The document discusses how to write an effective descriptive narrative using the five senses to appeal to the audience. It emphasizes painting a picture with words and provides examples of how to use metaphors, similes, and personification to describe experiences vividly. The document also outlines the main patterns for organizing a descriptive narrative, including chronological, spatial, and psychological order. It stresses the importance of choosing which questions to answer like who, what, when, where, why, and how to include relevant narrative details.

1. Karen S.
Wright

2. When writing a
descriptive
narrative, it is
important to use the
five senses to appeal
to your audience.
painting a picture
with words.

3. Everyone likes a good story. . . .
• We go to movies.
•We read books.
•We listen as others tell their
stories.
•We tell our children stories.
•We tell our friends “what happened
last weekend.”

4. Sometimes when we hear or tell a story,
we ask: “What is the reason for that
story?”
•When we write, ask—What is the
purpose?
•To entertain
•To inform
•To instruct
To persuade

5. Repeatedly ask yourself:
What point am I trying
to make?
What is the aim of this
story?
Who is my audience

6. A brief descriptive narrative =
can also be called, an anecdote.
Sometimes we use anecdotes
• To make a point
•To draw a picture
•To produce an emotional
response
•To emphasize a point

7. Example: Spring is
like the promise of
a new opportunity,
a new beginning, or
a new chapter that
gives hope.
Use metaphors or
similes to describe
experience.

8. Example: The
gentle quiet of the
flowing river
winding through
the tiny village,
seems to touch
the depth of the
human spirit.

9. Use personification to give human
characteristics to inanimate objects
Example: With
majestic arms
stretching toward the
evening sky, the
dancing tree patiently
sways waiting for the
special moment to
embrace the setting
sun for its final

10. Vivid words paint vibrant pictures.
Example: Raging,
crashing waves
unrelentingly whip
the humble, century-
old lighthouse
causing it to succumb
to such fierce anger

11. 1. Chronological/Sequ
ential
2. Spatial
3. Psychological
There are the three main patterns used for
writing the descriptive narrative.

12. This kind of order arranges events in the
order that they happen in time.
Today is a special
day! First I grab my
cap and gown chasing
my dreams of forever,
then I meet my friends
for lunch; suddenly, I
realize that the future
calls my name.

13. Logical order is like this city’s logical order
of buildings.
•Organizational
order
•Order of a room
•Order of a town
•Order of a city

14. Up Down Next
Beside Behind Under
South North East
West Above Over

15. Use psychological order to discuss the
importance of events, objects, or things.
•Most important to
least important
•Least important to
most important
•Over-rated to
under-rated
•Under-rated to
over-rated

16. Who? How?
What? When?
Where? Why?
Use supporting details to answer these
questions:

17. •Carefully choose which
questions to answer (who,
what, when, where, why,
and how).
•Select narrative details
fitting all of those pieces
together like a puzzle.
•Avoid boring detail .

18. 1. What is the point? Write out a
statement on the point of the
narration.
2. Which ideas will you use? Who, what,
when, where, why, or how questions.
3. Then begin organizing your ideas.
4. Write
5. Revise
6. Proofread

19. This kind of writing
carefully paints
colorful pictures of
experience by
developing creative,
meaningful images
in the reader’s mind.