Descriptive Writing - Language Notes Part 2

English Language
Class- 8
27 September- 1 October
Descriptive Essay
G.M.C. 8 Pg 17
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P
assignments given.
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S.L.O.
Know the features of descriptive writing.
WS 7
What are Descriptive Essays?
Descriptions are the vivid explanations we offer, to communicate with the reader
about how we look at the subject. A descriptive essay should do the same: convey to
the reader the information about the subject in a striking but simple manner. A
descriptive essay is the opposite of the analytical essay or argumentative essay.
There are no stances taken in descriptive essays. You should just write about the
subject as you see it.
Descriptive essays are meant to test the power of observation of the writer. Writing
“ the essays requires extremely meticulous attention on the part of the writer and
primary focus on details. In very simple words, when you are asked to write a
description of someone or something through an essay, you need to create a full
sensual experience for the reader.
You need to describe that person or object using all five of your senses – sense of
sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste. Your description should be such that it should
bring the event or place or object right in front of you, as if you are witnessing it for
yourself. In short, your reader’s attention should be so drawn, that he or she gets
completely submerged in the sensory experience: It should be a kind of sound and
light show using words.
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Features of Descriptive Essay
Good descriptive writing comprises of :
1. Vivid Details
2. Sensory Language/Details
“ 3. Figurative Language
4. Show – Not Tell
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1.Vivid Details:
a. Vivid verbs
Replace general verbs with vivid verbs. Vivid verbs have specific
“
meanings compared to general verbs which make the writing
more interesting and enjoyable for the reader.
General Verbs expressing specific

meaning
Sleep doze, slumber, snooze
Pray plea, worship, request, appeal
Talk chat, gossip, babble, discuss
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1. Vivid details:
b. Descriptive Adjectives:
“ They describe the noun in detail so that the reader can

visualize what is being read.
Examples:
The van drove down the road.

The yellow van slipped down the wet road.
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2. Sensory Language/ Details:
They include sight, touch, smell, hearing, and feeling.

Using sensory words increases your ability to write in details.
Language that uses the 5 senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and
touch
“ Examples:
1. I could hear the popping and crackling as mom dropped the

bacon into the frying pan, and soon the salty, greasy smell wafted
out from the kitchen.
2. As she stepped out of the office building, she thought the bright,
beaming sunlight would blind her. Immediately, she began
rummaging through her purse for her Tom Ford shades.
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3. Figurative Language:
Good descriptive writing often makes use of figurative language.

You may use figures of speeches such as similes, metaphors,
personification, etc.
“ Examples:
Simile
He has learned gymnastics and is as agile as a monkey.
Metaphor
My friend is a Shakespeare when in English class.
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4.Showing instead of telling
In a nutshell, showing is about using description and action to help the

reader experience the story. Telling is when the author summarizes or
uses exposition to simply tell the reader what is happening.
How to Show & When to Tell for Powerful & Balanced Writing
“
Tell: “I heard footsteps creeping behind me and it made the whole
situation scarier.”
Show: “Crunching hit my ears from behind, accelerating the already

rampant pounding of my heart.”
Tell: “She was my best friend. I could tell her almost anything.”
Show: “I met her at the town square, running in for our usual hug that
carried on for far too long as we gushed about our lives with smiles,
lighting our faces.”
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Planning a Descriptive Essay
Answering the following questions will be helpful before writing

the descriptive essay:
• What is your reason for writing the description?
“ •
•
What are the particular qualities that you want to focus on?
Which senses (sight, smell, sounds, etc.) are important for
developing your description?
• Are your paragraphs ordered in the most effective way?
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Copy Work (15 mins)
“ Planning descriptive writing
G.M.C. 8 Pg 17
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English Language

•Use your real names when setting up your account.

Know the features of descriptive writing.

Good descriptive writing comprises of :

4. Show – Not Tell

General Verbs expressing specific

Pray plea, worship, request, appeal

Talk chat, gossip, babble, discuss

“ They describe the noun in detail so that the reader can

The van drove down the road.

2. Sensory Language/ Details:

They include sight, touch, smell, hearing, and feeling.

1. I could hear the popping and crackling as mom dropped the

Good descriptive writing often makes use of figurative language.

In a nutshell, showing is about using description and action to help the

Show: “Crunching hit my ears from behind, accelerating the already

Answering the following questions will be helpful before writing

• What is your reason for writing the description?

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