English
Descriptive Writing Outline
Steps to write a descriptive essay
A. Choose either an image you have seen in class OR :
a. A time you felt truly alive!
b. A moment of extreme emotion (happiness, fear, anger, love,
appreciation)
c. A social, environmental or cultural issue you feel strongly about
(pipelines, human rights, child labour, bullying, global conflict)
B. Your purpose for the image or your own subject: How alive I felt when I
was in Ucluelet with my family and we were watching the waves crash
through the rocks.
C. Audience: someone who wants to go there
D. Point of view: first person (me!)
E. Tone: enthusiastic, appreciating, persuasive
F. Mood: wild, natural
G. Opening topic sentence- Eg. My most valuable possession is an old, slightly
warped, blond guitar--the first instrument that I ever taught myself how to play.
The beach (waves) on the West Coast of Vancouver Island (Ucluelet) can
make even the most jaded and overworked weekday worker (drone) feel
fresh and alive.
English
Descriptive Writing Outline
H. Fill in your table with descriptive words- be sure they are specific and
strong. Use nouns and verbs as well as adjectives.
See
The white froth at the crest of the waves
The windswept trees- all blown inland
The rising water level as it climbs the rocks
The seal popping its head over the edge and diving below
The billowing clouds
The black, jagged rocks that I fear will cut me wide open if I
fall
The flying mussel
My daughter’s black hockey coat
My son’s red ski jacket
My husband’s broad back
Hear
The crash of the waves
The steady drum of the rolling surf
The cawing of the seagulls riding the wind
The sound of the pebbles rolling over the others as they fall
back into the sea
My husband’s deep laugh
My kids laughing with each wave
Their smiles and screams of excitement
Taste
The salt of the ocean air
The remnants of the mussels I ate with a glass of wine
Touch
The wetness of my sleeve
English
Descriptive Writing Outline
My daughter’s hand in mine as we crawled over the rocks.
The sharp edges of the rocks under my boots
Smell
The smell of decomposing fish
The fresh scent of the sea air
Emotions/Feelings