1. 6 Describing: Media and Popular Culture

2. 2 2 Learning Outcomes Identify real world applications for writing a description. Understand the steps for writing a description. Interpret images and descriptive readings about media and popular culture. Analyze the rhetorical star for description. Apply the steps for writing a description.

3. 3 3 Real World Applications (LO 6.1) School –Describe what you observe in a lab. –Journaling about an activity –Describe a subject’s traits Daily Life –Describing a new home or business –Describing an insurance claim Career –Describing a patients symptoms –Descriptions of menu items –Descriptions of criminals, crimes, and sentences.

4. 4 4 Steps for Writing Description (LO 6.2) Create a dominant impression. Use an objective or subjective approach. Appeal to the senses. Include similes and metaphors Organize your description logically End with something memorable

5. 5 5 The Rhetorical Star (LO 10.4) Subject Choose a subject you can observe or know well. Write about things that catch your interest. Pick something interesting, exciting, unique, or unusual.

6. 6 6 The Rhetorical Star (contd.) Purpose Consider what you want to accomplish with your description. Determine the dominant impression you are trying to create. Keep your purpose in mind at all times.

7. 7 7 The Rhetorical Star (contd.) Audience Know your readers. Determine your readers’ interest about the subject. Select the details that would be most appealing to your specific audience.

8. 8 8 The Rhetorical Star (contd.) Strategy Determine if other writing strategies are needed. Description is commonly a supporting strategy. Consider what additional information may be necessary. Have you appealed to a variety of the reader’s senses?

9. 9 9 The Rhetorical Star (contd.) Design Decide upon the needed length to describe your subject keeping your audience in mind. Determine if graphics or other design elements are needed. If visuals are included make sure they don’t overshadow your words.

10. 10 Applying the Writing Process (LO 10.5) Discovering View a variety or readings, images, and other media. Go somewhere scenic. Focus on sensory details. Make a sketch, describe a scene to someone, or do a free-write.

11. 11 Applying the Writing Process (contd.) Planning Create a list of adjectives you would like to use. Decide upon the order which you wish to present your details. Use a cluster diagram, an outline, or a graphic organizer.

12. 12 Applying the Writing Process (contd.) Composing Write a first draft. Don’t focus on grammar or punctuation. Keep the steps for descriptive writing in mind. Focus on concrete sensory detail. Getting Feedback Have a peer read your rough draft. Utilize the peer review questions if possible. Get a second opinion, if possible.

13. 13 Applying the Writing Process (contd.) Revising Make sure your description is full of specific sensory detail. Make sure you have created a clear dominant impression. Avoid vague language. Editing Read your essay again. Check for grammar, punctuation, and mechanics. Watch out for sentence fragments.

14. 14 Applying the Writing Process (contd.) Proofreading Read your essay at least one more time. Look for typographical errors. Make final corrections, again watching out for sentence fragments.