descriptive writing: introduction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Descriptive writing

In week 12/13:  90 minutes descriptive writing test - 300 words (graded on grammar, spelling, vocabulary use and content/communication)

Hand in the exercises in the reader on time, they will be returned with feedback.

What?

- to describe a person, place or thing in such a way that a picture is formed in the reader's mind.

- description uses all of your five senses.

WHY?!?

• It will help your writing be more interesting and full of details

• It encourages you to use new vocabulary words

• It can help you clarify your understanding of new subject matter material

Instruction

 Read text 1 and text 2 (both written by students) in the reader. While reading, underline words or phrases that you think are examples of good descriptive writing. 

Good examples
of descriptive writing

Which text is the better example?

text 1

text 2

I'd give text 1 a ...
because....

I'd give text 2 a...
because...

I think good descriptive writing is ...

Characteristics of good writing

1. many vivid sensory details that paint a picture and appeals to all of the reader's senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. Also:  feelings the person, place or thing invokes in the writer.

2. precise language. No general adjectives, nouns, and passive verbs  -> Use specific adjectives and nouns and strong action verbs to give life to the picture you are painting in the reader's mind.

3. organized. chronological (time), spatial (location), and order of importance. When describing a person, you might begin with a physical description, followed by how that person thinks, feels and acts.

Precise language

bad

sad

nice

good

Find better words for very +...

very afraid

very cute

very clever

very rich

very mean

very cold

very old

Mind map: vocabulary

A characteristic of good descriptive writing is using words that relate to the five senses. Make a word map on this page with the word ‘senses’ in the middle. Try and come up with as many words that have to do with the senses:

senses

Homework

Do exercise 2B:

Now design a second word map on this page. Start with five squares for each of the senses: hear, see, feel, smell, taste. Use the word list at the end of this book to find replacements for words you already used.