English Language/Descriptive writing /1 page/No Plagiarism

Description

A description paragraph or essay tries to create a picture in the reader’s mind. When writing a description

paragraph, the writer should use effective description which creates images in the reader’s mind by using

specific detail. The writer uses words (artist = the color) to create pictures in the reader’s mind (artist=

the canvas).

Instead of merely writing:

The clouds flew by overhead.

A writer using good description might write

The billowing clouds, like delicious mounds of white mashed potatoes, floated lazily by overhead

as if they hadn’t a care in the world.

The images tell the reader what a person, place, or thing:

looks like feels like smells like sounds like tastes like

These sensory images are based on the five senses we are all familiar with: sight, touch, smell, sound, and

taste. Good description actually causes the reader to remember similar persons, places, or things from their

own experiences.

It is important for the writer to create/focus on one dominant impression. A dominant impression is the

overall feeling or emotional response that you want your reader to take away from your description. The

words you use for your dominant impression should be specific enough to be easily understood; they should

not be vague.

Examples:

A B

Topic sentences without dominant impressions: Topic sentences with dominant impressions:

• Melody was a model. • Melody was a glamorous model.

• It was evening in St. Louis. • The evening in St. Louis was dreary.

• The ball game was played. • The ball game was exciting.

• The diamond necklace lay on the dresser. • The dazzling diamond necklace lay on the dresser.

Figurative Language

A writer can also use comparison– figurative language to describe something. Three of the most effective

figurative language devices are:

Simile: is a comparison using either like or as to show similarity between two different things.

Examples: 1. Dayvon is as tall as a giraffe. (This shows the similarities between Dayvon and

giraffe; both are tall.)

2. Nammuli is like a giraffe. (This does explain the particular quality the two have I

common, but one can determine what is being compared after reading the context.)

Metaphor: is a comparison between two things without using like or as. The implication is that one thing “is” the same as the other.

Example: 1. Roshan is a giraffe. (This does mean that Roshan is a giraffe because he is not!

However, one can determine what the meaning of the sentence is after reading the

context (could be referring to his height or having “patchy” skin).

Personification: the writer gives human emotions or characteristics to animals, objects, or even ideas.

Example: 1. The clock keeps staring at Destiny, telling her to leave because it is time. (A clock

does not have eyes, and it cannot talk.)

2. Falakemi’s kitten told him that she loves him. (Kittens do not talk.)

3. Although the young lad, Sean, had so much fun at the coast and did not want to

leave, the smiling coast raised her hand and bid him farewell, asking to him to

return someday, so they can have fun together again. (Coasts do not have hands;

they can neither play nor have fun. The meaning here is that the coast was

hospitable, making it alluring for the lad to go back.)

For more information on figurative language, click on this link: http://www.examples-help.org.uk/

Types of Description:

There are two types of description:

(a) Objective: Objective description relies on factual detail without much embellishment.

Example: The snowman consisted of three round balls stacked one on top of each other. It

stood 5 feet high. Its eyes were round stones, with a carrot serving as a nose. A

baseball cap sat atop its head.

(b) Subjective: Subjective description creates an easily identifiable emotion or impression.

Example: The snowman’s body consisted of three plump balls of fluffy, white snow stacked

like an ice-cream cone. Its eyes were made from brightly colored stones, with a

squiggly, pigtail, orange carrot serving as a nose. A fuzzy, red baseball cap with a

crooked bill sat cockeyed on its head.