Steps to Descriptive Writing

1. Descriptive
Writing
Paper 2: Composition

2. What adjectives come to your mind when you
look at this image of biryani?
Identify one adjective each for the following:
Sight
Sound
Smell
Taste
Touch

3. The Zoom in Technique
01.

4. 1. The Bigger Picture
2. Zoom area 1
3. Zoom area 2
4. Zoom area 3
5. Senses
Structure of a Descriptive Essay:
Describe a stadium.

5. An air of anticipation hung over the stadium. On the
opposite side, an army of away fans cheered and
jeered, waiting for the battle to commence. The pitch
stretched between us like no-man’s land.
I looked at my right. A sea of loyal supporters each
with gritted teeth and looks of determination on
their faces surrounded me as we too prepared for
the battle cry of the second half whistle.
A small child next to his father beamed and waved as
the loyal home fans began their favourite anthem.
Their voices sounded like one as they dominated the
air of the arena.
Let’s look at an example

6. The Bigger Picture
Follow this Structure
Zoom 1
Zoom 2
Zoom 3
Senses
Atmosphere

7. Key Skills and Techniques

8. Use a variety of sentences
Start with a verb (-ing)
Smashing against the bottom of the rocks, the wave sent white foam shooting into the air.
Start with “as” or “while” (prepositions… you can also use prepositions like under, behind,
before etc…)
As the skies darkened, raindrops began to pour down.
While the gulls screamed overhead, a lonely dog raced along the wet sand.
Start with an adjective (a describing word)
Grotesque images danced before my eyes.
Start with an adverb (a word that describes the verb)
Silently, he crept towards the exit..

9. Sensory Imagery
02.

10. OLFACTORY
VISUAL
TACTILE
GUSTATORY
AUDITORY

11. Let’s look at an example
As he walked into the classroom, his hands brushed across a table
piled with books. Finally, he reached his own desk. He glanced at the
worn floor where years of boys had kicked and scuffed in their rush
to escape. A damp sickly-sweet aroma arose from the pile of jackets
crushed in one corner topped against the window where a stone or
ball had cracked the glass. Mr Jones rubbed his hands against the
smooth polished top and examined his finger tips for dust.

12. Describe the photo you see:
Write here
Describe the photo

13. Can I include dialogues in a
description? Yes? No?
● Avoid dialogues as they make the writing more narrative.
● Ensure you bring in auditory imagery/ Onomatopoeia effect
Eg: the leaves rustled
Water splashed and roared

14. The carnival opened! The bright, blinding lights against the deep blue sky beckoned seas of people, far and wide
to visit. Children and families were drawn to the lights like moths. Looming above them stood an enormous ferris
wheel that immediately caught the crowd’s eye. The monstrosity that was considered a fun event stood among the
clouds, spinning its caged occupants around and around with the wind blowing in their faces, as though they were
inside a washing machine.
The people watched the rest of the carnival float away from their feet as they took in the breathtaking view of the
sleeping city. Teenagers and adults tossed rings around bowling pins, threw darts at targets and were rewarded
with candies and large stuffed toys, envied by the children. They fished bobbing rubber ducks out of a mini lake,
and each time one was caught the winner shrieked with delight. The children were especially attracted to the
bumper cars, decorated with spectacular lights. They zoomed around haphazardly and dangerously, giggling with
laughter and screaming with delight. They crashed and chased each other around until the cars screeched to a
halt. As they walked away, children begged their parents for one more ride.
People walked down the street, inhaling the scent buttery, salty, caramel-coated popcorn buckets
beckoning them to the shops. Many stood munching on fatty snacks and sipping on sodas that bubbled
out of their cups. Children jumped up and down pleading with their parents to buy them a stick of pink,
fluffy cotton candy that was half their size. Parents gave in, reminiscing at the memories of carnivals of their own
childhood. As night approaches, the crowds only get bigger and bigger, as the buzz of carnival music and cheerful
shouts fill the air. Clouds dotted the skies like cotton candy, threatening to pour rain and ruin the fun. More
dazzling lights brighten the sky as happiness and joy spreads through the crowd like the plague.
Descriptive Sample - The Carnival

15. Activity - Choose any one topic and write
350-450 words
Describe a drive through an unfamiliar
neighbourhood.
Describe the scene from your window.
Describe any gift that you have treasured and holds
significance in your life.
01
02
03

16. Checklist for Descriptive
Does the piece contain figurative language? Yes/No
Is there at least one, and preferably more, adjective before each noun? Yes/No
Are all five senses included, or at least implied, not just vision? Yes/No
Are color descriptions in precise shades, perhaps using compound adjectives? Yes/No
Are the sentence lengths varied, with some complex sentences included? Yes/No
Are there personal and imaginative elements, not just facts and statistics? Yes/No
Is the description free from everyday verbs like have and got, and vague adjectives like
nice, good, big, small?
Yes/No
Do the sentences begin in different ways (avoiding beginning them all with It)? Yes/No
Is an atmosphere evoked which engages the reader? Yes/No