Name: ___________________________________ Period: _____
Date: ___________________
Extended Writing Project – Blast
DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS
“A dense yet bright, grey mist blanketed the sky. Ropes of glittering white swung down from the
rooftops like vines. A string of white dollops atop apartment house trash cans looked like an unclasped
strand of pearls. The tall evergreens stood still and silent, their branches fattening with the frosting of a
cold, winter treat.”
In other words, it was snowing.
However, to paint a vivid picture for a reader, it is not enough to simply say, “it was snowing.” When we
read any type of writing, and particularly narrative writing, we need details. It is the descriptions of
characters, setting, actions, and emotions that transform a story from words on the page into images
and sensations, even whole experiences, that are particular and special.
Descriptions that help a reader understand characters, for example, include details about how they look,
what they are wearing, which emotions their facial expressions reveal, and what they are thinking
versus what they say. Details of setting include time, location, appearance of the place, and the
atmosphere, for example. Details of plot refer to descriptions of the conflict, including the severity of
the problem and whether the problem is getting better or worse.
To achieve precise and powerful descriptions, authors use adjectives and adverbs, as well as specific
nouns and verbs. However, authors do not only need to paint a picture for readers. They also need to
convey information. Consider the difference between, for example, “the man looked mean” and “the
stranger’s stern mouth was lassoed by a thin, dastardly moustache.” What do you learn from the first
phrase? There is a man, and he looks mean. But in the second phrase, the writer conveys a person’s
status (new in town, with the noun “stranger”), gender (male, from the “moustache”), and personality
(not nice, gathered from “stern mouth,” and from “dastardly” and “thin” to describe the moustache). A
strong verb such as “lassoed” suggests a Wild West setting.
Writers can also use sensory details, or words describing touches, sights, sounds, tastes, and smells, to
help draw a reader into a the world of a story. Consider the difference between “the room was crowded
and loud” and “the summer heat seemed to radiate off the guests’ bodies, the din of their voices
thrumming over the unending drone of the party music.” Look not only at the facts that are shared, but
also at the information each phrase conveys.
Authors also use figurative language—such as simile and metaphor—to describe what characters are
seeing, experiencing, or feeling. The figurative language, though, needs to be right for the moment. For
example, “I was sad about it” might be just right for one narrator. For another narrator, a metaphor
such as “My face became a puddle of tears” might be more appropriate. A character that likes to talk
might include similes, such as “My heart felt as heavy as a quarry stone, and my head pounded like a
jack-hammer.” The trick for the author, of course, is to use words that are engaging and necessary, and
not to overdo it!
Name: ___________________________________ Period: _____
Date: ___________________
As you write your own stories, think about how descriptive details can help you. How do descriptions
enhance the mood or tone of the story and create a vivid experience for readers? How can details bring
a story to life?
Draft with Sentence Frame
Use the sentence frame below to write a draft of your blast response.
When writing a story, details can bring it to life because ...
Blast Glossary
As you read the Background section of the Blast, look for these key words and use the definitions below
to help you understand the information.
Word or Phrase
Meaning
dense
thick
dollop
a shapeless mass of something
transform
change
sensations
feelings or awareness
severity
seriousness, importance
convey
communicate
drone
steady sound
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