Descriptive writing
Learning objectives:
To understand the key features of descriptive writing.
To practise using sensory detail, figurative language, and effective
structure.
Lesson objective:
To develop a descriptive response to a visual and written prompt.
Starter task
Write five sentences to describe the image.
Focus on one sense for each sentence:
Sight
Sound
Smell
Taste
Touch
Starter example:
Sight
A white, foam-crowned wave uncurled
with quiet chaos, its surface shimmering
like molten glass beneath the pale eye of
the morning sun.
simile
personification
Descriptive writing
What is it? Do you know?
Think – Pair – Share
Descriptive writing aims to paint a picture with words. It uses vivid
imagery and rich sensory details to help a person imagine a place,
thing, person. It does not tell a story.
Descriptive writing toolbox
We will look at each of these descriptive tools:
• Sensory writing
• Show not tell
• Figurative language
• Zooming in/out
• Varied sentence length
Sensory writing
We started with sensory writing. It will help you to bring your description to life.
Look at the difference in these two sentences.
1. The moon shone in the night sky.
2. The moon cast a pale silvery glow across the inky sky, its cold light shimmering
like spilled glitter.
What is different in sentence two?
Show not tell
This is a writing technique that encourages you to show your reader what’s happening
through sensory detail, actions and feelings, rather than just telling them what is
happening.
Look at the difference in these two sentences. What is different in sentence two?
1. He was tired.
2. He dragged his stubborn feet up the steps yawning audibly with each heavy step.
Now have a go at turning this ‘telling’ sentence into a ‘showing’ sentence:
It was a scary night.
Figurative language
Figurative language devices will help you bring
your writing to life. Look at the image of a road.
Write a sentence using each of these figurative
devices.
• Simile
• Metaphor
• Personification
• Alliteration
• Onomatopoeia
Try out one device for each sentence.
Zoom in, zoom out
Zooming in to and then out of an image
is an interesting way to direct your
reader’s focus.
Can you identify the zoom in and the zoom out?
The house stood as it always had, its roof
sloping like a hunched back, windows fractured
and black as empty eyes. Ivy strangled the
crumbling walls, and the front porch sagged
under years of decay. As the wind stirred the
silence, the old door shuddered slightly—its
brass doorknob catching the last light, tarnished
and flaking.
Thunder rumbled overhead.
Varied sentence length
Varying your sentence length for impact will help you to create tone and
atmosphere in your descriptive writing. It will also help you to control pace and
tension.
Shorter sentences can be used to speed action up, create tension or excitement.
Longer sentences will allow you to slow the pace and add lots of detail to writing.
Look at this example. How is sentence length used to engage the reader?
The room was silent. Too silent. She took a step. The floorboard creaked. She
froze. Another sound—closer this time. Breathing? She turned. Nothing. Just
shadows. But something was there. Watching. Waiting.
Putting it all together
Think, Pair and Share ideas…
Describe a sunset at a beautiful beach.
• What setting details will you use?
• What atmosphere do you want to create?
• What imaginative details will you include?
• What can you zoom in to?
• Will you zoom out?
Exam style task:
Paper 2 – Section B - Composition
Write about 350-450 words on one of the following questions.
Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer and
up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing.
Describe a sunset at a beautiful beach.
40 marks Write your opening paragraph – no dialogue, no action, no plot, just
immersive description. Remember: sensory description, figurative
language, show don’t tell, zoom in and out, vary sentence lengths.
15-20 mins
Review time:
Swap your writing with a partner. Read their work and use four colours to give
feedback:
o Can you identify strong sensory detail? Underline/highlight.
o Can you find figurative language uses? Underline/highlight.
o Can you find a zoom? Underline/highlight.
o Can you find a deliberately used shorter sentence? Underline/highlight.
Put a star next to one successful phrase that you think is effective, and write one
suggestion for improvement at the end of the work.
Reflect:
Have a look at your partners’ review/feedback of your work.
You have five minutes to reflect on what they have suggested and
make some developments to your paragraph.
• Have you missed some senses?
• Do you need to vary your sentences more?
• Would some figurative similes and metaphors bring your writing
to life?
Now share your favourite sentence aloud!