THE DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH

1. THE DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH

2. What is a Descriptive Paragraph? • Thiskind of paragraphisusedto describe whatsomething looks like. • Gooddescriptionreliesonthefivesenses. • Thereadershouldhear, see, taste, smell, and feelwhatthewriterisdescribing.

3. What is a Descriptive Paragraph? • Gooddescriptionissynonymous of clarity. • Subjectivedescriptionallowsyoutoprovideanemotionalaccount and evokefeelings. • Objectivedescriptionusually uses neutral words, since they do not evoke emotions; this type of description generally provides information without adding feelings.

4. Characteristics of the Descriptive Paragraph • It has a subjectworthy of description. • It has anemphasis, eitherdirectorindirect, onthefivesenses. • It uses figures of speechtoenrichthedescription and sparkreaderinterest. • It has one of threepatterns of organization: chronological, spatial, oranorder of importance.

5. How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph? • Read other writers' descriptions. This will help you recognize what works in descriptive writing and what doesn't. 2. Plan your description. Think about the subject. Close your eyes and immerse yourself in it. If describing a place, imagine you are actually there. Notice all the sights, smells and noises around you. If describing a character, imagine he is standing in front of you and look at him closely, visualizing all the details of his appearance. Imagine he is talking to you.

6. How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph? • Make notes. Never attempt to write something until you have done this. Make notes based on all the thinking you imagined in the previous step. Write down notes relating to all five senses. Think about and jot down any strong adjectives and adverbs you could use in your description. Write down any ideas for metaphors, similes and personification. 4. Make a draft. Try out different sentences, words, adjectives and see if they work. If not, try new ones. Use a thesaurus to help you find alternative words if your writing is too repetitive or if you want a word that is more dramatic or descriptive. Try writing a sentence to describe each of the five senses. Attempt different ways of ordering your sentences to see which is the most effective

7. How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph? 5. Write your paragraph once you are pleased with your draft. Use your notes and your draft to help you. Make sure you include all the relevant information and that you use a variety of different kinds of sentences to make your paragraph interesting. Check that your sentences are grammatically correct and that you have used the right punctuation. 6. Read through your finished paragraph. Try reading it out loud so you can really hear how the vocabulary you have chosen creates a mood and brings your description alive. Have a friend or classmate read your paragraph to see if she can picture what it is you are trying to describe. Don't be frightened to change anything you are not satisfied with.

8. Transition Words in a Descriptive Paragraph

9. Activity. Read the paragraph and guess which picture is being described Watson and the Shark Watson and the Shark is a painting by John Singleton Copely. In the foreground of the painting, one naked man is being attacked by a huge gray shark in the cold and choppy seawater. One small overloaded rowboat is near the naked man and the frightening shark. There are nine horrified men in this rowboat. They are trying to rescue the naked man. One young man takes a long spear and wants to kill the shark. Some people are reaching for his hand, and some are throwing a rope for him to catch. In the background of the painting, under the dark and cloudy sky, there are many ships stopping in the stormy harbor. The whole painting makes people feel tension and fear.