Use the Five Senses Sight Hearing Taste Touch Smell Descriptive Writing Use the Five Senses Sight Hearing Taste Touch Smell

A Sentence That Tells Writing this chapter was a difficult, draining experience for me. A Sentence That Shows I sweated through all five versions of this chapter: biting my nails till my fingers were raw, twisting out clumps of hair, and generally being obnoxious to friends and family.

Purpose of Descriptive Writing To leave a dominant impression on the reader. Use: Gestures Striking characteristics Descriptive Words Active and vivid verbs Figures of Speech: Simile, Metaphor, Personification

Description Conveys information with or without bias or feeling. Two Types: Objective – Impartial Subjective – Personal Used to enliven narration Makes argument more powerful Helps examine effects Helps compare and contrast

Writing Description Look at your subject. Imagine your subject. Create one dominant impression your reader will take away. Use details to expand and elaborate. Show your reader what you see, hear, and feel !! Don’t just tell them! Let the reader share your experiences and Observations. Don’t just summarize. Be specific.

Descriptive Organization Group Details Arrange by consistent point of view Observe steadily as you write Tour your subject Move spatially Impression relies on: Vividness of Details Figures of Speech Vigorous, specific words

Examples of good description: A cluttered mind A taste of chaos Sluggishly walked Heavy on my mind A notch before unbearable Mouth was near-watering These examples of description create an IMAGE in the mind of the reader and leave a DOMINANT IMPRESSION.

Organize Your Observations: Event or Subject Observed: Visual Details Sounds Smells Tastes Feel/Textures Other Features: Duration, function, condition, location, importance, value.