Purposes and Patterns in Writing & Descriptive Writing Fall 2012 Ms. Brown

General Purposes Knowing WHY you’re doing an assignment can help you complete a task. In other words, don’t think of the obvious reasons… “I want to get a good grade.” Think instead of trying to… Inspire Explain Entertain Inform Persuade

Patterns in Writing We call patterns in writing rhetorical modes or methods of development These methods of development are like the colors in a painter’s easel. There will be primary and secondary shadings in the essay There are… Descriptive paragraphs or essays Illustration or Exemplification paragraphs or essays Definition paragraphs or essays Process paragraphs or essays Comparison and Contrast paragraphs or essays Argument paragraphs or essays

Descriptive Writing Objective Description Subjective Description Strives for precision and objectivity Conveys the subject without emotion Most often used in scientific writing Filters the subject through a firsthand experience Draws on emotion Most often used in personal essays or creative writing

Descriptive Writing You should always strive for a dominant impression (a central theme, idea, or feeling) with your descriptive writing. Having a consistent point of view is helpful in creating a dominant impression. Physical: a real or imagined relation to the subject (Ex. mountain) Psychological: personal or impersonal (Ex. I, He, or She)

Descriptive Writing You want to remember the five senses when you’re writing descriptively. These will help the reader understand and experience what you’re describing. The 5 senses include: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Metaphorical language is also useful: Simile: “She runs like a turtle on the track.” Metaphor: “She is a turtle on the track.”

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