CHAPTER NINE Description College Writing Skills with Readings 5th Canadian Edition John Langan and Sharon Winstanley © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. Description Description is a verbal picture of a person, place, or thing Description explains our observations of the world Successful descriptive essays have a dominant impression © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

Purpose and Audience in Descriptive Essays Use words that create vivid images Engage all the senses Choose an effective dominant impression (the impression you wish to convey) Place the dominant impression in your thesis Consider your audience’s knowledge of the topic © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

Point of View in Description Description focuses on vivid word images Therefore, writer’s presence is secondary Use 3rd person to present a vivid word- picture of your subject Use 1st person to connect emotionally with your subject © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

Process of Descriptive Writing Point of View—1st or 3rd person If you have a strong emotional connection to topic, 1st person may be appropriate (remember, your presence is secondary to details) If you wish to be an observer, 3rd person is appropriate © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. Process Continued. . . Dominant Impression—a short single sentence outlining the place, person or object you wish to discuss The dominant impression is your organizing principle It tells your reader the impression you wish to leave with him or her © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. Process Continued. . . Details—the ideas you will use to support your dominant impression Make a list of ideas that will help paint the verbal picture you wish to create Use as many details as possible to describe a scene © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. Process Continued. . . Organization and Outline—choose an organizational style most appropriate for your subject Physical order—left to right, far to near, up to down Size—large features to small or vice versa Importance—least to most dominant or vice versa © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

Descriptive Checklist thesis and dominant impression appropriate point of view specific details that appeal to several senses elimination of irrelevant material organized in some logical manner transition words concluding paragraph summarizing your ideas and a final thought © 2008 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.