1. DESCRIPTION Susan Ely Fundamentals of College Writing

2. Why be skilled in description?  Enhances readers’ understanding of your subject  Readers are drawn to description  Sustains interest  Helps reconstruct scenes in narratives  Makes action visual  Makes your story different than the rest

3. Good description….  Creates a dominant impression  Subjective vs. Objective  This is a skill expected in college

4. Good description….  Uses the 5 senses

5. Good description….  Uses Figurative Language—How do we describe something that defies language?  Metaphor/Simile http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luqACg3hhFQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfeqRTMBm5A  Personification http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKexdSZNiLc#watch- main-area http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKexdSZNiLc#watch- main-area

6. Good description….  Strong Verbs and Nouns

7. Good description….  Uses the element of surprise

8. Good description….  Indicates the writer’s attitude through  Word choice  The details you choose to include and describe

9. Add description to your Narratives  Include only relevant details  Keep the description focused  Make sure the description fits the essay’s tone and point of view

10. What can I describe?  Places  People  Emotions  Sights, sounds, tastes, touch  Weather  Actions

11. Ted Kooser  http://faculty.mccneb.edu/cchurchill/default.htm http://faculty.mccneb.edu/cchurchill/default.htm  http://www.netnebraska.org/television/stream/flas h/vod.html?moviename=kooser&width_high=480&h eight_high=360 http://www.netnebraska.org/television/stream/flas h/vod.html?moviename=kooser&width_high=480&h eight_high=360