This document provides an overview of descriptive writing, including: 1) Different types of descriptive words such as concrete words and figures of speech. 2) The two types of description - objective and subjective. 3) Guidelines for writing effective descriptive sentences and paragraphs, such as focusing on subjects/predicates and using organizational patterns. 4) Tips for descriptive writing such as not overusing details and keeping description objective in some contexts.

2. Notes on Descriptive Writing

3. In this unit you will learn: Types of descriptive words Two types of description How to write a descriptive sentence Organizational patterns for paragraphs Tips for Writing Description Notes on Descriptive Writing

4. Notes on Descriptive Writing Think of descriptive writing as “writing that shows rather than tells .”

5. Types of Descriptive Words Concrete Words Polysymbolic Words Emotionally-impacted Words Figures of Speech

6. Concrete Words Types of Descriptive Words Words that stimulate an impression of one of the five senses

7. Types of Descriptive Words Polysymbolic Words Words that stimulate multiple impressions of the five senses

8. Types of Descriptive Words Emotionally-impacted Words Concrete and/or polysymbolic words that also carry significant emotional value(s)

9. Types of Descriptive Words Figures of Speech Imaginative comparisons Object A Object B

10. Types of Descriptive Words Figures of Speech Imaginative comparisons Object A Object B ! ?

11. Types of Descriptive Words Figures of Speech Imaginative comparisons similes metaphors personification anthropomorphism synecdoche

12. Types of Descriptive Words Similes An indirect comparison using “like” or “as”

13. Types of Descriptive Words Metaphors A direct comparison suggesting a complete transformation of Object A into Object B

14. Types of Descriptive Words Types of Metaphors Simple metaphor Collapsed metaphor Abstract metaphor Inverted metaphor Functional metaphor

15. Types of Descriptive Words Types of Metaphors Simple metaphor John is a fox.

16. Types of Descriptive Words Types of Metaphors 2. Collapsed metaphor John, the fox

17. Types of Descriptive Words Types of Metaphors 3. Abstract metaphor _____, “fox”

18. Types of Descriptive Words Types of Metaphors 4. Inverted metaphor foxy John

19. Types of Descriptive Words Types of Metaphors 5. Functional metaphor “ That John! He sure ‘outfoxed’ me!”

20. Types of Descriptive Words Personification Attributing life-like qualities to inanimate objects/subjects

21. Types of Descriptive Words Anthropomorphism Attributing specific human-like qualities to inanimate objects/ subjects

22. Types of Descriptive Words Synecdoche Referencing a part of one object to compare that object with another

23. Problems with Figures of Speech A Sample Paragraph Cool water flows through the rocky banks of the creek and into a wide pond. Reeds and cattails surrounding the bank embrace the pond like a mother’s enfolding arms reaching out to caress her sleeping child. Like a beaming proud mother’s eye, the sun drenches the scene with its loving warmth. Just beneath the sparkling surface of the water, minnows shoot from rock to rock like silver darts thrust like scattershot by some unseen hand.

24. Problems with Figures of Speech A Sample Paragraph Cool water flows through the rocky banks of the creek and into a wide pond. Reeds and cattails surrounding the bank embrace the pond like a mother’s enfolding arms reaching out to caress her sleeping child. Like a beaming proud mother’s eye, the sun drenches the scene with its loving warmth. Just beneath the sparkling surface of the water, minnows shoot from rock to rock like silver darts thrust like scattershot by some unseen hand.

25. Problems with Figures of Speech A Sample Paragraph Cool water flows through the rocky banks of the creek and into a wide pond. Reeds and cattails surround the bank. The sun drenches the scene with its warmth. Just beneath the sparkling surface of the water, like silver darts, minnows shoot from rock to rock.

26. Objective Description Subjective Description Two Types of Description

27. Two Types of Description Objective Description “ technical description”

28. Two Types of Description Objective Description Concrete Words Polysymbolic Words

29. Two Types of Description Subjective Description “ personal description”

30. Two Types of Description Subjective Description Concrete Words Polysymbolic Words Emotionally-Impacted Words Figures of Speech

31. Writing the Descriptive Sentence The descriptive sentence is always an abstraction with specific details. The descriptive sentence always focuses on the subject or the predicate. The descriptive sentence supports an objective—one part of the paragraph or another.

32. The descriptive sentence is always an abstraction with specific details. Writing the Descriptive Sentence Descriptive sentences never present all the images; each sentence creates a limited picture.

33. The descriptive sentence always focuses on the subject or the predicate. Writing the Descriptive Sentence Subject -- Predicate

34. The descriptive sentence always focuses on the subject or the predicate. Writing the Descriptive Sentence Subject Noun – Verb – Object Nouns Who? What? Where? When? How?

35. The descriptive sentence supports an objective—one part of the paragraph or another. Writing the Descriptive Sentence Clarifies the main idea of the topic sentence Clarifies primary development Clarifies secondary development

36. Writing the Descriptive Sentence A sample descriptive sentence: The blue-grey laptop computer, perched on the parquet-laminated kitchen table, cluttered with books and papers, displays the PowerPoint abstract background—softly blended graphics that fade into white, punctuated with stiff, black letters.

37. Writing the Descriptive Sentence A better descriptive sentence: On its two back legs, the blue-grey laptop computer perched on the parquet-laminated kitchen table. (subjective description)

38. Writing the Descriptive Sentence An alternative descriptive sentence: Raised on back legs, the blue-grey laptop computer was set on the parquet-laminated kitchen table. (objective description)

39. Basic Patterns for Organizing Effective Description Directional Organization Spatial Organization Psychological Organization

40. Directional Organization Basic Patterns for Organizing Effective Description Order of the Compass Linear Chronological Sequential

41. Spatial Organization Basic Patterns for Organizing Effective Description General to Specific/Specific to General Small to Large/Large to Small Front to Back/Back to Front Inside to Outside/Outside to Inside

42. Psychological Organization Basic Patterns for Organizing Effective Description Most important to least important Least important to most important Associative (familiarity) Non-associative (random)

43. Facing east, the house rests atop two acres of farmland. The gated drive begins at the highway and winds in a gentle “S” across the grassy front lawn and ends at the garage to the left of the main house. Behind the house stretches freshly plowed ground, rows ranging from left to right. A line of oaks crowns the crest of the property. Sample Paragraph #1

44. Sample Paragraph #2 Resting deeply back in his chair, his feet crossed on the corner of his desk, Dr. Marsh is fast asleep. The few silver-grey strands of hair sweep back from his receding hairline. His lips sealed loosely, his wide chin rests comfortably over his neck. A pair of black reading glasses dangle on the end of his nose. His chest rises and falls as he snores softly in a slow rhythm. His pulpy hands are folded in his lap over a brown folder of loose pages.

45. Tips for Descriptive Writing Focus the descriptive words on the subject or predicate. Don’t overwork the detail. Arrange descriptive sentences consistently, following an organizational plan. Keep descriptive detail objective in business communications. Use description along with other developmental patterns.