If you struggle to find a connection to the place you choose to write about, make a list of feelings you associate with the location. This may help as you reflect on the importance of the place...The length of a sense-of-place essay may vary, but if your essay stems from a class assignment, your instructor may have provided a specific word count. Begin by introducing the place. Tell the reader the location and then state how this particular place impacts you. Throughout the rest of your essay, provide specific details using your senses and description, as well as particular memories that explain the effects this place has on you. In the closing paragraph of your essay, restate the importance of the place. In the end, your reader should believe she has been to this location and has a similar, strong connection."