1. Practical Composition
Chapter 6:
Descriptive Paragraphs

2. In this chapter Organization: Spatial Order Paragraph Unity
The Writing Process:
Clustering
Sentence Structure:
Compound & Complex Sentences
Varying Sentence Openings

3. Organization
Descriptive writing appeals to the senses, so it tells how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, and/or sounds.
A good description is a word picture.
The reader can imagine the object, place, or person in his or her mind.

4. Spatial Order
Spatial order is the arrangement of items in order by space.
The spatial organization:
left to right / right to left
near to far / far to near
outside to inside / inside to outside
top to bottom / bottom to top

5. Spatial Order Signals at the top of in the center on the left
in front of
in the front of
inside
next to
between
behind
in back of
in the back of
across

6. Topic Sentence for Descriptive Paragraph
Each topic sentence states a topic and a controlling idea.
My bedroom at home is my refuge from the outside world.
Topic Controlling Idea

7. Spatial Order Organization and Details
Topic sentence:
After my sister spends two hours getting ready to go out, her room looks as if it had been hit by a magnitude 8.5 earthquake.
Supporting sentences:
a. From the doorway. you see nothing but a mountain of clothes all over the floor.

8. Descriptive Details Five Senses
Sight
Smell
Sound
Touch
Taste
wild disorder
large
dark
green
cry out
melody
song
moist
slick

10. Paragraph Unity An important element of a good paragraph is unity.
When a paragraph has unity, all the supporting sentences discuss only one idea.
From beginning to end, each sentence is directly related to the topic.

11. Sentence Structure Compound Sentences with yet, for, and nor
Coordinating Conjunctions
I was scared, yet I was also curious about the old lady.
It is not easy to get there, for you have to hike down a long, hot trail.
The book isn't very long, nor is it difficult to read.
(The book isn't long. It isn't difficult to read.)

12. Sentence Structure Complex Sentences
There is a large piece of land that is surrounded by banana trees growing in wild disorder.
Their green leaves are so thick that sunlight cannot pass through.
In the center is a wild field where the children of my village often fly kites.

13. Varying Sentence Openings Prepositional Phrases

14.  I was afraid of many things during my childhood.
During my childhood, I was afraid of many things.
You arrive at Havasupai Village at the end of the trail.
At the end of the trail, you arrive at Havasupai village.

15. The Writing Process Clustering

16. Topic for Descriptive Paragraph
Choose topic: My bedroom in Kaohsiung/ A classroom at Wenzao
Make standard format complete sentence outline
Write draft based on outline