Example of a Description Paragraph

Definitions and Examples of Different Kind of Paragraphs

 Apr 2, 2009
 Daria Przybyla

Descriptive paragraph tips - jdurham, morguefile

A definition, example, and sample analysis of a description paragraph.

Description paragraph is one of the seven types of paragraphs. It serves providing a

comprehensive background to any essential elements of one’s subject of writing. It helps to
define, exemplify, and situate thoughts, objects, or ideas in proper contexts and, even more
importantly, attribute their crucial functions to the context in which they appear.

What Is a Description Paragraph?

Preferably, description paragraphs should concentrate on action (verbs), rather than sensations
(adverbs and adjectives). Writers should assume the role of readers whose idea of the described
events is, in entirety, constructed by the paragraph content. Description paragraphs should be
detailed, clear, and render the represented reality chronologically. Rather than providing advice,
descriptive paragraphs ought to focus on essential information that is presented in a step-by-step
manner.

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Example of a Description Paragraph

Read the following sample of a description paragraph and pay attention to the way in which
information is provided – how the thought described in the paragraph unfolds. Also, pay
attention to the informative content comprised in the fragment below:

Writers commit plagiarism every time they reword sources without crediting original authors or
fail to reference their sources appropriately. Plagiarism through paraphrasing can happen in
two cases. First, writer may choose to substitute some words from the original with different
vocabulary, rearrange words, or rearrange the whole paragraph. In this way, he or she presents
stolen information expressing it with his or her own words. And second, writer may try to use
exactly the same vocabulary and stylistic constructions and use them with respect to another
context. Plagiarism occurs in both cases.
Read on 
 Example of a Definition Paragraph
 Example of a Narrative Paragraph
 Example of a Classification Paragraph

Elements of a Description Paragraph

Descriptive paragraphs contain the following elements:

 Information – descriptive paragraphs describe ideas and things, as well as inform about
their functions;
 Context – in descriptive paragraphs, information is always contextualized. Moreover, the
context in which given piece of information is presented is also subject to description and
evaluation;
 Descriptive language – descriptive paragraphs use considerable amounts of vocabulary
that describes action (verbs), as well as vocabulary denoting value and attributes of thins
(nouns, adverbs, and adjectives).

In order to write good paragraphs, you need to know how paragraphs are constructed and what
types of paragraphs can be used in writing. Check out the Writing Paragraphs section for full
information on the subject-matter. Check out Academic Writing Skills section for more
information on the proper use of language in essays and paragraphs as well as try out several
interactive exercises.

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Paragraph Writing.
Part C:  Illustration and Description

In this section, you are required to write two (2) paragraphs; one (1) paragraph will demonstrate
illustration and one (1) will demonstrate description.  Each paragraph should be ½ - ¾ page,
single-spaced in length and labeled.

1.   Illustration Paragraph - You may choose one of the topics on page 75 (except #15).  You
must demonstrate mastery of the following in your paragraph; be sure that the depth (length) of
your paragraph is sufficient to demonstrate these concepts.

a.       Topic Sentence - Be sure this is a general statement that you can illustrate in your
paragraph.  Highlight this sentence in aqua blue.

b.      Body Sentences - Be sure to select ideas and write sentences that clearly illustrate your
topic sentence and are definitely related to the topic sentence.  The quality and relationship of
these sentences will be evaluated.
c.       Coherence - Be sure that you organize your paragraph in the best way possible

(see pp. 44-63).

(1)   Order:  Select the best order for you paragraph (time, space, or importance). Select
transitions for your paragraph that demonstrate your understanding of the order.  At a minimum,
you must use three (3) transitions (p. 70) to demonstrate your understanding of this concept. 
Highlight these transitions in yellow.

(2)   Related Sentences:  Be sure to repeat words and ideas; use synonyms and substitutions to
demonstrate your understanding of this concept.  Highlight these related words or sentence parts
in gray.

d.      Sentence Structure:  In your paragraph, demonstrate your understanding of the following
sentence structures.  You must demonstrate at least one (1) of  EACH of the following
structures.  Highlight these in green.

(1)   Coordinating conjunction 

(2)   Semicolon 

(3)   Conjunctive adverb

(4)   Subordinate clause followed by an independent clause

e.       Concluding Sentence:  Be sure to complete your paragraph with a well-written concluding
sentence.

f.       Mechanics and Grammar - Be sure that you complete the final step of the writing process: 
proofreading. Your paragraph should definitely be free from sentence construction errors and
should be spellchecked.

g.      Reminder:  Finally, although the points for this are not awarded here, remember to submit
the writing process work for this paragraph so that you can get credit for it in Part B.

2.   Description Paragraph - You may choose one of the topics on page 91 (except #15).  You
must demonstrate mastery of the following in your paragraph; be sure that the depth (length) of
your paragraph is sufficient to demonstrate these concepts.

a.       Topic Sentence - Be sure this is a general statement that states the person, place, or thing
you will describe.  Highlight this sentence in aqua blue.

b.      Body Sentences - Be sure to select ideas and write sentences that appeal to the senses
(sight, sound, smell, taste, and/or touch) and that are definitely related to the topic sentence.  The
quality and relationship of these sentences will be evaluated.
c.       Coherence - Be sure that you organize your paragraph in the best way possible

(1)   Order:  Select the best order for you paragraph (probably spatial). Select transitions for your
paragraph that demonstrate your understanding of the order.  At a minimum, you must use three
(3) transitions (p. 86) to demonstrate your understanding of this concept.  Highlight these
transitions in yellow.

(2)   Related Sentences:  Be sure to repeat words and ideas; use synonyms and substitutions to
demonstrate your understanding of this concept.  Highlight these related words or sentence parts
in gray.

d.      Sentence Structure:  In your paragraph, demonstrate your understanding of the following
sentence structures.  You must demonstrate at least one (1) of  EACH of the following
structures.  Highlight these in green.

(1)   Coordinating conjunction 

(2)   Semicolon 

(3)   Conjunctive adverb

(4)   Subordinate clause followed by an independent clause

e.       Concluding Sentence:  Be sure to complete your paragraph with a well-written concluding
sentence.

f.       Mechanics and Grammar - Be sure that you complete the final step of the writing process: 
proofreading. Your paragraph should definitely be free from sentence construction errors and
should be spellchecked.

g.      Reminder:  Finally, although the points for this are not awarded here, remember to submit
the writing process work for this paragraph so that you can get credit for it in Part B.