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.