DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

 IGCSE students writing English Language Paper 2 (0500) are required to make a choice between a piece
of narrative or descriptive writing. Even if a student has decided to attempt a narrative, he needs to
work on descriptive writing because he has to use descriptions in a narrative. However, it is important
to note that narratives are very different from descriptives in form, feature and tone.
 Students should describe people, places, and objects in such a way that the reader or examiner is able
to visualize them and a clear image is created in his mind.

Instructions for descriptive writing;

 Focus on sensory images use all 5 senses and give a graphic picture of what can be seen, heard, smelt,
touched or tasted.
 Use a variety of images begin with one feature but continue to move on to others too. Include
ge.
 Use imagery
comparisons.
 Choose language with discretions
can destroy realism.
 Use precise adjectives, vivid verbs and appropriate adverbs.
 Plan what you are going to focus on use good techniques. Your content should create the required
effect and engage the reader.
 Divide the composition into paragraphs use range of paragraphs of different lengths and use linkers
between the paragraphs.
 Use appropriate tense switch tenses midway.
 Do not overuse the first person pronoun this can make your composition sound like a narrative.
 Structure your descriptive describe the person, place, object or scene from different angles, through
different time zones or plane zones:
1. You may describe what you see, hear, feel, smell or imagine as you approach, on arrival and as
you depart.
2. Make use of different time zones such as Before and After/ Day and night/ Through different
seasons such as Spring and Winter.
 Use the SHOW, DON
1. Create a vivid picture for the reader by using powerful vocabulary and imagery.
EG: DON The man was stressed
A better option would be, The man was fidgeting and biting his nails.
DON
A better option would be

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