S P M

Descriptive
Writing
Tips & Tricks
By Mdm Chok Sze Jin
 What is Descriptive
Writing/Story Writing?
 a picture of a character,
setting or scene in a way
that creates an image in the
reader’s mind.
 a way to bring character to 2

life and create imaginative

settings
 draws readers into the story
and provides essential
details to propel the action
forward
5 S Tips
1. SCENCE
2. SPECIFIC
3. SELECTIVE
4. SENSORY
5. SENSES
 The S Tips
 Set the SCENE
 Be SPECIFIC
(Details matter) 4

 Be SELECTIVE
with details (don’t
overwhelm)
The S Tips cont.:
 Vivid SENSORY details
that paint a picture
 Appeals to all reader’s 5

SENSES of sight,
hearing, touch, smell
and taste when
appropriate.
Whe Tip #1
n Set The SCENE
Who 1) Launch into the scene to
Wher place and anchor the
action, scene or character.
e 2) It means telling the
readers where they are in
the first paragraph.
 Tip #2
Be SPECIFIC
1) To create vivid
imagination
2) To form detailed mental
picture
 Tip #3
Be SELECTIVE
1) A vivid description to be used
efficiently and carefully not to
overwhelm the readers.
2) Going overboard on details
will slow down your narrative
 Tip #4
Vivid SENSORY
1) Use sensory details... the
Hi5 to create concrete
visual image, bringing the
scene around you into real-
life and giving a sense of
vividness
 Tip #5
Appealing SENSES
1) Figure of Speech: metaphors &
similes
2) Descriptive Verbs: to give urgency
and impact to your word choice
3) Active Voice: to infuse sentences
with action, creating activity and
interest.
 “
[Sentence A]

Sabu Buan was a village

of twenty houses, built on
riverbank.

11
 “ [Sentence B]
Sabu Buan was a village of
twenty adobe houses, built on
the bank of a river of clear water
that ran along a bed of polished
stones, white and enormous.

12
Let’s analyse the two sentences

Sentence B works well because it has:

1) created something totally non-
generic.
2) via the use of highly specific detail
3) used surprising/exotic language to
make those details blaze in our
imagination
Tricks: DO & DON’T
 DON’Tt give every information.
1
4

 DO create atmosphere
& mood!
Trick #2
Information VS Atmosphere
 AVOID
In the morning we packed our
breakfast, went in the car and
then headed to our 1
5

destination.
 GREAT
The smell of laksa filled the car
as we happily headed to our
destination.
Trick #2
Information VS Atmosphere
 AVOID
We had our lunch and rested
for a while. After that we
continued the journey to the 1
6

summit.
 GREAT
After filling our stomach, we
were energised for the journey
to conquer the summit.
Trick #2
Information VS Atmosphere
 He is good at Mathematics subject. He
always scores A in exam and is willing to
help the weak students also. Everyone
likes Alex. Our Math teacher always use
1
his answer as answer scheme. 7

 .....................................................................
........................................................................
........................................................................
........................................................................
...............................................
 a better writing:
 Being a genius at Mathematics,
Alex can solve any item as a piece
of cake. This didn’t stop him from 1
8

lending a hand to the weak students

who feared and trembled at
numbers and algebra. So, he won
everyone’s heart.
Trick #3
Use Descriptive Verb
 Instead of:  Try this:
 walked in the  trudge in
mud the mud
 getting up to  bolts to 1
9

open the door unlock the

 can do the job door
 enjoyed the  ....................
food  ....................
Immerse the senses
with these literary
devices “Don’t tell me
(metaphors, similes,
personification and descriptive
the moon is
adjectives)
1. The sun was scorching hot
shining; show
me the glint of
2
that melted my fear of being 0

alone.
2. Steven was as agile as light broken
monkey that no trick could calm
him down. glass.”
3. My mother was a candle,
burning herself out to brighten my
future.
Immerse the senses
with these literary
devices “Don’t tell me
(metaphors, similes, personification
and descriptive adjectives) the moon is
6. After enough blaming and
humilation,
shining; show
me the glint of
2
I ........................................................ 1

....
..........................................................
..
light broken
7. As bright as the morning glass.”
sun, ..................................................
.........
..........................................................
22
23
24
SPM 2023
As he was walking home, James stumbled upon a
black object.
As he was Curious, he slipped it
walking home, into his pocket. That
James stumbled night, his dreams were
upon a black filled with mystery
object. It was image. First, his
smooth yet oddly reflection in the mirror
2
rough to the touch, distorted, its eyes 5

shaped like a staring back at him long

small, jagged after he turned away.
stone. The surface Then, his phone
shimmered faintly, glitched, flashing eerie
as if swallowing symbols before shutting
the light around it. off permanently. His
A strange warmth plants withered, his pet
pulsed from within, dog growled at him as if
 Continued…..
Terrified, James Desperation clawed
tried to rid himself at his mind until he
of the stone. He remembered the
hurled it into a whispers. The
river, but later that language. Perhaps it
evening, it lay wanted to be
beside his bed. He understood. He closed
buried it deep in his eyes and listened. 2
6
his backyard, only Slowly, the words
to find it in his formed meaning:
pocket the next “Return me”.
morning. He even
Heart pounding, he
set it on fire, but
followed the whispers
the flames bent
to an ancient tree in
away, refusing to
the woods. The
touch it.
moment he placed the
“Practice makes perfect”
[Myth / Truth]

“Correct practice makes

permanent”
[Myth / Truth]
27
 Form 4
Story Writing
The writing outline:
1) Background info An international magazine
(where, who and has organized a short story
when) competition and you have
2) Description of the decided to enter. The
setting competition rules say that 2
9
(Add sensory touch) the story must end with the
(How did it look like?) following words:
3) Feeling and emotion ▹ They were lucky to be alive
4) Narrow escape/lucky
to be alive
5) Conclusion
The writing outline: It was cold, dark and quiet for
1) Background info now. Terry and his brother, Phil
(where, who & were sitting in the cabin shaking
when) with fear. It had been Terry’s idea
to spend the New Year in the
mountains. However, it was turning 3
0
2) Description of the about to be a very bad one. Surely
setting it wouldn’t be long before the 400-
(Add sensory kilo beast would break into the
touch)
cabin.
(How did it look
like?)
The writing outline: Terry got up quickly and glanced
1) Conflict/Crisis/ outside. When he looked at Phil
Problem again, he was terrified he could
(what happened barely speak. Trembling, he held up
next)
two fingers and whispered.
‘There are two of them!’ 3
1

2) Feelings & There was no hope left. Two polar

emotions bears would easily find a way in.
barely speak
(krg mampu
bercakap)
terrified
The writing outline: Suddenly, Terry had an idea.
4) Narrow escape/ He searched through his bag and
lucky to be alive removed one small box. Phil
(describe how the immediately understood. Terry
problem is solved) had some fireworks which he
wanted to set off at midnight, but 3
2

now was probably a better time.

So, he lit it and threw it outside.
The writing outline: They held their breath. A
4) Narrow escape/ moment later, there were loud
lucky to be alive bangs and flashes of light, which
5) Conclusion
scared the polar bears away.
‘They’re gone!’ cried Phil.
The boys were so relieved! The 3
3

fireworks attracted some local

who took they boys to safety.
They were lucky to be alive.
 Form 5
Story Writing
 Question
Can you write a story for our magazine series?
Your story must begin with this sentence.

As Mark was about to throw away the old

bottle, he saw that there was a piece of
paper inside it.
Your story must include
• A message or map
• A surprise
The writing outline:
1) Background info As Mark was about to throw
(where, who and away the old bottle, he saw
when) that there was a piece of paper
inside it.
2) Description of the
bottle Your story must include 3
6

(Add sensory ▹ A message or map

touch) ▹ A surprise
(How did it look
like?)
3) Feeling and
emotion
The writing outline: One ordinary evening, Mark
1) Background info was walking along the beach
Where alone. He was sad because all
Who his friends forgot about his
When birthday. Suddenly, he found
something. As Mark was about 3
7

to throw the old bottle, he saw

that there was a piece of paper
inside it.
The writing outline: “An old plastic bottle for my
2) Description of the birthday? No way!” yelled Mark.
bottle But what happened next
(Add sensory changed his mind.
touch) “A map?” exclaimed Mark. The
(How did it look clear map stirred his curiosity.
3
8

like?)
Without hesitation, he followed
(Use direct the direction boldly.
speech)
The writing outline:
3) Feeling and Feeling anxious, Mark
emotion was determined to find out
the secret in this map.
“What if someone is in 3
danger?” “Perhaps a hidden 9

treasure?”. Mark was

bothered with uncertainty.
 After walking for 5 minutes,
The writing outline:
Mark heard someone talking.
4) Secret Revealed
Suddenly, someone showered him
5) Conclusion
bucket of water. “Surprise!” It was
his friend.
Steven didn’t forget his birthday. 4
0
Mark was shivering in cold and yet
happy for the surprise birthday.
Luckily he didn’t throw away the
bottle.
41
42
43
Extended
Writing
The writing
outline: Tutorial Question:
1) Intro:- Describe your dream
2) Criteria 1:- life partner.
3) Criteria 2:- What are the criteria 4
5

4) Reason 1:- and why do you think

they are important to
5) Reason 2:-
you.
6) Conclusion:-
The writing
outline: Introduction:
1. Introduction: A life partner is a
 recycle the key person who stays loyal
words given in the and faithful till death 4
question. 6
does them apart. It is
 set th scene by
my dream to pursue in
preparing the
readers into your life besides studying
writing. well for exam.
 keep it short and
precise with a
simple message
The writing
outline: To determine a wellspring
2. Point 1: of happy life, one needs
 be clear with the to get along with a kind-
idea. hearted partner. This is
 topic sentence, because I need much 4
7

supporting details
acceptance and
 elaborate on the
forgiveness, for the
imperfection of my doing.
main idea
The writing
outline:
3. Point 2:
 be clear with the
idea. 4
8
 topic sentence,
supporting details
 elaborate on the
main idea
The writing
outline:
4. Point 3:
 recall and relate
to an example of 4
someone you 9

know.
 eg. Obama and
Michelle
 how the couple
demonstrate the
feature/criteria as
stated above
The writing
outline:
5. Point 4:
 restate your
reasons 5
0
 describe your
future
imagery family
and
children
 paint picture of a
family
The writing
outline:
6. Conclusion:
 reaffirm your
reasons 5
1
 what you do
improve yourself
to meet the future
partner
 positive notes
THE END!
Any questions?
5
For more, visit: 2

[Link]
 Introduction:
 Brief and clear enough
to provide background
information.

Content Point 1:
 Lots of information to 5
3

inform an action.
Language Use and Vocab:
Sentence Variety:
1. Largely accurate
1. Mostly simple sentences
2. Occasional careless mistake
2. Tend to use one type SS
What mental picture did
you get from this
description?
 ...information...
 ...

What mood did you get 5

from this reading? 4

 ...“Oh! okay.”...
 ...
5
5
5
6
5
7
Editing the Content Point 2:
My dreamer partner must be someone who is patient and
knows how to handle my flaws.

Not a knight in shining armour but someone who would

absord my flaws without filtering lence. 5
8

Tips:
avoid modal verb in descriptive, it sounds authoritative
use similes, figurative speech to create mood of love
Editing Content Point 2:
For someone who will live under the same roof with me for the
rest of his life, he needs to be able to put up with me my
nagging, my constant urge to get things done perfectly, my
fear and my mood swings.

Even if our little cottage roof may leak when it rained, he 5

would wipe the tears every time I cried. No words were 9

necessary from him, I could just bury myself wholy and

only in his muscular embrace, pouring childlikely all my
frustrations and fears.

Tips:
write as if you’re (in love) at that moment.
I need someone who instantly knows that I had a bad day at work
just by looking me, someone who would stay up with me on
sleepless nights where I just can’t help but overthink and of course
someone I can act crazy with.

Though I may have had a bad day at work, he would be able to detect
my mood by my return from office. Sometimes when the night owl
was on duty, he would be that guarding owl to sit beside my, next to a 6
dim table lamp to watch night drama. At times when dinner was 0

insufficient, he would drive me through McD, pamper me with

Prosperity Burger and french fries.

Tips:
continue to create a mental picture, vivid with sensory details
continue to imagine (imagery life partner) with love (less rational)
6
1
strongly
recommend
use of
figurative 62
speech to
show
feeling
6
3