English 120 – Rosichan
Describing Exercises for Chapter 15
15.2
Turn to Annie Dillard’s “An American Childhood” in Chapter 2, pp. 18–19. Read paragraphs 12
and 13, and underline the names that Dillard uses to describe the circuitous route she runs while
the stranger is chasing her. Begin underlining with the words house, path, tree, and bank in the
opening sentence. How do you think the amount of naming Dillard does contributes to the
description’s vividness — measured by your ability to imagine the chase scene?
15.4
Look again at paragraphs 12 and 13 of Annie Dillard’s essay in Chapter 2, pp. 18–19. In
Exercise 15.2, you underlined the names Dillard used. Now put brackets around the details. You
might begin, for example, with the modifiers yellow and backyard. How do you think detailing
contributes to Dillard’s description? How do these details help you imagine Dillard’s experience
of the chase?
15.5
Turn to paragraphs 10 and 13 of Amanda Coyne’s essay in Chapter 3, pp. 75–78. Read and put
brackets around the words that detail the description of Stephanie and her son, Ellie. If you have
not read the entire essay, read it now, and consider how Coyne uses these contrasting
descriptions of the inmate and her son to emphasize her main point in the essay.
15.9
Turn to John T. Edge’s “I’m Not Leaving Until I Eat This Thing” in Chapter 3 (pp. 69–71), and
read paragraph 16. Underline the words describing the sense of smell. How do you think this bit
of sensory description helps readers imagine the scene?
15.12
Turn to Brian Cable’s “The Last Stop” in Chapter 3, and read the last paragraph. Underline the
language that describes the sense of touch. What does this detail add to your understanding of the
scene, and why might Cable have chosen to save it for the last paragraph of his profile?
15.14
Turn to John T. Edge’s “I’m Not Leaving Until I Eat This Thing” in Chapter 3 (pp. 69–71), an
essay about pickled pig’s lips. Read paragraphs 7 and 18, underlining any language that
describes or suggests the sense of taste. How well does this sensory description help you
participate in the writer’s experience?
15.15
Turn to Amanda Coyne’s essay in Chapter 3 (pp. 75–78) and read paragraph 3. What seems to
you to be the dominant impression of this description? What do you think contributes most to
this impression?