Name: _____________________ My Descriptive Paragraph Painting a Picture with Words You will be writing a descriptive paragraph that thoroughly describes the image you have chosen. Your paragraph will contain the following elements: 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 1. A topic sentence that hooks the reader and indicates what you’re describing. 2. Supporting details that are relevant to your topic and help “paint a picture” of what you’re describing to the reader. The use of figurative language (ie: similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, and maybe even alliteration and allusion) to describe your details in a creative and original way. The use of sensory language that appeals to the reader’s senses to help them to better imagine what you’re describing. The use of strong verbs and adjectives to make your writing interesting. A closing sentence that neatly wraps up your paragraph. Close attention to proper spelling and grammar. Setting the Scene: imagine that your reader cannot see the image that you’re describing. What, in a brief sentence, do you want to describe to your reader? What impression or feeling do you want them to have of the image? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Creating a Topic Sentence: come up with a creative Don’t pack your topic sentence that both introduces the T.S. too full of paragraph’s subject/topic and captures the reader’s details. That’s what attention in an original way. Your topic sentence the rest of the paragraph is for. should begin to capture the feeling that you referred to above. Do it in your Writer’s Notebook first, in case you want to tweak it. Put your final version below. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Name: _____________________ Details: outline all of the specific, nitty-gritty details you will describe in your paragraph – remember to consider all of the senses (if you can). Keep in mind that the details that you decide to describe have to support whatever it is you’ve set out to describe – they need to be relevant to your topic sentence. Techniques to Use: simile metaphor personification hyperbole onomatopoeia alliteration allusion strong verbs powerful adjectives sensory language Name: _____________________ Describing the Details: use the table below to come up with some specific, creative descriptions of some of the details. Not every sentence needs to use figurative language, but every sentence and description should contribute to the reader’s visual understanding of the image. Try a variety of techniques. Variety is important; you wouldn’t want a whole garden filled with one flower… Detail from Image Description Technique(s) Used Detail from Image Description Technique(s) Used Name: _____________________ Wrapping it Up: come up with an interesting and powerful way to conclude your paragraph. Your closing sentence should remind readers of what you just described, leaving them with a lasting idea of the person, place, or thing in their minds; do not leave your reader hanging mid-description of a specific detail. Zoom back out and give an overview of that same feeling, emotion, or general description that you outlined in your topic sentence. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Putting it all Together: it’s now time to draft your full paragraph. Transfer your topic sentence, supporting details, and closing sentence into your Writer’s Notebook in full, organized sentences. You may need to add some things here and there to ensure that your sentences flow nicely together. Start paying close attention to proper spelling, punctuation, and sentence variety. Name: _____________________