DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF DESCRIPTIVE WRITING IS TO DESCRIBE A

PERSON, PLACE, ANY ANIMAL, ANY THING, ANY EVENT OR ANY
INCIDENT IN SUCH A WAY THAT A PICTURE IS FORMED IN THE
READER'S MIND. CAPTURING AN EVENT THROUGH DESCRIPTIVE
WRITING INVOLVES PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS BY
USING ALL OF YOUR FIVE SENSES
 CHARACTERISTICS OF DESCRIPTIVE
WRITING
• 1. GOOD DESCRIPTIVE WRITING INCLUDES MANY VIVID SENSORY DETAILS THAT PAINT
A PICTURE AND APPEALS TO ALL OF THE READER'S SENSES OF SIGHT, HEARING, TOUCH,
SMELL AND TASTE WHEN APPROPRIATE. DESCRIPTIVE WRITING MAY ALSO PAINT
PICTURES OF THE FEELINGS THE PERSON, PLACE OR THING INVOKES IN THE WRITER.
• 2. GOOD DESCRIPTIVE WRITING OFTEN MAKES USE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE SUCH
AS ANALOGIES, SIMILES AND METAPHORS TO HELP PAINT THE PICTURE IN THE READER'S
MIND.
• 3. GOOD DESCRIPTIVE WRITING USES PRECISE LANGUAGE. GENERAL ADJECTIVES,
NOUNS, AND PASSIVE VERBS DO NOT HAVE A PLACE IN GOOD DESCRIPTIVE WRITING.
USE SPECIFIC ADJECTIVES AND NOUNS AND STRONG ACTION VERBS TO GIVE LIFE TO
THE PICTURE YOU ARE PAINTING IN THE READER'S MIND.
• 4. GOOD DESCRIPTIVE WRITING IS ORGANIZED. SOME WAYS TO ORGANIZE
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING INCLUDE: CHRONOLOGICAL (TIME), SPATIAL (LOCATION), AND
ORDER OF IMPORTANCE. WHEN DESCRIBING A PERSON, YOU MIGHT BEGIN WITH A
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION, FOLLOWED BY HOW THAT PERSON THINKS, FEELS AND ACTS.
 SENSORY DEVICES

• SIGHT: LEAVES FALLING GENTLY FROM THE TREES, CHILDREN RUNNING,

PLAYING AT THE PLAYGROUND, PEOPLE JOGGING, PEOPLE CYCLING,
OLD FOLKS PRACTISING TAI-CHI, OLD FOLKS TAKING A LEISURELY STROLL
• SMELL: THE SMELL OF FRESH AIR, THE SMELL OF MORNING DEW, THE
FRAGRANCE OF FRESH FLOWERS

• SOUND: LEAVES RUSTLING IN THE BREEZE, THE GURGLING OF STREAMS,

THE SPLASHING OF A FOUNTAIN, A LONE BIRD CHIRPING, MUSIC FROM
RADIOS

• TASTE: SWEET, VELVETY ICE CREAM

• TOUCH: THE BREEZE BLOWING GENTLY AT YOUR FACE, THE ROUGH TREE
TRUNKS, THE DUSTY TRACKS, THE SUN SHINING ON MY SKIN
 FROM THIS LIST, WE CAN GUIDE CHILDREN TO COME UP WITH DESCRIPTIVE
SENTENCES SUCH AS THESE:

• THE MORNING SUN SHONE GENTLY ON MY SKIN (TOUCH) AS I

ENTERED PASIR RIS PARK. ALTHOUGH IT WAS STILL EARLY,
THERE WERE ALREADY PEOPLE JOGGING AND
CYCLING (SIGHT). A GROUP OF OLD FOLKS WAS PRACTISING
TAI-CHI (SIGHT) AND MOVING ALONG WITH THE SLOW
MUSIC (SOUND). THERE WAS A GENTLE BREEZE BLOWING AT
ME (TOUCH) AS I STROLLED ALONG THE DUSTY
TRACKS (TOUCH). LEAVES RUSTLED (SOUND) ABOVE ME AND A
LONE BIRD WAS CHIRPING (SOUND) NEARBY. I TOOK A DEEP
BREATH. THE SMELL OF MORNING DEW (SMELL) MADE ME FEEL
RELAXED AND AT PEACE.
 FROM THIS LIST, WE CAN GUIDE CHILDREN TO COME UP WITH
DESCRIPTIVE SENTENCES SUCH AS THESE:

• EXAMPLE (2): FOOD – ROAST CHICKEN (WORD LIST)

• SIGHT: CRISPY BROWN SKIN, DRIPPING JUICES, DRIPPING OIL
• SMELL: FRAGRANCE, DELIGHTFUL AROMA OF ITALIAN HERBS,
MOUTH-WATERING SCENT
• SOUND: SIZZLING
• TASTE: JUICY, SALTY, DELICIOUS, HOT AND SPICY, APPETISING,
DELECTABLE, FLAVOURFUL, SAVOURY, DELISH, SCRUMPTIOUS
• TOUCH: SUCCULENT AND SOFT, PIPING HOT
 THESE ARE SOME SENTENCES THAT WE CAN FORM USING THE WORDS AND
PHRASES FROM THE ABOVE WORD LIST:

• IT WAS MORNING. AS THOMAS OPENED HIS EYES, HE WAS

GREETED BY A DELIGHTFUL AROMA OF
ITALIAN HERBS (SMELL). “I KNOW THIS SMELL!” EXCLAIMED
THOMAS AS HE JUMPED OUT OF BED. DASHING INTO THE
KITCHEN, THOMAS SAW HIS MOTHER TAKING OUT A CRISPY-
LOOKING, JUICES-DRIPPING (SIGHT) ROASTED CHICKEN FROM
THE OVEN. THOMAS COULD NOT WAIT TO SINK HIS TEETH
INTO THE SUCCULENT AND SAVOURY MEAT (TASTE). HIS
MOUTH WATERED.
 TYPES OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
• 1. SIMILE
• A SIMILE IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH THAT COMPARES TWO UNLIKE THINGS AND USES THE
WORDS “LIKE” OR “AS” AND THEY ARE COMMONLY USED IN EVERYDAY COMMUNICATION. A
SIMILE IS USED WITH THE AIM OF SPARKING AN INTERESTING CONNECTION IN THE READER’S
MIND.
• AN EXAMPLE OF A SIMILE IS, “THE CAT SAT IN THE CHAIR LIKE A KING OVERLOOKING HIS
KINGDOM.” THE CAT’S SITTING POSTURE IS COMPARED TO THAT OF A KING WHO RELAXES IN
A SPECIAL CHAIR THAT IS RESERVED FOR HIM AND NOT ANY OTHER PERSON IN THE KINGDOM.
• OTHER EXAMPLES OF SIMILES INCLUDE:
• THE BOY WAS AS BRAVE AS A LION IN THE JUNGLE.
• THE ASSISTANT WAS AS BUSY AS A BEE WHEN SHE WAS PREPARING THE PODIUM FOR THE
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
• THE NEW TEACHER IS AS TALL AS A GIRAFFE.
• THE NEW NEIGHBOR IS AS CURIOUS AS A CAT; NOTHING ESCAPES HER ATTENTION.
 2. METAPHOR
• A METAPHOR IS A STATEMENT THAT COMPARES TWO THINGS THAT ARE NOT ALIKE.
UNLIKE SIMILES, METAPHORS DO NOT USE THE WORDS “LIKE” OR “AS.” SUCH
STATEMENTS ONLY MAKE SENSE WHEN THE READER UNDERSTANDS THE CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE TWO THINGS BEING COMPARED.
• AN EXAMPLE OF A POPULAR METAPHOR IS “TIME IS MONEY.” THE STATEMENT COMPARES
TIME AND MONEY, AND IT DOES NOT LITERALLY MEAN THAT THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU
HAVE EQUALS THE MONEY THAT YOU HAVE. INSTEAD, IT MEANS THAT TIME IS A
VALUABLE RESOURCE, AND IT SHOULD BE USED EFFECTIVELY TO EARN MONEY. ANY TIME
WASTED MEANS THAT A PERSON LOSES THE CHANCE TO MAKE MORE MONEY.
• OTHER EXAMPLES OF METAPHORS INCLUDE:
• THE WARRIOR HAS A HEART OF STONE.
• LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD.
• BABY, YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE.
• CHAOS IS A FRIEND OF THE LEGISLATOR.
• I AM DROWNING IN A SEA OF GRIEF.
• MY ROOMMATE IS GOING THROUGH A ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTIONS.
 3. HYPERBOLE
• HYPERBOLE IS AN EXAGGERATION THAT IS CREATED TO EMPHASIZE A POINT OR BRING
OUT A SENSE OF HUMOR. IT IS OFTEN USED IN EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS WITHOUT
THE SPEAKER NOTICING IT. THE EXAGGERATION IS SO OUTRAGEOUS THAT NO ONE
WOULD BELIEVE THAT IT IS TRUE. IT IS USED TO ADD DEPTH AND COLOR TO A
STATEMENT.
• AN EXAMPLE OF HYPERBOLE IS, “I WOULD DIE FOR YOU.” THE SENTENCE DOES NOT
NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ONE PERSON IS LITERALLY WILLING TO DIE FOR THE OTHER,
BUT IT USED TO EXAGGERATE THE AMOUNT OF LOVE THAT ONE PERSON HAS FOR
ANOTHER PERSON. DEATH IS ONLY USED TO SHOW THE EXTENT OF AFFECTION.
• OTHER EXAMPLES OF HYPERBOLE:
• I HAVE TOLD YOU A MILLION TIMES TO WASH THE DISHES.
• YOU ARE SO SLENDER THAT THE WIND CAN CARRY YOU AWAY.
• THE AFTERNOON IS SO BRIGHT THAT THE SUN WOULD HAVE TO WEAR SUNGLASSES.
• YOU SNORE LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN
 4. PERSONIFICATION

• PERSONIFICATION IS THE ATTRIBUTION OF HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS TO

NON-LIVING OBJECTS. USING PERSONIFICATION AFFECTS THE WAY READERS
IMAGINE THINGS, AND IT SPARKS AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT.
• AN EXAMPLE OF PERSONIFICATION IS, “THE SUN GREETED ME WHEN I WOKE
UP IN THE MORNING.” THE SUN IS A NON-HUMAN OBJECT BUT HAS BEEN
GIVEN HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS SINCE GREETINGS CAN ONLY BE
PERFORMED BY LIVING CREATURES.
• OTHER EXAMPLES OF PERSONIFICATION INCLUDE:
• APRIL IS THE CRUELEST MONTH OF THE YEAR.
• THE RADIO STARED AT ME.
• THE CAR BRAKES SCREAMED ALL THROUGH THE JOURNEY.
• THE CAR STOPPED WITH A GROANING COMPLAINT.
 6. ONOMATOPOEIA

• ONOMATOPOEIA IS A LANGUAGE THAT NAMES SOMETHING

OR AN ACTION BY IMITATING THE SOUND ASSOCIATED WITH
IT. THEY ADD SOME REALITY TO THE WRITING. EXAMPLES OF
ONOMATOPOEIA INCLUDE:
• THE FIREPLACE HEATER HISSED AND CRACKED.
• THE TRUCK ENGINE ROARED AS IT CLIMBED THE HILL.
• THE ALARM CLOCK BUZZED AT THE TIME I WAS GOING TO THE
BATHROOM.
DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES
DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES
 DESCRIPTIVE WRITING TECHNIQUES
• HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF DESCRIPTIVE WRITING TECHNIQUES THAT YOU
CAN UTILIZE AND EFFECTIVELY APPLY TO YOUR OWN WRITING.
• CHOOSING YOUR FOCUS: WHEN YOU FIRST BEGIN WRITING, IT'S EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO DECIDE WHAT YOUR TOPIC IS GOING TO BE. THIS WILL
PREVENT YOU FROM LOSING FOCUS ON THE THEME OR MAIN IDEA OF YOUR
WRITING. WHEN YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO WRITE ABOUT, YOU
CAN BEGIN TO ADD DETAILS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC EVENT, OBJECT, OR PERSON.
• USE OF WORDS: IN MOST CASES, YOU'LL USE ADJECTIVES TO MAKE YOUR
WRITING MORE DETAILED FOR THE READER. FOR EXAMPLE, RATHER THAN JUST
SAYING: 'THE DOG SNIFFS AROUND,' YOU'D SAY: 'THE BIG BROWN DOG
SNIFFED AROUND THE RED ROSE BUSHES IN THE FRONT YARD.' THE USE OF
'BIG,' 'BROWN,' 'RED ROSE BUSHES,' AND 'FRONT YARD' ASSISTS THE READER IN
VISUALIZING THE EVENT AND WHAT THE DOG LOOKS LIKE. THIS PROCESS WILL
ALLOW THE READER TO CREATE A MENTAL IMAGE THROUGH THE USE OF YOUR
WORD CHOICE.
 DESCRIPTIVE WRITING TECHNIQUES
• READER INTEREST: AS A WRITER, IT'S IMPORTANT PAINT A PICTURE WITH YOUR
WORDS. ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO THIS IS THROUGH THE USE OF THE
FIVE SENSES. THIS WON'T ONLY ENGAGE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE, BUT IT'LL
APPEAL TO OTHER READERS AS WELL. BY USING TASTE, SMELL, HEARING,
SIGHT, AND TOUCH, YOU ARE CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE READER
TO DEVELOP AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO YOUR WRITING.
• RE-READING AND REDO: RE-READING WHAT YOU WRITE IS AN IMPORTANT
STEP IN THE DESCRIPTIVE WRITING PROCESS. THIS GIVES YOU TIME TO REFLECT
ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU NEED TO ADD MORE DETAILS TO YOUR WRITING.
PUTTING YOURSELF IN THE READERS' POSITION IS IMPORTANT. ASK YOURSELF
AFTER READING YOUR WRITING, 'WOULD I BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE
MAIN TOPIC OF MY WRITING IF I HAD NO PRIOR EXPOSURE?' THIS SHOULD
INDICATE WHETHER OR NOT MORE DETAILS ARE NEEDED.
• ALWAYS REMEMBER, GOOD DESCRIPTIVE WRITING IS DONE WELL IF THE MAIN
TOPIC OF YOUR WRITING IS UNDERSTOOD BY ALL READERS.
 EXAMPLES OF DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

• HER LAST SMILE TO ME WASN'T A SUNSET. IT WAS AN ECLIPSE, THE LAST

ECLIPSE, NOON DYING AWAY TO DARKNESS WHERE THERE WOULD BE
NO DAWN.
• MY UBER DRIVER LOOKED LIKE A DEFLATING AIRBAG AND SOUNDED LIKE
TALK RADIO ON REPEAT.
• THE OLD MAN WAS BENT INTO A CAPITAL C, HIS HEAD LEANING SO FAR
FORWARD THAT HIS BEARD NEARLY TOUCHED HIS KNOBBY KNEES.
• THE PAINTING WAS A FIELD OF FLOWERS, BLUES AND YELLOWS ATOP
DEEP GREEN STEMS THAT SEEMED TO CALL THE VIEWER IN TO PLAY.
 EXAMPLES OF DESCRIPTIVE

• MY DOG'S FUR FELT LIKE SILK AGAINST MY SKIN AND HER BLACK
COLORING SHONE, ABSORBING THE SUNLIGHT AND REFLECTING IT BACK
LIKE A PURE, DARK MIRROR.
• THE SUNSET FILLED THE SKY WITH A DEEP RED FLAME, SETTING THE
CLOUDS ABLAZE.
• THE WAVES ROLLED ALONG THE SHORE IN A GRACEFUL, GENTLE
RHYTHM, AS IF DANCING WITH THE LAND.
• WINTER HIT LIKE A WELTERWEIGHT THAT YEAR, A JABBING COLD YOU
THOUGHT YOU COULD STAND UNTIL THE WIND ROSE UP AND DROPPED
YOU TO THE CANVAS.
 EXTRACT 1: A HIGH WIND IN
JAMAICA

• THE SUN WAS STILL RED AND LARGE: THE SKY ABOVE CLOUDLESS, AND
LIGHT BLUE GLAZE POURED OVER BAKING CLAY: BUT CLOSE OVER THE
GROUND A DIRTY GREY HAZE HOVERED. AS THEY FOLLOWED THE LANE
TOWARDS THE SEA THEY CAME TO A PLACE WHERE, YESTERDAY, A FAIR-
SIZED SPRING HAD BUBBLED UP BY THE ROADSIDE. NOW IT WAS DRY.
BUT EVEN AS THEY PASSED SOME WATER SPLASHED OUT, AND THEN IT
WAS DRY AGAIN, ALTHOUGH GURGLING INWARDLY TO ITSELF. BUT THE
GROUP OF CHILDREN WERE HOT, FAR TOO HOT TO SPEAK TO ONE
ANOTHER: THEY SAT ON THEIR PONIES AS LOOSELY AS POSSIBLE,
LONGING FOR THE SEA.
 EXTRACT 2: BIRDS, BEASTS AND
RELATIVES

• THEY ARE COVERED WITH A THICK COATING OF SPIKES BUT THESE ARE
WHITE AND SOFT, AS THOUGH MADE OF RUBBER. THEY GRADUALLY
HARDEN AND TURN BROWN WHEN THE BABIES ARE A FEW WEEKS OLD.
WHEN THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO LEAVE THE NURSERY THE MOTHER
LEADS THEM OUT AND SHOWS THEM HOW TO HUNT FOR FOOD; THEY
WALK IN LINE, THE TAIL OF ONE HELD IN THE MOUTH OF THE BABY
BEHIND. THE BABY AT THE HEAD OF THE COLUMN HOLDS TIGHT TO
MOTHER’S TAIL WITH GRIM DETERMINATION, AND THEY MOVE THROUGH
THE TWILIT HEDGEROWS LIKE A STRANGE PRICKLY CENTIPEDE … MINE
WERE ALWAYS READY FOR FOOD AT ANY HOUR OF THE DAY OR NIGHT.
 EXAMPLE OF A DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH ABOUT PERSON

• IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE CLOSE FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY WILL

ALWAYS BE THERE AND THEY WILL NOT LET YOU GO. MY CLOSE FRIEND’S
NAME IS DENIZ AND HE IS A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON TO ME. HE IS TALL
AND HAS BROAD SHOULDERS. HE STANDS LIKE A HERO PROTECTING THE
PERSON NEXT TO HIM. HE HAS A FIT BODY, JUST LIKE A STATUE. THE
FEATURES ON HIS FACE LOOK TOO PRONOUNCED AND HE HAS A SMALL
NOSE. HIS DARK GREEN EYES LOOK HARSH, LIKE A DARK FOREST. HIS
LASHES ARE LIKE LINED ARROWS. HE HAS NEATLY LINED PEARLY TEETH.
WHEN HE SMILES, HE LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BOY. SEEING HIM HAPPY ALL THE
TIME IS THE BIGGEST THING I WANT.
 EXAMPLE OF A DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH ABOUT OBJECT

• YESTERDAY I SAW A PLANT IN THE CORNER OF THE PARK WHERE I WAS

CONSTANTLY WALKING. THE PLANT WAS MUCH TALLER THAN MY HEIGHT,
ENOUGH TO TOUCH THE SKY. ITS BODY STOOD LIKE A STRAIGHT POLE, IT
WAS THIN. IT HAD LIGHT GREEN LEAVES. IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
GREEN I HAVE EVER SEEN, IT WAS SHINING. AROUND, IT WAS TREES
WHOSE LEAVES LOOKED LIKE THE LEAVES OF THE TREE I HAD SEEN, BUT
THEY WERE SMALLER. THE TREE I NOTICED STOOD IN THE MIDDLE, LIKE THE
LEADER OF ALL OF THEM, AND WAS SELF-EVIDENT. IT WAS THE MOST
DELICATE AND POWERFUL PLANT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
 EXAMPLE OF A DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH ABOUT PLACE

• I SAW THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BAY I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY

LIFE. AS I WAS DESCENDING FROM THE MOUNTAIN
TOWARDS THE SEA, I SUDDENLY LOOKED IN FRONT OF ME
AND SAW THE YELLOW SAND LIKE GOLD. THE SUN WAS
RIGHT OVERHEAD AND IT WAS VERY HOT. THE SANDS
WOULD ALMOST CATCH FIRE. THEN THE DEEP BLUE SEA WAS
MERGING WITH THE SKY. THE SEA WAS SO CLEAR THAT I
COULD SEE COLORFUL FISH SWIMMING BETWEEN MY FEET.
THIS WAS THE PLACE THAT FASCINATED ME THE MOST.
 EXAMPLE OF A DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH ABOUT EVENT

• SO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED BUT I STILL HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN IT. WHEN I WAS A KID,
WE HAD A HOUSE IN THE VILLAGE. IT WAS A TWO-STORY HOUSE WITH A TILE ROOF.
ONE DAY WE WENT THERE AGAIN WITH MY FAMILY. I WENT INTO MY ROOM WITH A
BIG BROWN BAG IN MY HAND. IT SMELLED OF DAMPNESS, I WANTED TO OPEN MY
WINDOW IMMEDIATELY. JUST THEN I HEARD A VOICE AS IF THERE WAS A CRYING BABY
IN MY ROOM. I WAS VERY SCARED BUT I COULDN’T EVEN MOVE. I STARTED CRYING
WHERE I WAS. MY PARENTS WERE IN THE GARDEN SO THEY DIDN’T HEAR MY VOICE. I
COULDN’T GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE OF MY FEAR, I SAT ON THE FLOOR I WAS CRYING.
THE SOUND I WAS HEARING WAS STARTING TO GET LOUDER. I WAS STARTING TO
SCREAM. MY FATHER RAN UP THE STAIRS AND CAME UP TO ME. I TOLD HIM I WAS
HEARING VOICES FROM WHERE THE LOCKER WAS. THE VOICES WERE NO LONGER
HEARD. WE WALKED TOWARDS THE CLOSET TOGETHER. MY DAD OPENED THE DOOR
OF THE CLOSET AND LET’S SEE WHAT! THE MOTHER CAT GAVE BIRTH TO HER CHILDREN
INSIDE. ALL THOSE VOICES CAME FROM THE PAIN. WE BUILT A NICE HOME FOR THE
MOTHER CAT AND HER THREE LITTLE KITTENS. BECAUSE I WAS SO SMALL, I WAS
TERRIFIED OF THE SOUND. YET THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF.