JOURNAL Write about the most delicious food you have ever eaten. Use as much imagery as possible to appeal to your reader’s senses… What did it look like? Smell like? Taste like? Feel like? (Sound like?)

VOCAB REVIEW – FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Work in your groups to review the figurative language terms and write examples of each term. As you go through, please circle or make notes on any that you know you will want to review more.

PARAGRAPH 1 I was really scared to ride the roller coaster. I felt a little sick, but excited at the same time. When the bar clicked into place, I held on tight. When the ride started, I hoped for the best.

CONCRETE DETAILS Discrete information used to describe something Helps the reader visualize or comprehend an idea Typically factual details – you can’t argue with them Rely mainly on adjectives Can be helpful, but not always the strongest for narrative writing Example: The coat was red and made of silk. Example: My basketball team was excited after we beat South Cobb Example: The dog’s tongue hung out and drool dripped everywhere.

PARAGRAPH 2 As I slid into the red plastic seat of the roller coaster, my mouth went dry and my hands felt clammy. The bar in front of my clicked into place, and I gripped it so hard my knuckles turned white. I could taste the cotton candy I’d eaten earlier at the back of my throat. When the car jolted forward, my stomach dropped, I held my breath, and I told myself I would survive.

SENSORY DETAILS Based on the five senses: smell, sight, taste, touch, and sound Should not rely only on adjectives – use nouns, verbs, and other parts of speech Creates a stronger mental image (  imagery) for the reader Strongest type of detail for narrative writing Example: The sky glowed with orange and pink light as the sun set. Example: As I took a bite of the sizzling steak, my tongue’s taste buds immediately felt burnt and in pain. Example: The warm heat of the shower made me slump my back in relaxation after the hard game.

WRITING PRACTICE Pick a noun (person, place, thing, object, scene) to describe-- it can be anything recognizable. Write one paragraph describing it using all five of the sensory details. You are not allowed to say what you are describing!

EXAMPLE What scene, place or object is being described in this example? Can you spot the sensory details? As daylight breaks, restless winds sneak into my room causing little bumps on my arms to form. I have no choice but to wake from my dream. The bright reflection caused by the white, fluffy substance blanketing my back yard forces my eyes to squint, as I throw open the window curtains. Squeals and muffled laughter from the playful kids next door catch my attention. I rush down the stairs to put on my gear, and I run out into the bitter cold to join them. But after playing for an hour, I’m convinced to come back inside. The brisk air that grabs at my lungs, and the numbness of my toes in my boots have won. But the delicious aroma of Mom’s hot chocolate comforts me. It is soothingly warm as it melts down my throat and tastes like heaven on my lips.

QUESTIONS FOR REVISING DESCRIPTIVE WRITING Have I focused on a topic/ main idea? Have I created a strong impression? Have I created a vivid mental image through the use of sensory details? Do my details support my topic/main idea? Have I used concrete words/descriptive adjectives ? Have I used transition words to signal organization of details?