Descriptive
Writing
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
What is Descrptive Writing?
Painting a picture with words
Sensory Details
Appeal to readers sense: Sight,
Hearing, Touch, Sound and
Taste
Characteristics of
Descrptive Writing
Vivid Sensory Details
Sensory details are words that stir any of the five sense: touch, taste, sound, smell and sight.
Example
'She felt her tongue tingle as she sipped
'She drank the lemonade.'
the frosty glass of tart, sugary lemonade.'
Characteristics of
Descrptive Writing
Figurative Language
A way of expressing oneself that does not use a word's strict or realistic meaning.
Common in comparisons and exaggerations, figurative language is usually used to add
creative flourish to written or spoken language or explain a complicated idea.
Example
'That news hit me like a ton of bricks.' 'As sweet as sugar.' 'It's raining cats and dogs outside.'
Types of Figurative Language
ALLUSION HYPERBOLE IDIOM
make a comparison to Exaggerates to make a Figure of speech that only
another work or character point make sense when taken
figuratively, not literally
He's the Romeo to He was dying of I'm ready to hit the
my Juliet boredom sack
METAPHOR PERSONIFICATION SIMILE SYMBOLISM
compare two unlike things give human -like attributes to a compare two unlike things use an object to represent
that share an attribute y with like or as something else
non-human thing
saying one is the other
A dark cloud
He has a heart of The wind howled You're as pretty as settled over the
outside the window house after Dad
stone a rose moved away
Characteristics of
Descrptive Writing
Uses Precise Language
Use of exact nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc.., to help produce vivid mental pictures without
resorting to using too many words to convey.
Unclear Example Precise
The man asked for a raise. Naziran asked for a 10 percent salary
increase.
An employee presented a proposal. Kamal, a production manager, presented a plan
to increase efficiency.
Characteristics of
Descrptive Writing
Organised
Writing is organized in chronological order location
Organized in order of time
Jack and Jill ran up the hill to
fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown. Jill came tumbling after
Characteristics of
Descrptive Writing
Careful choice of adjectives
Example 1 Example 2
We had a great time at the circus. We had a really nice dinner.
We shared a thrilling night at the circus We enjoyed a tasty meal.
EXAMPLE 1
"I watched a thundersstorm, far out over the sea. It began quietly, and with nothing
visvible except a tall dark clouds and a rolling tide. There was just a soft murmur of
thunder as I watched the horizon from my balcony. Over the next few minutes, the
clouds closed and reflect the lighting set the rippling ocean aglow. The thunderheads
had covered up the sun, shadowing the vista. It was peacuful for a long time."
EXAMPLE 2
"On Sunday afternoons he liked to spend his time in the garden behind his house. The
garden was narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house,
and he used to sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. He was in a small
paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on his feet, the gentle activity of
the fish in the pond beside him."
EXAMPLE 3
POSSESSION BY A.S BYATT
He was compact, a clearcut man, with precise features, soft black hair, and thoughtful
dark brown eyes. He had a look of wariness, which would change when he felt relaxed or
happy, which was not often in these difficult days, into a smile of amused friendliness
and pleasure which invoked feeling of warmth, and something more, in many women.
EXAMPLE 4
HENRY JAMES, THE ASPERN PAPERS
"Her face was not young, but it was simple; it was not fresh, but it was mild. She had
large eyes which were not bright, and a great deal of hair which was not 'dressed', and
long fine hands whih were possibly not clean.
Descriptive Words
Example
Bewildered (confused)
Brooding (thoughts about something that
make you sad_
Burly (strong)
Joy and Delight (Happy)
Aggreived (Sad)
TIPS FOR DESCRIPTIVE
Add as many DETAILS as possible
Make an outline
Use sensory details
Prevent over-descriptions
Less is (sometimes) more! Avoid irrelevant
details
Any questions?