Descriptive Writing: How to write Descriptive writing.

 

Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing is a factual essay which is mainly written to describe place, person, event or anything that interests the writer or is asked in the exam paper. The format particularly is of the essay writing that fulfils the requirement of any formal, factual writing. Sometimes it falls into the category of the Narrative and the Fictional genre when the personal experience or any interesting event is described in a story form.

Features:

Tone:           Factual Writing

Register:     Formal

Purpose:     To Inform

Audience:   General / Specific

 

Structure of the descriptive Writing

1.        Introduction:

An introduction is the firm base to establish any essay; it tends to provide a brief background information and a catchy start to the writing to which it proceeds.

2.          Series of Paragraphs:

          There are three paragraphs that follow the introduction and classically are considered the body of the essay with all the subtle details of the topic.

These paragraphs are written separately having a one point of view to describe convincingly with all the necessary information about the happening or being of the topic chosen to illustrate.

The topic should elucidate all the physical features and the movement that is concerned to the topic to exhibit all aspects and facets to keep the reader interested in the description. The task can be accomplished by using figures of speech and adjectives more effectively.

Tinged by the Rhetorical ends but avoiding the excess of it. The essay should present more lifelike imagery to create literally a visual and pictorial quality to the text. Light humorous, contemporary style of writing with the embellishment of literary taste.

 

3.          Conclusion:

The last paragraph sums up the above without adding any further comments or descriptions to it.

 

4.        The standard format of essay writing has five paragraphs. It can vary regarding the needs and projects in hand.

 

Language

1.  The tenses will be according to the topic, for past happenings or anything that is present at the moment and is being described.

2. Past tense will be used for the events that had happened a while ago.

3. Present tense for the person, place or thing.

4. Effective use of adjectives and action verbs.

 

5. Metaphors and similes to shape the edges of the descriptions into lively images.

Eg. The soft wind touched her rosy face and whispered in her ears.  

The herald and the harbinger of the spring proclaimed her victory over all the odds and the beginning of the new auspicious era.

6. Grammatically Error Free texts.

7.  Use of Standard English.

8.  Formal writing.

 

 

Do’s

1.  Use figures of speech.

2.  Create visual impact.

3.  Show the scenes and situations.

4.  Use connectors for the starting of the paragraphs.

5.  Use fresh vocabulary, phrases and lines, refrain from beaten tracks and clichés.

 

Dont’s

1. Repetition of the points or phrases.

2. Avoid improper slang language.

3.  Avoid, strongly contradictory remarks or judgements or bragging.

4.  Avoid abrupt starts or endings.

5.  Avoid monotony or irrelevant details.

     Important:

1.  The description should be a complete picture rather than disjointed scattered pieces of information.

2.  The text should be an appeal to the sensory appetite maintaining the interest factor to entertain the reading.

3.  All the elements mentioned above should be integrated perfectly to achieve the beauty of the descriptive skill.

Optional:

Note: [Not to be considered for Level exam papers.]

4. Add pictures, animated figures or relevant graphical representation.

5.  Word count should be according to the requirement of the purpose.

6.  Adding of headings and sub- headings.