Sense Writing Exploring descriptive writing through the five senses

1. Sense WritingExploring descriptive writing through the five senses Mrs. Hill Clear Lake Middle School 8th Grade Language Arts

2. Show…Don’t Tell **Choose one of the following topic sentences **Write a descriptive paragraph about that particular topic **5-7 compound/complex sentences **Be sure to use various wording **ALWAYS pay attention to the corrections discussed in class

3. Show…Don’t Tell Sentences to choose from: 1. There were many interesting costumes at the party. 2. Spring will soon be here. 3. The students were having fun. 4. She was exhausted.

4. Sense of Sight Sight words describe appearance, shapes, movements, and colors. In each sentence below, choose the word that creates the most specific picture for the reader:

5. Sense of Sight • Two squirrels (jumped, leaped) from branch to branch. • The thief was seen (loitering, walking) in the alley. • The colt’s glossy coat gleamed (amber, brown) in the sun. • We all (ran, scrambled) to be first at the bus stop. • Sara’s (freckled, spotted) face grew ashen in fear. • The (chubby, portly) two-year-old clapped his hands in delight. • The exhausted woman (plodded, walked) into the classroom. • The (dotted, dappled) fawn trailed after its mother.

6. Red—brick, crimson, cranberry Blue—sapphire, teal, royal Yellow—gold, custard White—enamel, chalk Black—tar, midnight, pitch Purple—violet, indigo, bruise Gray—ashen, dull, slate, metal Brown—amber, tan, beige Green—emerald Appearance—singed, hollow, chipped, cracked, frayed, rough, large, meek (weak) Movement (fast)—hustle, scramble, scurry, scram Movement (slow)—walk, shuffle, plod, crawl, waddle, loiter Shapes—octagon, oval, squiggly, pentagon, hexagon, circular, cluster, acute, obtuse, portly, chubby, sharp, shrunken Sense of SightAdd additional words to each category:

7. Sense of Sight Homework assignment: *Using the ideas we have been discussing about writing (length and structure), write a paragraph about the following: Describe a sunset. Example topic sentence: The orange glow of the sun melted into the puffy clouds.

8. Sense of Sight: Sunset I watch as the crimson, orange globe dives closer and closer to the flowing green lake. Finally, I see it touch down and begin to sink farther below the trees, hills, slopes, rocks, dirt, and grass into unknown territory. It is making a desperate struggle by shooting beams of yellow, orange, and red light into the baby blue sky. I see it traveling farther down, wishing I could help the innocent globe, but I'm useless. Then, all of a sudden, it disappears below the emerald horizon, and everything goes black.

9. Sense of Sight: Sunset The red and orange sun began sinking its way back into the depths of space. The tints of red, orange, and pink that flooded the sky was a masterpiece. Although the sun was setting, the sky's colors turned even more rich and full. The last glimmer off the azure sea looks like a thousand diamonds dancing on blue silk. The sun’s last few rays came dancing down, and I saw the green flash. Although the sun has set, I continue to watch its painting flow across the heavens. The suns farewell is the most beautiful goodbye there is.

10. Sense of Hearing Choose the word that creates the most vivid sound for the reader to hear.

11. Sense of Hearing • Sam (bellows, sounds) like a bull when he is angry. • We heard the hens (peep, cackle) in alarm. • The squeaking chalk (grated, scraped) on my ears. • Jane’s (whining, piercing) voice rose above the crowd. • Jim (jingled, clanged) the coins in his pocket. • Raindrops (thumped, pattered) on the cottage roof.

12. Loud Howl Rip Bang Shattered/crack March Boom Thrash gallop Grinding yelp whoosh Bellow Roar pop Soft Groan Whimper Tap Gasp Hum Peep echo crunch murmur Scuttle Squeak Patter Ting Chirp Whisper (psst) Sense of HearingAdd additional words to each category: Speech Whimper Roar Slur Bellow Rasp Mumble yell/yelp Firm/bold Breath Squeak Scream Whining questioning

13. Sense of Hearing Write a phrase for each of the following. Make your reader HEAR the sound in their mind. Example: a chair The chair scraped and scratched its way across the floor. • A movie theatre (before the movie begins) • School dismissal • A traffic jam

14. Sense of Hearing Homework assignment: *Using the ideas we have been discussing about writing (length and structure), write a paragraph about the following: Imagine that you were surfing when a storm blew in. The waves crashed in around you as you tried desperately to get back to shore. You couldn't see anything. All you could hear was the roar of the waves. Describe the sounds.

15. Sense of Touch/Feel Choose the touch word that best creates a vivid picture. • Sam’s frostbitten finger’s felt (cold, numb). • Lisa felt (stabs, prickles) of fear as she entered the cave. • Jim refused to touch the (wet, slimy) seaweed. • A (bad, stabbing) pain shot through Joe’s finger. • The old man’s face was (tough, leathery) from the sun.

16. cool scalding sticky damp slippery waxy rubbery crisp slick steamy grainy frosty prickly bitter singed fine dull scale shocked warm satiny furry hot leathery soft sandy silky smooth coarse shaggy rough wrinkled rigid parched melted Sense of Touch/FeelAdd additional words:

17. Sense of Touch/Feel Homework assignment: *Using the ideas we have been discussing about writing (length and structure), write a paragraph about one of the following: 1. Walking along a beach or road on a hot day 2. Trudging through snow in January 3. Walking in the rain on a warm spring day

18. Sense of Taste and Smell Write answers to the following questions: • What tastes do you like? Dislike? • Write a phrase describing the taste of your favorite food. • What is your favorite smell? • What does your room smell like? • What are some classrooms in the school that have distinct smells? • Can you think of a memory associated with a smell?

19. Taste buttery fruity stale tart creamy tangy dull Smell perfumed earthy sulphurous skunky musky mothballs sweaty herbal musty (old) cinnamon sweet Sense of Taste and SmellAdd additional words to each category:

20. Sense of Taste and Smell Choose the word that creates the most vivid picture. • An (acrid, horrible) smell remained long after the fire. • The rotting fish had a (putrid, unbearable) odor. • The air smells (wonderful, clean) after a summer thunderstorm. • Old coats can smell (bad, musty).

21. Sense of Taste and Smell Homework assignment: *Using the ideas we have been discussing about writing (length and structure), write a paragraph about following: You are lying in bed on Saturday morning when you awaken to the aroma of coffee percolating and bacon frying along with other foods. Describe the smells of breakfast cooking.   

22. Sense of Taste and Smell Spend a few minutes “tasting” or “smelling” the following objects. Then write a sentence that describes it vividly. For example: The wet couch smelled of mothballs. a lemon drop a piece of toast a pencil a fire toothpaste

23. Sense of Smell Write a paragraph describing one of the scenes below (incorporate any/all senses). When finished, write an acrostic poem describing that same scene (use phrases). Try to capture the distinctive odor of the scene you choose to describe. Doctor’s office (DOCTOR) Bakery (BAKERY) Flower shop (FLOWER)

24. Sense Document Paragraphs/Assignments to be typed on Sense Document: Be sure to highlight or underline all sense words **Sense of Sight: Sunset **Sense of Hearing: Waves **Sense of Hearing: Writing Cycle **Sense of Touch/Feel: (choice of topic from list) **Sense of Taste and Smell: Breakfast **Sense of Smell: (choice of topic from list) **Sense of Smell: Acrostic Poem

25. Final Sense Writing Refer to the link on this page entitled Final Sense Writing

26. Extra Credit (10 points) Write two to three paragraphs creating a scene. Appeal to ALL of thesenses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Make sure you include each sense at least twice (underline your sense words). Your reader should feel as though they are right in your setting. Due on the same date as your final sense writing (by the end of the school day)—only a FINAL DRAFT is needed! A supermarket A day at the beach or pool An accident Eating at a restaurant