Descriptive writing Flashcards
Descriptive Writing
Descriptive writing aims to provide detailed descriptions of a person, place, object, or event, helping the reader visualize and experience it. It appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell) to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind.
Purpose of Descriptive Writing
To create vivid images: Descriptive writing paints a picture using words. The goal is for the reader to clearly visualize the subject being described.
To engage the senses: Good descriptive writing stimulates the senses by including sensory details like colors, smells, textures, and sounds.
To evoke emotions: Effective descriptions often aim to make the reader feel something—whether it’s joy, sadness, wonder, or fear.
Key Elements of Descriptive Writing
Sensory Details
Sight: What do you see? Colors, shapes, sizes, and movements.
Sound: What can you hear? Noises, voices, music, etc.
Touch: How does it feel? Is it smooth, rough, warm, cold?
Taste: What flavors are present? Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, etc.
Smell: What does it smell like? Fresh, earthy, sweet, rotten?
Figurative Language
Similes: Comparing two things using “like” or “as.” Example: “The sky was as blue as the ocean.”
Metaphors: Directly comparing one thing to another. Example: “The wind was a howl of wolves in the night.”
Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: “The flowers danced in the wind.”
Alliteration: Repeating consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Example: “The silent sea shimmered under the sunset.”
Strong Adjectives and Adverbs
Use descriptive adjectives and adverbs to give more detail. Instead of just saying “The tree is big,” say “The towering oak tree spread its massive branches across the sky.”
Structure of Descriptive Writing
a) Introduction
Start by introducing what you are describing. Set the scene for the reader.
Example: “It was a quiet autumn morning in the forest.”
b) Body
This is where you provide detailed descriptions, moving from one feature to another. You can describe using the senses or in a specific order (e.g., left to right, top to bottom, near to far).
Example: “The golden leaves crunched beneath my boots as I walked. A gentle breeze swept through the trees, making them sway with grace. The air smelled earthy, like wet soil and pine.”
c) Conclusion
Finish with a closing thought or feeling. You might want to express an emotion or reflection related to the scene.
Example: “I paused, taking in the peacefulness around me, feeling a sense of calm that only the forest could bring.”
