DESCRIPTION

READING IV

MUHAMMAD FERDIE ISMAIL

NIM : 190122182

PENDIDIKAN BAHASA INGGRIS

FAKULTAS ILMU KEGURUAN DAN PEDIDIKAN
JUNI, 2011
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents.....................................................................................................................i

Discussion................................................................................................................................1

A. The Defination of Descriptive Text..............................................................................1

B. The Purposes of Descriptive Text................................................................................2
C. The Characteristics of Descriptive Text.......................................................................3
D. The Structures of Descriptive Text..............................................................................4
E. The Elements of Descriptive Text................................................................................5
F. The Types of Descriptive Text.....................................................................................6
G. The Language of Descriptive Text...............................................................................8
H. The Organization of Descriptive Text..........................................................................9
I. The Example of A Descriptive Text..........................................................................10

References..............................................................................................................................11

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 DISCUSSION

A. The Definition of Descriptive Text

Descriptive Text is a text which says what a person or a thing is like. In a broad sense,
description, as explained by Kane (2000: 352), is defined like in the following sentence:
Description is about sensory experience how something looks, sounds, tastes. Mostly it is
about visual experience, but description also deals with other kinds of perception. The
descriptive text is meaningful text that describes the experience related to the senses, such as
what shape, sound, taste is. Most descriptive text is about visual experience, but in fact the
experience other than the sense of sight.

Iskak and Yustinah (2008) state the description is one type of essay to describe something in
accordance with the conditions experienced by the author, so that readers can image
everything that is described.

Winarsih and Wahyuni (2008) state that descriptions are also called paintings. The point is an
essay that contains the painting or depiction of an object. This is done so that the reader can
see, hear, and feel for themselves, the thing described.

Darmayanti (2007) states the text or paragraph description is a reading text that is prepared to
describe or to describe an experience, hearing, touch, smell, and feelings about a situation or
problem. In making the description text, the writer tries to move his impressions,
observations, and feelings to the reader by conveying the nature and details found from the
object.

Darmayanti (2008) states the description paragraph is a paragraph that describes an object
based on observation. Imaging is meant to see, hear, smell, and feel. The reader is expected to
be able to equate the image in himself with the image of the author.

Paujiyanti (2014) states a descriptive paragraph is a paragraph that describes an object with
the aim that readers seem to be able to see, hear, or feel the object described by the author in
the paragraph. The object described can be in the form of goods, objects, or places.

Sutarni and Sukardi (2008) stated the description paragraph is a paragraph that describes an
object in detail or in detail that is equipped with illustrations. The illustrations make it as if
the reader can see, hear, and observe the object being told.

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 Kane (2000: 352) states, “Descriptive text is description about sensory experience –
how something looks, sounds, tastes. Mostly, it is about visual experience, but description
also deals with other kinds of perception. The purpose of descriptive text is to describe and
reveal a particular person, place, or thing in detail or specific to make the readers be able to
visualize the description”. It can be concluded that descriptive text is used to describe
everything which is seen by writer in detail.

According to Emilia (2010: 103), “Descriptive text is a text which is intended to

describe a particular person, place or thing”. The schematic structure of Descriptive text is
divided into two: Identification and Description. Besides schematic structure, descriptive text
also has its own linguistic features. Linguistic features of descriptive text are: use specific
participant, written in present tense, use linking verbs, use adjectives, use relational and
material processes.

But in particular, The descriptive text is a text which says what a person or a thing is like. So,
it can be said that this descriptive text is a text that explains about whether a person or an
object is like, whether its form, its properties, its amount and others. A descriptive text
usually focuses on describing a single location, object, event, person, or place. It
endeavors to engage all five of the reader’s senses to evoke the sights, sounds, smells,
tastes, and feel of the text’s subject.

B. The Purposes of Descriptive Text

Writing a paragraph certainly has a specific purpose. No different from the

description paragraph. The purpose of descriptive paragraphs is to make the reader feel
as if he can feel and see the object described by the writer (Tim Guru Indonesia, 2016).

Sutarni and Sukardi (2008) state the main purpose of the paragraph description is to
create the influence of the five senses of the reader to produce a certain impression based
on reasoning and imagination. The above explains that the purpose of descriptive
paragraphs is to make the reader feel, see, and hear the story being told, giving rise to a
certain impression.

The purpose of writing description is to describe a person, place, or thing in such

vivid detail that the reader can easily form a precise mental picture of what is 22 being
written about, or can feel that they are part of the experience (Kang Guru 2005). Stanley

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 (1988: 124) asserts that the aim of description is to convey to the reader what something
looks like.

Furthermore, Johnston & Morrow (1981: 59) state that the purpose of descriptive text
is to describe objects or persons in which the writer is interested. Therefore, we have to
know well what is being described because descriptive text aims to make the readers
imagine what the content of the text without being affected by the writers‟ personal
opinion. By reading a descriptive text, readers feel that they see the description just like
they see pictures.

The purpose of the descriptive text is clear, that is to describe, represent or reveal a
person or an object, either abstract or concrete.

C. The Characteristics of Descriptive Text

There are several characteristics of descriptive text that can distinguish it from other
types of text, which are as follows:

 A text that uses the  simple present tense 

 It contains several attribute verbs , such as  be (am, is, are) 

 A text that only focuses on one object.

 Use an adjective.

 The writing uses very interesting language.

As for the characteristics of the descriptive paragraphs from several experts.

Paujiyanti (2014) states the characteristics of descriptive paragraphs, namely:

1. The depiction is done by involving the five senses.

2. Give a picture of an object, place or atmosphere.

3. Provide an explanation of the object being described.

4. It has a purpose so as if the reader can come to hear, see, and feel what is described by
the writer himself.

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 Sutarni and Sukardi (2008) stated the characteristics of descriptive paragraphs, namely:

1. Concerning the purpose of the appearance of an impression based on the effects of the
five senses.

2. Describe or describe an object, thing, or event as an object.

3. Requires factual data to illustrate, so as to clarify the description.

4. Use development patterns in the order of space.

5. Explores the source of ideas or ideas based on observation or observation.

Based on the above opinion it can be concluded that the features of descriptive
paragraphs

1. The story told is factual, because it requires data.

2. Ideas are obtained through observation involving the five senses.

3. Provide an explanation of the object being conveyed.

4. Readers can hear, see, and feel the story being told.

D. The Structures of Descriptive Text

Descriptive text has its own rules in writing, including in the structure or composition of
which must be written in order. If you are prompted to create descriptive text, then make
sure the structure is as follows:

1. Identification

This section in the first paragraph is one part that contains the introduction of something
to be described, for example, such as character recognition or character recognition and
also the topics discussed. The goal  is to identify something to be described or depicted.
Explanation easy, Identification serves to introduce the reader about the object or
something that we have described before we tell about its properties. The goal is not to
get one of those readers.

2. Description

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 This section in the second paragraph and so on, contains the properties inherent in
something that you already introduced to the reader in the first paragraph. a structure that
serves to describe something in detail and also complete from various aspects such as
color, shape, characteristics, size and so on.

3. Conclusion

in this section there may or may not be, because this will not affect the form and function
of the descriptive text itself.

E. The Elements of Descriptive Text

Descriptive text contains some elements, such as social function, generic structure, and
lexicon grammatical features. All the elements have to exist in a descriptive text.

1. Social Function According to Gerrot and Wignel (1994:208) states that social
function of descriptive text describes a particular person, place, or thing.
2. Generic Structure The structure of descriptive text follows some particular stages, the
beginning, middle, and last part of the text. Each text has its own generic structure.
According to Pardiyono (2007: 33-56) the generic structure of descriptive text is
identification and description.
a) Identification in the first paragraph, the purpose is to identify an object that you
want to describe. The identification function is to introduce to the reader about
the object that we are going to explain before we tell about the object in more
detail in the next paragraph.
b) Description in the second paragraph and so on contains the properties that are
attached to something that you have introduced to the reader in the first
paragraph, such as shape, size, or physical appearance and characteristics.

Besides having social function and generic structure, descriptive text also uses significant
lexicogrammatical features that support the form of a descriptive text.

3. According to Djuhari (2007: 24-25) states the significant lexicogrammtical features of

descriptive text focus on specific nouns, use kinds of adjectives, use of relational
process, use of figurative language, and use of simple present tense.

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 a) Focus on specific nouns, examples: father, school, my dog, etc.
b) Use kinds of adjectives, examples: three tall buildings, sharp white fang, etc.
c) Use of relational process, examples: my car has four doors; my father is really
handsome; etc.
d) Use of figurative language, examples: my throat is as dry as desert; her skin is white
as cloud and smooth as water; etc.
e) Use of simple present tense, examples: I have a toy. It is a ball.

F. The Types of Descriptive Text

There are five types of descriptive text namely, describing process, describing an event,
describing personality, describing object and describing place.

1. Describing Process
Describing a process is not only to explain how something is accomplished, but also
to explain on why it is done and what is needed to complete the process.

2. Describing an event
To describe an event, a writer should be able to memorize and remember what
happened in that event. As the example, people is going to write about inspection of
Virus at vegetable., she/he has to explain all details related to the event, so that the
readers can imagine the real situation and condition perfectly.

3. Describing a personality
The first thing that we must do in describing a person is recognizing the individual
characteristics. We need to describe people occurs fairly areas of physical attribute
(hair, eyes, skin), emotional (warm, nervous,), attributes (greedy, honest, humble,
trust) and intellectual.

4. Describing a place
Presenting a concrete thing is the way to describe place, for example; a house, library,
swimming pool, bus station, and market.

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5. Describing an object
To describe an object accurately is done through providing the physical objects’
characteristics such as color, form, shape, and so on.
Other types of descriptive writing include:
o Writing about oneself
o Writing about others
o Writing poems
o Writing about traveling, memory or experience
o Writing about nature etc.

Writing about Oneself

This kind of writing may include articles like My school, My favorite Hobby, My favorite
season, etc. Here the writer has to tell about himself, about the topic in question, how
they are linked, what impact it has, everything should be mentioned in detail, and in the
form of telling a story that doesn't strike the reader as boring.

Writing about Others

This type of writing can include articles like My Best Friend, My Mother etc. Here again,
the writer has to create a picture of that person in the mind of the reader. Even though
they have never met, the reader should be able to create an image and learn about the
nature of that person in question with the writing.

Writing Poems
Here simple, rhyming words are used for aesthetic appeal. However, complex words can
be used too, as well as sentences that don't rhyme. It all depends on the poet. But at the
end of the day, it leaves an impact in the mind of the reader.

Writing about Traveling, Memory or Experience

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 Here the writer has to recall a past event but can use a present form of the verb as if he is
actually present there and is seeing what's happening and is a part of it. For example,
recalling a visit to the Sundarbans, or recalling a football match can be just the article.

Writing about Nature

Here, the writer has to discuss the beauty of nature. Many poets have compared nature to
a woman, or something relative to describe their beauty and nature. That leaves a better
understanding and adds a personal or emotional touch to that form of writing.

G. The Language of Descriptive Text

Gerot and Wignell (1994: 28) state, “Descriptive text has language features consist of
identifying process, classical nominal groups, using simple present tense, using specific
nouns, using detail noun phrase to give information about the subject, various adjectives
functioning to describe, relating verbs to give information about the subject, action verbs,
adverbial to give additional information, and figurative language skill.”

Language feature of descriptive text is focused on what type on sentence is used. From
all kinds of sentences in English language such as simple present tense, simple future
tense, simple past tense, simple past future, etc, the simple present is one that is being
used in descriptive text. Language feature in this text type is also about what kind of verb
that is being used. From all kinds of verbs such as mental verb, behavior verb, mental
verb, action verb, etc, action verb is the one that is being used in descriptive text.
Adjectives and specific participants are also taken part in this descriptive text.

1. Using Simple Present, It is used to describe an action that is regular, true or

normal. Tense which is often used is Simple Present Tense. However, some times
it uses Past tense if the things are described does not exist anymore.
For example;
a) Paris is one of the beautiful cities in the world.
b) I and my friends usually go to school at seven o‟clock in the morning by bus.
c) The hotel provides 320 rooms and a swimming pool. etc.

2. Using Adjectives, An adjective is a word that describes, identifies, modifies, or

quantifies something a noun or a pronoun. It can be a single word, a phrase, or a

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 clause . It is to make clearer nouns. For example; a beautiful kind lady, the
famous places in Semarang, those ancient books, etc.

3. Using Action Verbs, Action verbs are verbs that specifically describe what the
subject of the sentence is doing. This type of verb tells about information in a
sentence and can convey emotion and a sense of purpose that extends beyond the
literal meanings of the words. For examples; run, eat, write, drink, draw, etc.

4. Specific participant, Specific participant tells about object in specific details that
is going to be described. It can be particular persons, things or places that are
being described in detail and specific ways. For examples; my college, his father,
Marina Beach, Prambanan Temple, Uncle Sam, etc

H. The Organization of Descriptive Text

An effective or good paragraph of text describes all the things in the paragraph
logically, clearly, and easily to make readers understand. The good paragraph of text
appears in the topic of the text and it describes specifically in details. Organization
discusses fluent expression, logical sequencing, adjective verb, main idea of text, and
action verb.

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I. The Example of A Descriptive Text

The City of Rome

Italy has some famous cities. One of them is Rome. It is a very historical city. If you
visit Rome, you will have plenty of chances to see all sorts of great sights.
Rome can be traced through its mythology when it was founded on . It was said that 
twins of Romulus and Remus has founded the city in 753 BC, on the date of April 21st.
This corresponds fairly closely to archeological evidence, which shows farming
communities in the area. As the Catholic Church grew, Rome became more and more
important in both religion and politics.
Rome was one of the central leading cities in the Renaissance. It is seen when visitors
walk through the streets and see the various buildings. The style was profoundly affected
by the work of the artists of the time. Visitors can see evidence of all sorts of artistic
influences, such as the Baroque palaces, the huge squares and obelisks, and other
structures throughout the city.
Rome is well known for its architecture. The colosseum is one sample of famous
Roman structures. It was once a grand, ground-breaking amphitheatre, and was at the
forefront of architectural advancements in 70 AD. Since then it has fallen apart slightly,
but it still an astounding and imposing structure.
Modern Rome is a very busy place to go. It is considered a cultural center for the
region, and offers all the arts in various forms. It has a thriving music scene, with several
major concert halls. Rome puts out a lot of movies every year, more so than any other
region of Italy. It is home to Cinecittà studios, the biggest facility in Europe.

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 REFERENCES
https://www.literacyideas.com/how-to-write-a-descriptive-text
http://britishcourse.com/descriptive-text-definition-generic-structures-purposes-language-
features.php
https://rumus.co.id/descriptive-text/
https://notesread.com/characteristics-descriptive-text/
https://puspapendini.blogspot.com/2018/12/descriptive-text-definition-structure.html
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/148613571.pdf
https://www.usd.ac.id/fakultas/pendidikan/f1l3/PLPG2017/Download/materi/bing/BAB-VIII-
Description.pdf
https://text-id.123dok.com/document/lzgxwoxvq-language-features-of-descriptive-text.html
http://eprints.ums.ac.id/50187/17/PUBLICATION%20ARTICLE%20fix.pdf
https://www.learngrammar.net/a/types-of-descriptive-writing
https://www.nurdiono.com/generic-structure-of-descriptive-text.html
https://freeenglishcourse.info/example-descriptive-text-city-of-rome/

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