Purposes and Patterns in Writing & Descriptive Writing

1. Purposes and Patterns in Writing & Descriptive Writing Fall 2012 Ms. Brown

2. General Purposes • Knowing WHY you’re doing an assignment can help you complete a task. • In other words, don’t think of the obvious reasons… • “I want to get a good grade.” • Think instead of trying to… • Inspire • Explain • Entertain • Inform • Persuade

3. Patterns in Writing • We call patterns in writing rhetorical modes or methods of development • These methods of development are like the colors in a painter’s easel. There will be primary and secondary shadings in the essay • There are… • Descriptive paragraphs or essays • Illustration or Exemplification paragraphs or essays • Definition paragraphs or essays • Process paragraphs or essays • Comparison and Contrast paragraphs or essays • Argument paragraphs or essays

4. Descriptive Writing Subjective Description Strives for precision and objectivity Conveys the subject without emotion Most often used in scientific writing Filters the subject through a firsthand experience Draws on emotion Most often used in personal essays or creative writing Objective Description

5. Descriptive Writing • You should always strive for a dominant impression (a central theme, idea, or feeling) with your descriptive writing. • Having a consistent point of view is helpful in creating a dominant impression. • Physical: a real or imagined relation to the subject (Ex. mountain) • Psychological: personal or impersonal (Ex. I, He, or She)

6. Descriptive Writing • You want to remember the five senses when you’re writing descriptively. These will help the reader understand and experience what you’re describing. The 5 senses include: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. • Metaphorical language is also useful: • Simile: “She runs like a turtle on the track.” • Metaphor: “She is a turtle on the track.”

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