Writing to Describe Descriptive writing aims to: Provide a vivid, graphic and detailed account of a person, place or situation. Create a picture with words so the reader can imagine the scene, person etc. Manipulate the readers’ responses so they think and feel as though they are present in the situation/environment being described.

Descriptive Writing Techniques Use the five senses: sounds, smell, touch, taste and sight. Everyone always focuses on sight so try and be different and use the other four more.

Descriptive Writing Techniques Create images: Similes – used to compare two things, ‘as’ or ‘like’ e.g. “Sarah was crying like a baby”. Metaphors – compares objects that seem unrelated but have one thing in common e.g. “Ben is a mule” (i.e. stubborn). Personification – gives an object or idea human traits or qualities e.g. “The flowers looked sorry for themselves”.

Descriptive Writing Techniques Create sounds: Alliteration – repetition of the first consonant sound in a sentence e.g. “Busy as a bee”. Onomatopoeia – word that imitates the sound it is describing e.g. “Bang!”

Descriptive Writing Techniques: using language creatively How many words can you think of that mean the same or something similar to ‘beautiful’? Looking at the words you have found, what are the subtle differences in meaning between them? Always think about the connotations of words and how they can help paint a picture.

Descriptive Writing Techniques: Lists of Three One word paints a bit of a picture, three words or phrases paints much more…. The man was ugly. Doesn’t really paint enough of a picture does it? You have a go…

Which of these would an examiner like most and why? 1.The shadows cast by a birch flicker and dance across the carpet. 2.The shadow of the birch makes patterns on the carpet.

Which of these would an examiner like most and why? 1.A discarded tabloid screams its headline: Hospitals failing! 2.The headline of a discarded tabloid reads: Hospitals failing!

Which of these would an examiner like most and why? 1.The bright, white light interrogates the patients, draining colour from their faces 2. The bright, white light makes everybody appear very pale.

Which technique is the writer using? Yes, it’s personification! Examiners love it. Write a sentence describing one thing in the waiting room. Pick one of the objects and then describe what it is doing using personification.

Descriptive Writing Techniques: varying the start to your sentences Try beginning some sentences in your description with ing clauses as this makes the sentence seem more active and interesting. Struggling to clear his nose, the pensioner snorted loudly into his chequered handkerchief. Don’t forget the comma.

Write a sentence about this picture. Try to start it with an ‘ing’ word and remember to appeal to the senses.

In the exam, a typical question might be ‘Describe yourself’ or ‘Describe the room you are in’. Be imaginative – the examiner is testing your writing skills – not looking for a truthful description of the Sports Hall! Go for describing more specific and interesting details – not the obvious and everyday things Break the view into snapshot scenes by planning - in detail – and you won’t go wrong