Descriptive Writing

What is descriptive writing?

• A descriptive essay uses the five senses to describe a place, an object, or a feeling.

• In descriptive writing, the writer must describe the place, object, or feeling so well that the reader can picture it in his or her mind.

The Five Senses

• In descriptive writing, you don’t have to use all of your five senses to describe. Most of the time using three of your senses to describe will be sufficient.

• Your five senses are sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing.

Prewriting• Before you begin writing your

essay, you will have to plan for it. Using a bubble-chart is the best way to plan for a descriptive essay.

• Ex.

Beach

Sights

SoundsSmells

Hook Sentence

• The first sentence in every essay that you write is called the hook sentence.

• It’s job is to hook your reader and make them want to read the rest of your essay.

• A hook can be a question, a quote, or an exciting fact.

Thesis Statement

• The thesis statement is also located in the introduction of an essay.

• The thesis statement lists the three main points of your essay in order.

• The thesis is like a map for your essay. It lets your reader know exactly what you will talk about in your paper.

• An example thesis could be: I love the sights, smells, and sounds of the beach.

• Your reader now knows that your essay will discuss the sights, smells, and sounds of the beach.

Body Paragraphs

• After your introduction, you will write the body of your essay.

• The body will consist of three paragraphs.

• The topic of each paragraph should follow the order of your thesis statement.

• In your three body paragraphs, you should use a lot of adjectives to help describe your topic.

• You should also use SMP to help you describe your topic.

• S stands for simile. A simile is a comparison using like or as.

• M stands for metaphor. A metaphor is a comparison that does not use like or as.

• P stands for personification. Personification gives an inanimate object or animal human characteristics.

Conclusion

• The conclusion of an essay is where the writer restates the main points of the essay and restates the thesis.

• The conclusion should leave the reader with no questions about the essay.