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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

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