Descriptive Writing

Descriptive Writing An exploration of vivid language

Assignment #1- becoming familiar with descriptive writing • Read The King of the Golden River by John Ruskin • Create a 10 word glossary of exceptional words • Include: word, POS, definition, sentence from book and a sentence of your creation. Highlight each word, skip spaces between each word entry • Grade based on variety, accuracy of definition to word in context, accuracy and creativity of use in a sentence LOOSE LEAF • Fill in handout with questions, include image with title • Quiz

What makes good description writing? • Take time to brainstorm • Clear and concise language • Choose vivid language (denotation/connotation) • show don’t tell

What makes good description writing? • Use your senses • What were you thinking?!?! • Leave the reader with a clear impression- purpose! • Use figurative language

Assignment 2-writing descriptive sentences • Choose 2 topics provided. For each topic, write 2-3 descriptive sentences that might appear in a paragraph describing the topic. • COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK • Choose 1 to revise on ½ sheet to turn in

Assignment 2-writing descriptive sentences cont. • Times Square on New Year’s Eve • 100 year old house • Battle of Gettysburg • The electricity suddenly going out • Shopping on the day after Thanksgiving • An expert juggler at work

Assignment #3- writing descriptive sentences • Rewrite the sentence to make them more interesting. Replace vague and boring words- add descriptive words. • Be better than the one that comes before . . . .

Assignment #3- writing descriptive sentences cont. • Stanley works in a small office without windows. • My mother criticized me for staying out too late. • Just at the critical moment, Randy dropped the ball. • The puppy chewed on a toy. • The test was hard and took a long time.

Assignment 4- change the mood*do after handout, read 338 org. loyola • Rewrite the sentences using different verbs and adjectives to set a new mood- be able to identify mood before and after- see ½ slip for more instructions- use loose leaf

Organization • Chronological (order event unfolds) • spatial(how they appear in a given order ( top to bottom or left to right) • order of importance( least to most or most to least) • compare and contrast

Assignment 5- order • Read the paragraphs provided- and identify their method of organization- put it on a post-it note with your name

FREE WRITE • Choose from the following topics- begin with organizing ideas and listing relative words, think about mood and organization then start writing! • Should be written in composition notebook

Topics for free write • A special room in your house • A favorite or most disastrous meal experience • A cherished childhood toy • A monumental event in your life • An influential person in your life • Vacation memory • A childhood mishap

Assignment 6 details and organization List 4 details you might include in writing about one of the following topics. Tell which form or organization you would use in writing a paragraph on each topic and explain why. PUT ON LOOSE LEAF

Assignment 6 details and organization cont. • A stray dog that wandered up to your picnic table • The kitchen in your home after you have made dinner • A perfect summer day • An invention that changed history ( choose one) • The network of highways surrounding a city

Denotation&COnnotation • Denotation- literal meanings • Connotation- implied meanings • Example: you want to describe someone you spend time with and whom you trusted- you would want to say “friend” or “pal” not “acquaintance” or “colleague”

Denotation&COnnotation Use the dictionary to find the denotation of each word. Then use a thesaurus to find three synonyms with DIFFERENT CONNOTATIONS for each word

Denotation&COnnotation • said • shy • rare • walk • colorful • clothing

Denotation&COnnotation • Said-to express in words; state; declare Rambled- to talk endlessly to the point of annoying Lilted- A cheerful or lively manner of speaking Hissed- a sound uttered as an exclamation of contempt, anger

Denotation&COnnotation Choose two words. Find each word in a thesaurus. Write a sentence or 2 to emphasize a mood fake eerie sloppy slow

Figurative Language • Like connotations, figurative language goes beyond literal meanings • Simile • Metaphor • Personification • Hyperbole

Figurative Language • Simile- uses like or as to compare two unrelated things ( The pillow is as soft as a cloud.) • Metaphor- implied comparison- no like or as (Her poems are caravans of the imagination. )

Figurative Language • Personification- figure of speech that allows an idea, inanimate object or animal to take on the qualities of a person (Outside, the wind shrieked through the eves of the house.) • Hyperbole- deliberate exaggeration to reveal a truth (Ana can talk until your ears fall off.)

Figurative language • Clichés- • As busy as a • Slept like a • As happy as a • Green with • As hungry as a • Fits like a • Eats like a • Cry like a • As smart as a • Stick out like a • As slow as

Figurative language • Identify the noun that is personified in each sentence. Identify the words that give human qualities to that noun.

Figurative Language • Two huge Tudor houses stand sentry at the end of the block.

Figurative Language Just when Alan recovered, a second injury robbed him of his chance to play football.

Figurative Language I’m afraid a colony of termites has gained a foothold in our basement.

Figurative Language • Autumn, brightly dressed, danced through the park.

Figurative Language • The shy sun peeped out from behind a cloud.

Figurative Language The clouds grew dark and cried rain upon the baseball game.

Figurative Language • After a few well-placed kicks, the machine spit out our candy bars.

Figurative Language • The engine is starting to cough when the car comes to a stop.

Figurative Language The fields sleep under a blanket of snow.

2 finished pieces Long piece Short piece • 200 words • Uses one of topics provided • Hand written • To be shared aloud* or you may share a memorized short descriptive poem or stanza* must bet approval • Due first • 450 words • Uses different topic provided • Typed • Some will be shared • Due second- submitted by email**

Descriptive Writing