Descriptive Writing: Painting a Picture With Words

An effective written description is one that presents a clear picture to your reader. An interesting description attracts the reader’s attention. A successful description uses vivid vocabulary, including colorful adjectives and figurative language.

Imagery Imagery is the use of words to create images, or mental pictures. Imagery helps you picture how something: * looks * sounds * smells * tastes * feels

“Dark shapes glide through the night sky on silent wings, their sinister shadows outlined against the light of a full moon. Swooping down to the earth, they hover near houses and deserted buildings, breaking the peace of the night with their disturbing presence. Carriers of disease, drinkers of blood, companions of witches and demons, bats – the very word brings a shiver of fear to most people.” ~ Sylvia A. Johnson, Bats Read this descriptive introduction from an informational text:

Nondescript Writing Bats fly through the sky on wings, their bodies outlined against the moon. Diving, they come close to buildings, disturbing the night. They carry disease, drink blood, hang out with witches and demons, bats-the very word is scary.

Description of the Wind “Anybody could see how cold it got. The wind already had glass edges to it, stiffening muscles and practically cutting through the stitches of our clothes. When it blew, the chill stabbed our teeth like icicles, and our voices jiggled every time we talked.” From Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida by Victor Martinez

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien

The Hobbit: An Excerpt “After a while Balin bade Bilbo 'Good luck!' and stopped where he could still see the faint outline of the door, and by a trick of the echoes of the tunnel hear the rustle of the whispering voices of the others just outside. Then the hobbit slipped on his ring, and warned by the echoes to take more than hobbit's care to make no sound, he crept noiselessly down, down into the dark. “

The Hobbit: An Excerpt “He was trembling with fear, but his little face was set and grim. Already he was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a a pocket-handkerchief from Bag-End long ago. He had not had a pocket-handkerchief for ages. He loosened his dagger in its sheath, tightened his belt, and went on.” -J.R.R Tolkien

Things to Remember About Descriptive Writing Be specific, not vague. Elaborate (add more details and expand your ideas). Use vivid vocabulary (strong nouns, verbs, and adjectives). Include details that relate to your five senses.

Writing Prompts Expectations 45 minutes to write a 5 paragraph essay Take a few minutes at the beginning to outline your essay Write neatly (So that you, your classmates, and I can read it. ) Tomorrow we will peer edit, so write as much as you possibly can!

Writing Prompts Think back to your first day in school (first grade or kindergarten) and relate what happened that day. You have just been rescued after being lost for 24 hours. Relate what happened that made you scared. You are walking home from a late movie, and you have to cut through a cemetery. Describe your experience.