+ Descriptive Essay English II

+ What is description? Providing readers a detailed visual Including the five senses—taste, touch, hearing, smell, sight Using words to paint a picture for the mind

+ Example—Mark Twain subjectively describes a sunset on the Mississippi River I still kept in mind a certain wonderful sunset which I witnessed when steamboating was new to me. A broad expanse of the river was turned to blood; in the middle distance the red hue brightened into gold, through which a solitary log came floating, black and conspicuous; in one place a long, slanting mark lay sparkling upon the water; in another the surface was broken by boiling, tumbling rings, that were as many-tinted as an opal.

+ What’s striking? Vivid, bold images such as “turned to blood,” the “solitary log…black and conspicuous, ” and the “boiling, tumbling rings” Words with great value such as gold and opal

+ Figurative Language Figures of speech provoke the reader’s imagination Simile—uses like or as to compare two dissimilar things (ex. “happy as a clam,” “free as a bird”) Metaphor—compares two dissimilar things without using like or as (ex. “A broad expanse of the river was turned to blood”) Personification—Speaks of concepts or objects as if they had human characteristics (ex. “The wind whispered)

+ Figurative Language Cont’d… Allusion—a reference to a person, place, event or quotation that the writer assumes readers will recognize (ex. Biblical passages) Hyperbole—an exageration

+ Clichés Avoid using overused expression Examples: “Busy as a bee” “Hungry as a bear” Use originality

+ Show vs Tell That flower is pretty The long stemmed rose bloomed with radiance as the bright sun breathed on its silky, white petals Tell Show (sensory details)

+ Show vs Tell  I drank the soda, and it was delicious. I took a sip, and to my surprise, sweet refreshing bubbles tickled the inside of my mouth. Tell Show

+ Example #1: Poor Word Choice: Poor Word Choice: It was dark out. It was dark out. Proper Word Choice: Proper Word Choice: As Sarah walked through the woods she had to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, feeling in front of her with hands that she couldn’t even see. As Sarah walked through the woods she had to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, feeling in front of her with hands that she couldn’t even see.

+ Example #2: Poor Word Choice: The clown was really scary. The clown was really scary. Proper Word Choice: Kyle’s stomach dropped as the clown’s head slowly turned towards him, the light reflecting just enough to reveal a distorted face painted into a grimace. Kyle’s stomach dropped as the clown’s head slowly turned towards him, the light reflecting just enough to reveal a distorted face painted into a grimace.

+ Example #3: Poor Word Choice: Poor Word Choice: The husband loves his wife. The husband loves his wife. Proper Word Choice: Proper Word Choice: As his wife spoke, her husband gently brushed her hair away from her face and gazed into her eyes. As his wife spoke, her husband gently brushed her hair away from her face and gazed into her eyes.

+ Example #4: Poor Word Choice: Poor Word Choice: Katherine felt bad for what she had done. Katherine felt bad for what she had done. Proper Word Choice: Proper Word Choice: Katherine hadn’t slept in days. Every time she closed her eyes to sleep, images of that night flickered on and off like a short circuit while waves of guilt came with nausea Katherine hadn’t slept in days. Every time she closed her eyes to sleep, images of that night flickered on and off like a short circuit while waves of guilt came with nausea

+ Example Chuck was a grandpa looking figure with gray hair and a balding head. His skin was tanned and it was obvious he enjoyed being out in the sun. His voice was scratchy and deep. It was apparent that he must be Italian. It reminded me of a voice from the movie “The Godfather.” Instead - Gray hair and a balding head made Chuck look like a grandpa. Tan skin showed his obvious love for the outdoors. A deep scratchy voice that sounded Italian reminded me of the characters’ voices in “The Godfather” film.

+ More Examples… “You can’t miss it. It’s the big yellow house on the corner.” “Officer, he was bald with a tattoo of a turtle on the top of his head.” “I just asked to borrow a pen, and she gave me a look that would freeze hot coffee on a July day.”

+ Challenge Your challenge in this assignment is to make everything you describe seem so real that the reader can almost see it, hear it, touch it, taste it, and smell it.

+ Identifying Words of the Senses In the following paragraph, underline words and phrases that draw on the senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Rocking-Chair Saturday Our screened porch is a peaceful place to read and relax on a Saturday afternoon. Sitting in a creaking wooden rocker, I look through the gauzy wire screen into the back yard. From the top of a pine tree, a mockingbird scolds. In the distance, I hear the sleepy drone of a neighbor’s mower. A slight breeze wafts the tempting aroma of grilling hamburgers toward me. Prudence, my calico cat, pads out to join me, stretching out in a warm patch of sun near the screen door. I scoop her warm, furry body into my arms as she rumbles her approval. She settles into my lap, content to sit with me and enjoy the peace of the back porch.