Continuing Descriptive Writing:
Task 1: Revision
Important Points :
(a) Word choice
Nice
Delicious /Tasty
Examples :
We had a really nice lunch.
We enjoyed a tasty meal at lunch time.
The children has a great party.
The children had a thrilling time during the
party.
(b) Observation
Example 1:
“The colour is repellent, almost revolting; a smouldering,
unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight.
It is a dull yet lurid orange in some places, a sickly sulphur
tint in others.”
The descriptions of colour here are visual imagery.
By using a combination of commonplace and unusual
language to describe colour, it makes us imagine the actual
colour of the wallpaper and imbues it with emotional weight,
transforming this room into a symbol of the character’s
(person’s ) emotional frustration and oppression.
Example 2 :
“The vast swells of the omnipotent sea; the surging, hollow
roar they made, as they rolled along the eight gunwales, like
gigantic bowls in a boundless bowling-green; the brief
suspended agony of the boat, as it would tip for an instant on
the knife-like edge of the sharper waves, that almost seemed
threatening to cut it in two; the sudden profound dip into the
watery glens and hollows; the keen spurrings and goadings
to gain the top of the opposite hill; the headlong, sled-like
slide down its other side;—all these, with the cries of the
headsmen and harpooneers, and the shuddering gasps of
the oarsmen, with the wondrous sight of the ivory Pequod
bearing down upon her boats with outstretched sails, like a
wild hen after her screaming brood;—all this was thrilling.”
(c) Describing scenes
Examples
"The room was square with a window
along one side. It had four chairs and
a TV and video. There was a drinks
cabinet and computer in the corner.
The carpet was red and the ceiling
cream."
"The room was brightly lit by a large
window and housed several modern
pieces of electrical equipment but the
effect was softened by a drinks
cabinet and a warm red carpet."
It was raining. The clouds were
heavy. Maria stepped out her house.
There were men standing wearing
raincoats waiting in the bus stand for
the bus to arrive.
"A wet, dull day greeted Maria as she
stepped into the grey light. Men
huddled by in drab wet coats or
stood in dismal doorways waiting for
a bus which never seemed to arrive."
(d) Describing people :
 What
would this sort of person say?
 What
would this sort of person do?
 What
would this sort of person think?
 How
this person appears ?
Examples :
"Maria had blonde shoulder length
hair and blue eyes. She wore a gold
chain and a tight blue dress. She had
blue leather shoes and carried a
briefcase."
"Maria was smart and efficient in a
stylish way.
This description encourages the
reader's imagination, creating an image
rather than a list.
Maria's eyes widened and sparkled
as she read the news, her mouth
slowly turned upwards."
Maria's eyes darted from side to side.
She moistened her lips and
swallowed hard."
A writer controls how a reader sees characters.
"Parker was tall and slim and walked
effortlessly across the room."
Parker was lanky and skinny and
strode across the room in an
ungainly manner."
Uses flattering words
uses negative words
the reader could get a very different impression of Parker
Task 2 : Exercises
Q1. Which of the following is the most effective piece of description?



A really nice vase of flowers was on the window ledge
A wonderful display of flowers was on the window ledge
The vibrant colours of the vase of flowers on the window ledge seemed
to bring the whole room to life
Q2. Which of the following is the most effective piece of description?

I remember the old railway station well - it was always crowded with men and
children playing. We used to sit on the steps and watch the cargo being
unloaded. Sometimes we would get an orange and sit and eat that.

I remember the old railway station well - it was situated in the High Street
about a mile from where we used to live. It was opposite a grocer's shop and
a bakery.

I remember the old railway station well - it was always crowded with men
shouting orders and children playing and laughing with one another. We used
to sit on the rough stone steps and watch the sacks of tea and oranges being
unloaded. Sometimes we would be thrown an orange by the foreman and
would spend hours sucking its sweet, tangy flesh.