5.1.3

Descriptive Writing

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Section B: Descriptive Writing

A descriptive piece uses sensory detail (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) to describe a place, person or feeling. There is no story line. Here are some tips for writing a descriptive piece:

Use figurative language

Use figurative language

  • Using figurative language helps to bring descriptions to life.
  • Figurative language uses figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive or impactful. Such devices include metaphors and similes.
    • E.g. My bedroom is a freezer!
Figurative language - example

Figurative language - example

  • Read this example:
    • There were lots of people in the room. It was crowded. I was feeling claustrophobic. I started to panic.
  • These sentences are grammatically correct, but the description is boring. Let's now look at an example using figurative language:
    • The people in the room were bunched together like battery chickens on a tiny farm. Panic rushed over me like a wave crashing into shore. Claustrophobia swallowed me.
    • The similes and personification in these sentences make the writing much more exciting.
Use vocabulary to create the right tone

Use vocabulary to create the right tone

  • The tone of your writing is very important. The tone is the writer's feelings towards what they are describing.
  • To create the right tone:
    • Choose words carefully - using positive adjectives will help to create a light-hearted feel. Using negative/aggressive adjectives will help to create a foreboding atmosphere.
    • Use varied sentences - using short, simple sentences will help to create suspense and quicken the pace. Using long, complex sentences will slow the pace and create a relaxed feel.
Tone - examples

Tone - examples

  • The howling, raging storm smashed everything in its path.
    • The aggressive adjectives help to create a negative tone. The writer wants us to think of the storm as a negative force.
  • The sweet, little girl flickered her sky-blue eyes as she tossed her honey golden locks.
    • The positive adjectives create a positive tone. The writers wants us to think of the girl as an attractive and likeable character.
Tone - examples

Tone - examples

  • He looked. He looked again. Where was she? Where had she gone? Panic smacked Joe in the face. She was missing. Gone without a trace.
    • The series of simple, short sentences help to create suspense and quicken the pace - reflecting Joe's panic.
  • The golden sun stretched out his magnificent arms and spread honey rays far and wide, warming his beloved Earth and waking her creatures one and all.
    • The long, complex sentence creates a relaxed feel - reflecting this lethargic start to the day.
Use a range of language devices

Use a range of language devices

  • Language devices play a key role in creative writing. Using a variety of the language devices covered in the 'Key Terms' section can help you to:
    • Make your writing more interesting.
    • Engage the reader in your story or help them to visualise your description.
    • Help you to build up the image/experience you have in your own head.
  • We will recap these language devices in the 'Checklist of Techniques' section.
Good techniques

Good techniques

  • Adjectives.
  • Analogies.
  • Metaphors and similes.
  • Devices that create a visual picture in the reader's mind.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terms

1.1

Key Terms

1.1.1Key Terms - Nouns, Verbs & Sentences1.1.2Key Terms - Sentence and Clause Types1.1.3Key Terms - Words, Sounds & Language1.1.4Key Terms - Types of Language1.1.5Key Terms - Images, Symbols & Mood1.1.6Key Terms - Mood & Feelings1.1.7Key Terms - Other Techniques1.1.8End of Topic Test - Key Terms
2

Language Devices

2.1

Language Devices

2.1.1Metaphors2.1.2Similes2.1.3Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning2.1.4Personification2.1.5Pathetic Fallacy2.1.6Puns & Oxymorons2.1.7Hyperbole & Emotive Language2.1.8Alliteration2.1.9Sibilance2.1.10Onomatopoeia2.1.11Recap: Language Devices2.1.12End of Topic Test - Language Devices
3

Writing Structure

3.1

Writing Structure

3.1.1Narrators3.1.2Paragraphs3.1.3Tense3.1.4Present vs Past vs Future Tense3.1.5Foreshadowing3.1.6Structure3.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Structure
4

Section B: Reading & Writing

4.1

Writing Formats

4.1.1Letter4.1.2Reports & Essays4.1.3Journal/Diary Entry4.1.4Speech4.1.5Newspaper Article4.1.6Leaflet4.1.7Review4.1.8Travel Writing4.1.9End of Topic Test - Writing Formats
4.2

Writing to...

4.2.1Writing to Inform4.2.2Writing to Inform - Example4.2.3Writing to Explain4.2.4Writing to Explain - Example4.2.5Writing to Persuade4.2.6Writing to Persuade - Example4.2.7Writing to Argue4.2.8Writing to Argue - Example4.2.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue4.2.10Writing to Advise4.2.11Writing to Advise - Example4.2.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
4.3

Acronym of Techniques - DAFORESTAR

4.3.1Direct Address4.3.2Alliteration4.3.3Facts4.3.4Opinions4.3.5Repetition4.3.6Exaggeration (Hyperbole)4.3.7Statistics4.3.8Triple (Rule of 3)4.3.9Emotive Language4.3.10Rhetorical Questions4.3.11End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER
5

Section C: Writing

5.1

Writing Task

5.1.1Discursive Writing5.1.2Narrative Writing5.1.3Descriptive Writing5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Task

Practice questions on Descriptive Writing

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    You are describing a beautiful sunset over a beach. What kind of sentences should you use to create the right tone?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What techniques should you use to enhance your descriptive writing?Fill in the list
  3. 3
    You are describing a police chase. You want to quicken the pace of your narrative. What kind of sentences should you use?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which sentence uses vocabulary effectively to create a disapproving tone?Multiple choice
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Narrative Writing

End of Topic Test - Writing Task