Descriptive Writing English 1201 Characteristics of Descriptive Writing

● Clear, concise language; good diction

● Vivid language that appeals to the senses

● Formal or informal language

● Sentence variety; short sentences can be used to show emphasis or create tension

Objective vs. Subjective Description Objective description describes something exactly as is.

● Neutral word choice

● Free of emotional language; factual in nature

● Readers can’t tell how the writer feels about the subject.

Objective vs. Subjective Description Subjective description reveals the writer’s emotional reaction to thing being described.

● Words have strong emotional connotations

● Can be positive or negative

● Focuses on the writer’s interpretation rather than on fact.

Subjective Description“Cool, calm and sophisticated with a youthful edge, this functional home is enveloped in light and comfort. Crisp white walls and high ceilings create a style as timeless as the sparkling ocean view. The calming sea vista, captured through the extensive use of glass, will help you forget your city stress.”

“This sophisticated, functional house features neutral walls and high ceilings, along with an ocean view.”

Objective Description

Dominant Impression A dominant impression is the main quality, mood, or atmosphere associated with descriptive or narrative writing.

Everything within the writing contributes to the dominant impression.

Sensory Language The goal of descriptive writing is to allow the reader to experience what the writer is describing.

This is accomplished through the use of imagery or sensory language.

● Effective descriptions use words and phrases to explain what the writer sees, feels, hears, smells, or tastes.

● Descriptions should refer to multiple senses to portray the writer’s experience clearly.

“Our part of District 12, nicknamed the Seam, is usually crawling with coal miners heading out to the morning shift at this hour. Men and women with hunched shoulders, swollen knuckles, many of whom have long since stopped trying to scrub the coal dust out of their broken nails and the lines of their sunken faces. But today, the black cinder streets are empty. The reaping isn’t until two. May as well sleep in, if you can.”

The Hunger Games

“Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake rose, the flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid’s pumpkins swelled to the size of garden sheds. Oliver Wood’s enthusiasm for regular training sessions, however, was not dampened, which was why Harry was to be found, late one stormy Saturday afternoon a few days before Halloween, returning to Gryffindor Tower, drenched to the skin and splattered with mud.”

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The Importance of Perspective ● The same scene can be described differently depending

on the writer’s perspective.

● Descriptive writing should be organized in a clear sequence. ○ Top to bottom ○ Left to right○ Front to back○ Etc.

Description Activity J

Consider dominant impressions for the following photos. Make note of your initial thoughts about each picture and explain your reason.

Dominant Impression Why?● Still, peaceful, idyllic ● Coastline, landscape ● Nature

The photo has soft, mellow colours. Most of the photo contains natural elements.

Descriptive Writing Recap ● Dominant impression → The feeling or object that stands

out to you the most in an image or piece of descriptive writing

○ Influenced by personal experience or opinion

● Objective vs subjective description

Descriptive Writing Recap ● Sensory language → words and phrases that explain

information relating to the 5 senses

● Strong descriptions contain a variety of sensory references

● Your perspective will affect how you describe something. Descriptions must be presented in a logical way (i.e. top to bottom, left to right, etc.)

What is the dominant impression of this image? What are some descriptive words or phrases that apply to this picture?Link adjectives to the 5 senses.

Sample description... Why do people love cupcakes? Probably because they are little pieces of heaven that they can hold in their hands. Imagine, if you will, the ornate foil lining in an array of bright colours. The spongy cake on the inside is like a tiny present waiting to be unwrapped. The frosting is smooth and silky as it sits on the cupcake in soft pastel swirls of yellow and blue. The dusting of candy-coated sprinkles on top makes it impossible to forget. One bite into this sugary cloud results in an explosion that you will not soon forget. The combination of vanilla and sugary-sweet buttercream is mouth-watering and glorious. Who can resist a cupcake?

Writing Tips…. ● Use your notes from Part A and B to develop descriptive

phrases.○ Consider using a Thesaurus

● Pick a spot to start describing and arrange your observations in order (organization!)

● Throughout your paragraph, refer to at least 3 senses.