The descriptive essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to examine an idea, evaluate the evidence, state an idea, and present an argument regarding that idea in a clear and concise way. This can be accomplished through comparison and contrast, definition, example, cause and effect analysis, etc.
Note : this genre is usually assigned as an assessment tool in the classroom and is often found in a variety of domyessay reviews formats.
The structure of a descriptive essay boils down to the following.
A clear, concise, and definite thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
It is important that this statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines outlined in the assignment. If the student does not master this part of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.
Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, the foundation, and the conclusion.
Transitions are the mortar on which the essay is based. Without a logical development of thought, the reader will not be able to follow the argument of the essay, and the structure will collapse.
Body paragraphs that include evidentiary support.
Each paragraph should be limited to stating one general idea. This will ensure that the entire article is clear and focused. Moreover, this brevity creates ease of perception for the audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the text of the essay should have some logical connection to the thesis in the first paragraph.
Evidentiary support (factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).
Often students are required to write expository essays with little or no preparation; therefore, such essays usually do not allow for much statistical or factual evidence.
A little creativity!
Although creativity and craftiness are not always associated with essay writing, it is nevertheless an art. Try not to get caught up in the formal nature of descriptive writing at the expense of writing something interesting. Remember that you may not be writing the next great novel, you are trying to leave a lasting impression on the people evaluating your essay.
A conclusion that doesn't just reiterate the thesis statement, but redefines it in light of the evidence presented.
It is at this point in the essay that students will inevitably begin to struggle. This is the part of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the reader's mind. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce new information in the conclusion; rather, synthesize and come to a conclusion regarding the information presented in the main body of the essay.
Related Resources:
How to write the perfect essay?
Navigating NURS FPX 4025: Your Path Through Evidence-Based Nursing
The NURS FPX 4025 course is designed to deepen your understanding of evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing by moving you through stages: critiquing research, applying EBP models, planning interventions, and finally articulating a PICOT question. Each assessment builds on the last, helping you integrate theory with practice in healthcare settings. Below is a guide for each assessment, tips to succeed, and how they connect.
Assessment 1: Analyzing a Research Paper
Your first task is to critically evaluate a published research article. This means:
Outlining the study’s purpose, research question(s), and hypotheses
Examining methodology: design, sampling, data collection instruments
Assessing data analysis and how results are presented
Identifying strengths and limitations, bias, validity (internal and external)
Discussing implications for nursing practice, including generalizability
If you want help structuring your critique, selecting a strong article, or developing in-depth analysis, consult NURS FPX 4025 Assessment 1 . Mastery here boosts your ability to judge evidence critically—a cornerstone skill for later assessments.
Assessment 2: Applying an EBP Model
Once you've sharpened your research critique, the second assessment asks you to take an evidence-based practice model (e.g., Iowa Model, ACE Star, Rosswurm–Larrabee) and apply it to a nursing problem. Key elements include:
Introducing the EBP model and its steps
Selecting a clinical issue or problem to address
Mapping out how you'd search for evidence, appraise it, design an intervention, implement it, and evaluate outcomes
Justifying decisions at each step using literature and rationale
You’ll gain clarity in how models translate evidence into practice. For examples of how to apply EBP frameworks properly, see NURS FPX 4025 Assessment 2 .
Assessment 3: Intervention Planning & Implementation
Having selected your issue and model, this assessment requires you to design a full intervention plan. You will need to:
Define goals and objectives of your intervention
Detail resources required (personnel, materials, budget, training)
Develop a timeline and implementation steps
Identify stakeholders, change management strategies, and communication plan
Explain measurement and evaluation — how you’ll know it worked
Address challenges, barriers, ethical issues, and mitigation strategies
Good planning here distinguishes a plausible, actionable project from theoretical ideas. For additional structure, guidance, and insights, review NURS FPX 4025 Assessment 3.
Assessment 4: Presenting Your PICOT Question
In the final stage, you articulate a PICOT (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time) question that encapsulates your issue, proposed intervention, and how you will measure results. To do this well:
Clearly define each PICOT element with justification
Ensure your PICOT aligns with your chosen clinical issue, model, and intervention plan
Explain the rationale for comparison groups and outcome measures
Discuss how your question can guide future research or practice improvement
Present your PICOT in a compelling, concise format that shows clarity, relevance, and feasibility
To see what strong PICOT presentations look like and how to frame your question with impact, refer to NURS FPX 4025 Assessment 4 . The quality of your PICOT often influences how well your intervention is understood and accepted.
How These Assessments Connect
Each task builds on what comes before:
Critique evidence (Assessment 1) → understand what works and where gaps lie
Select and apply an EBP model (Assessment 2) → structure your response to evidence
Design an intervention (Assessment 3) → operationalize what you propose
Frame a PICOT question (Assessment 4) → make a clear, researchable query that ties all elements together
If you execute each stage well, your final PICOT becomes a natural synthesis of the problem, evidence, intervention, and future evaluation.
Tips for Success Across All Assessments
Choose recent, peer-reviewed studies (preferably within the last 5–10 years)
Know multiple EBP models and choose one suited to your chosen clinical issue
When planning interventions, stay realistic: budgets, staff, infrastructure matter
Always discuss barriers and how to address them
Make your PICOT specific and measurable
Be consistent in referencing, formatting, and writing style
Seek feedback early (drafts, peers, instructors)
Proofread carefully — clarity and coherence matter a lot