Module 5 Descriptive Writing – Nature’s Wonders
Goals for this Module:
 Use descriptive language to express ideas and feelings
 Move from “vague” to “vivid”
 Practice using various forms of words
 Practice revising simple sentences
 Write similes and metaphors
 Describe a scene in a photo
Part I. Idea Generating – Nature’s Wonders
Exercise 1 (pair work) – Make a list of adjectives that describe the above photo or how
the scene can make someone feel. Your list should have 20 to 30 words. Then compare
your list with other students’ lists.
Example:
peaceful
calm
Exercise 2 – Using the words from exercise 1 write 3 sentences describing the photo:
1)
2)
3)
Working with Words
Exercise 3
List synonyms for the words in the table:
quiet
interesting
happy
sad
big
dangerous
Exercise 4
Write the various forms for the following words:
Noun
Adjective
Verb
Adverb
interesting
tranquility
inspire
motivation
difficult
calmly
excite
wonder
wander
Part II. Analyzing Descriptive Writing
Reading 1—Read the following essay and answers the questions.
Seasonal Changes
The sweltering heat and humidity of summer have given way to the cool crisp weather
of autumn.
For someone like me who has lived years in Los Angeles it is a pleasant change
to be living in a place that has four seasons including a “real” autumn.
Before coming to
Daejeon, my friends told me that the fall is the most beautiful time in Korea.
agree.
So far, I can
However, the pleasant weather has been just one of the notable changes.
From my
vantage point living near a university campus, the change began with the fall semester and
the return of students.
Almost over night, the Jayang Dong area went through a
metamorphosis in which throngs of students suddenly filled the previously quiet streets,
restaurants and “hoffs”.
The university neighborhood, as all campuses this time of year, is
bustling with young people enjoying one of the best times of their lives—their change into
adulthood.
Although change comes with challenges, changes in life are as inevitable as
changes of the seasons.
The seasonal change is visible in so many places.
decorations depict the autumn mood.
In shops and department stores, the
The clothes being sold both in boutiques and on the
streets downtown have changed from sexy summer wear to cozy winter warmth.
Some
traditional Korean restaurants have changed their menus to draw attention to dishes that fit
the seasonal change.
Change is ubiquitous.
Several weeks ago, I was hiking near Gyejoksan when I met a Korean man the same age
as me.
Without giving away our age in numbers, let’s just say we are both entering the
“autumn of life”.
“What is life?”
As we walked and talked along the mountain trails he suddenly asked me,
I thought it was a strange question from someone I had just met, but then I
thought he probably had not met many Americans and wanted to take the opportunity to get a
Westerner’s opinion on the question:
through the hills.
“What is Life?”
I thought about it as we walked
As I looked around at the beautiful serenity of the mountain slopes, I was
thinking the answer must be near.
The leaves were beginning to change color.
beginning to harvest the fruits of their labor from their mountain gardens.
Locals were
In the valley
below, farmers were harvesting some of the rice they had been growing all summer.
my answer to the man.
“Change.
That is what life is: Change.”
I gave
As autumn comes with the
harvest, cooler weather, full moons, falling leaves and all the other changes, most people
start to reflect on the past year as they prepare for winter.
We reap our harvest.
We
prepare for the long cold winter. We evaluate the changes we have made and we ponder the
changes that have made us.
Autumn is truly a beautiful season and a beautiful time to embrace change.
Exercise 1 – Questions
1) What is the main idea of this essay?
Which sentence states the main idea?
2) What is the writer comparing?
3) What does the writer mean by “autumn of life”?
4) What does the writer mean by “the changes that have made us”?
Exercise 2 – Write definitions for the words in bold.
1) vantage point –
2) throngs –
3) bustling –
4) inevitable –
5) ubiquitous –
6) harvest –
7) reap –
8) evaluate –
Part III. Writing Similes and Metaphors
Descriptive Writing
Descriptive writing is like painting a picture with words. Your goal is for your reader
to see the images you have in your mind clearly through words. You want your reader
to feel what you feel. Adjectives, adverbs and descriptive nouns are the colors you can
use to paint with words. Similes and metaphors can also help to create vivid
representations of your ideas for your reader.
Simile – A figure of speech comparing two unlike objects, phenomenon, animals or
people usually beginning with “like” or “as.”
 My brother dresses like a clown.
 The typhoon ripped through the city as if it were a hungry tiger tearing at its
dinner.
 He runs as slow as a turtle.
Metaphor - A figure of speech in which a word or phrase suggests a likeness or analogy
between two seemingly unrelated objects or ideas.
 She is so rich, she is drowning in money.
 The fierce storm dug its deadly sharp claws into the city ripping roofs off
houses and smashing windows.
 He is such a turtle he will never win the race.
The monkey looks like ET.
The monkey is as small as a thimble.
The monkey is as cute as a____________________.
The monkey is an ornament.
It’s a space monkey!!!
It’s eyes are marbles.
Exercise 3 – Write a simile and a metaphor to describe the following:
1) your best friend
2) your mother’s cooking
3) summer
4) getting an “A” on a test (hint: “feels: like”)
5) falling in love
6) life
Part IV. Organizing Ideas for a Paragraph

Choose a picture to describe
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Make a list of descriptive words (use the template)
Free write for 7 minutes about the photo
Circle the ideas you like
Number the ideas in the order you think is best
Write a topic sentence that can provide the main idea
PASTE YOUR
PHOTO
HERE
Note: Make sure your photo has no people in it!!!!!
List words to describe your photo:
Part V. Write a description of a photo.