Select an object, event, or person that grabs yourr attention. For example, focus on a beautiful setting, the behavior of children, or a rocking concert. Anything visually interesting and appealing would be good for an observational essay.
Take detailed notes that you organize by kind of imagery. Sit and observe the topic without interruptions or distractions. If you are observing people, try to do it when they are not aware of being observed so their behavior will be authentic, therefore allowing for genuine, interesting descriptions. Remember to write down aspects that affect sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound. These notes will serve as a rough outline for the essay.
Begin your essay with a detailed visual description of the subject matter. Colors, textures, and shapes must be included to help readers visualize the scene. Humans are extremely visual, so starting with the sight part of imagery will help immerse readers in the subject matter quickly.
Continue writing about the other elements of imagery. If you took detailed notes, you could dedicate one paragraph per kind of imagery, or you combine details if not enough information presented itself regarding one aspect of imagery. For an observational essay, you can speculate about how something might taste or smell even if you did not physically gather this information. The goal is to create a vibrant scene in the reader's mind.
Edit, edit, edit. With any piece of writing, it is important to read over the work one sentence at a time, preferably starting with the last sentence and working backward to break up the flow. During this editing process, pay attention to where adjectives could be added to make the information as clear and detailed as possible.