Descriptive Paragraph
Katherine Howard
Writing 1
Turn In
Your Process
Paragraph!
Red Like
Journals
are Due Today
too!
Word Meanings
When you see a word you don’t think you know,
look within the word. You might recognize part
of the word!
This is called word parts. Your reading teacher
should be introducing these to you…
Place this in
your reading
notes.
Look for root
words to get an
understanding
of what a word
can mean.
What does this word look like? Make a guess based on the word you recognize!
Word Dictionary
WORD:
WORD:
Guess:
descriptive
Definition
Connection
Sentence
Synonyms:
Sketch/Image:
Antonyms:
This is a bit tricky, because the root
isn’t spelled the same as the verb this
adjective comes from. But it looks
similar…. “describe”
Descriptive Paragraphs
An artist plans
where to place
each object in a
painting. A writer
plans where to put
each object in a
word picture.
Descriptive Paragraphs
pg. 60 – Chapter 4
Descriptive Paragraphs appeal to the senses, so they tell
how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, and/or
sounds. They describe using adjectives. A good
description is a word picture; the reader can image the
object, place, or person in his or her mind.
describe
descriptive
description
verb
adjective
noun
Order Sequence
pg. 97 – In a process paragraph, you arrange the
steps in order by time and use time order signals to
guide your reader from step to step.
pg. 61- A description usually follows a pattern of
organization that we call spatial order. Spatial order
is the arrangement of things in space. As you read
the model paragraph, notice how the description
moves from the bottom of the stairway to the top.
Also, notice how the description of the woman
moves from far away to near.
The Stairway
When I was two or three years old, I lived in a house that had a strange
atmosphere. I do not remember anything about the house except the
stairway. It was dark, squeaking and quite narrow, and its steps were a little
high for me to climb up. From the bottom of the stairway, it seemed like an
endless climb to the top. Beyond the darkness at the top of the stairway,
there was an elegant, middle-aged lady leaning against the wall. I had to pass
her every time I went to my room, for my room was the first room beyond the
stairs on the second floor. The lady wore a beautiful dress with a quiet pattern
and a tinge of blue, and her peaceful eyes stared at me every time I went up
the stairs. As I carefully climbed up the last step, her eyes became fixed on
me. She didn’t talk, nor did she move. She just stood there and watched me
clamber up the stairs. One day I touched her, but she didn’t react. Her face
did not change expression, nor did she even clink. She just kept staring at me
with her glittering eyes. Later, we moved out of the house, and I never saw
her again. Now I know that the lady was a mannequin. My aunt, who lived in
the house, used it for her dressmaking class. I did not know my mother.
Maybe I imaged that the mannequin standing on the top of the stairs was my
mother. The stairway was the strange atmosphere has an important in my
earliest memories.
Spatial Order Signals – pg 62
Just as there are words and phrases to show time order, there
are words and phrases to show spatial organization. They are
often prepositional phrases of location or position.
Spatial Order Signals
at the top of
in the center
on the left
in front of
in the front of
inside
next to
between
behind
in back of
in the back of
across
Topic Sentence
The Stairway
When I was two or three years old, I lived in a house that had a strange
atmosphere. I do not remember anything about the house except the
stairway. It was dark, squeaking and quite narrow, and its steps were a little
high for me to climb up. From the bottom of the stairway, it seemed like an
endless climb to the top. Beyond the darkness at the top of the stairway,
there was an elegant, middle-aged lady leaning against the wall. I had to pass
her every time I went to my room, for my room was the first room beyond the
stairs on the second floor. The lady wore a beautiful dress with a quiet pattern
and a tinge of blue, and her peaceful eyes stared at me every time I went up
the stairs. As I carefully climbed up the last step, her eyes became fixed on
me. She didn’t talk, nor did she move. She just stood there and watched me
clamber up the stairs. One day I touched her, but she didn’t react. Her face
did not change expression, nor did she even clink. She just kept staring at me
with her glittering eyes. Later, we moved out of the house, and I never saw
her again. Now I know that the lady was a mannequin. My aunt, who lived in
the house, used it for her dressmaking class. I did not know my mother.
Maybe I imaged that the mannequin standing on the top of the stairs was my
mother. The stairway was the strange atmosphere has an important in my
earliest memories.
Spatial Order Words
The Stairway
When I was two or three years old, I lived in a house that had a strange
atmosphere. I do not remember anything about the house except the
stairway. It was dark, squeaking and quite narrow, and its steps were a little
high for me to climb up. From the bottom of the stairway, it seemed like an
endless climb to the top. Beyond the darkness at the top of the stairway,
there was an elegant, middle-aged lady leaning against the wall. I had to pass
her every time I went to my room, for my room was the first room beyond the
stairs on the second floor. The lady wore a beautiful dress with a quiet pattern
and a tinge of blue, and her peaceful eyes stared at me every time I went up
the stairs. As I carefully climbed up the last step, her eyes became fixed on
me. She didn’t talk, nor did she move. She just stood there and watched me
clamber up the stairs. One day I touched her, but she didn’t react. Her face
did not change expression, nor did she even clink. She just kept staring at me
with her glittering eyes. Later, we moved out of the house, and I never saw
her again. Now I know that the lady was a mannequin. My aunt, who lived in
the house, used it for her dressmaking class. I did not know my mother.
Maybe I imaged that the mannequin standing on the top of the stairs was my
mother. The stairway was the strange atmosphere has an important in my
earliest memories.
Time Order Words
The Stairway
When I was two or three years old, I lived in a house that had a strange
atmosphere. I do not remember anything about the house except the
stairway. It was dark, squeaking and quite narrow, and its steps were a little
high for me to climb up. From the bottom of the stairway, it seemed like an
endless climb to the top. Beyond the darkness at the top of the stairway,
there was an elegant, middle-aged lady leaning against the wall. I had to pass
her every time I went to my room, for my room was the first room beyond the
stairs on the second floor. The lady wore a beautiful dress with a quiet pattern
and a tinge of blue, and her peaceful eyes stared at me every time I went up
the stairs. As I carefully climbed up the last step, her eyes became fixed on
me. She didn’t talk, nor did she move. She just stood there and watched me
clamber up the stairs. One day I touched her, but she didn’t react. Her face
did not change expression, nor did she even clink. She just kept staring at me
with her glittering eyes. Later, we moved out of the house, and I never saw
her again. Now I know that the lady was a mannequin. My aunt, who lived in
the house, used it for her dressmaking class. I did not know my mother.
Maybe I imaged that the mannequin standing on the top of the stairs was my
mother. The stairway was the strange atmosphere has an important in my
earliest memories.
In Your Paragraph Notes
Draw a map
of a place you
know well.
Draw the
rooms, areas,
etc (even
things
outside) that
are key to
that place.
Share with
a partner.
Topic Sentence – pg 63
The topic sentence of a descriptive paragraph should name
the topic. The controlling idea should give the overall
impression of the place you are describing. In the model
paragraph, the topic is the house that the writer lived in as a
child. The controlling idea is that it had a strange atmosphere.
Each of the following sentences also states a topic and a
controlling idea.
My bedroom at home is my refuge from the outside world.
The campus of our school is like a small city.
The cafeteria at lunchtime is the school’s social center.
Write a topic sentence about your map. Share it with your partner.
Nouns and Adjectives
NOUNS
ADJECTIVES
Definition
A person, place, thing or A word that describes a
idea
noun
Example
Person: a boy, Jessica,
children
Place: New Jersey,
classroom, the
mountains
Thing: a ball, the dog, a
building
Idea: beauty, love
Opinion: beautiful, tasty
Size: huge, tiny
Shape: oval, skinny
Age: ancient, young
Colors: red, blue
Nationality: French,
Italian
Material: wool, cotton
Purpose: sleeping (bag)
mobile (phone)
Describe an Orange
Opinion
Size
Shape
Age
Color
Nationality
Material
Purpose
Grammar
Adjectives come before the noun.
It is an old orange.
It is a disgusting, yellow orange.
Grammar Point
Adjectives are used to complement.
The orange is sweet.
The orange smells delicious.
Use with:
• to be
• 5 senses
The Orange
LOOKS
FEELS
SMELLS
TASTES
SOUNDS
The Orange
LOOKS
FEELS
SMELLS
juicy
TASTES
sweet
squishy
fresh
popping
orange
soft
round
firm
thick
ripe
hard
squishy
moldy
bumpy
aromatic
healthy
delicious
peelable
smooth
good
disgusting
spongey
bad
bitter
juicy
chewy
wonderful
sweet
fruity
SOUNDS
sour
tasty
Use Adjectives and Your Five Senses!
pg 65
As you know, supporting sentences are the “meat” of
your paragraph. It is very important to have supporting
sentences! They not only provide the details that prove
the truth to your topic sentence, but they also make your
writing rich and interesting. In a descriptive paragraph the
more details you include, the more clearly your reader
will imagine what you are describing. Your details should
appeal to the five senses. They should tell your reader
how something looks, smells, sounds, feels and tastes.
Write about colors, size, shapes, odors, noises, and
textures.
Adjectives
and Senses
The Stairway
When I was two or three years old, I lived in a house that had a strange
atmosphere. I do not remember anything about the house except the
stairway. It was dark, squeaking and quite narrow, and its steps were a little
high for me to climb up. From the bottom of the stairway, it seemed like an
endless climb to the top. Beyond the darkness at the top of the stairway,
there was an elegant, middle-aged lady leaning against the wall. I had to pass
her every time I went to my room, for my room was the first room beyond the
stairs on the second floor. The lady wore a beautiful dress with a quiet pattern
and a tinge of blue, and her peaceful eyes stared at me every time I went up
the stairs. As I carefully climbed up the last step, her eyes became fixed on
me. She didn’t talk, nor did she move. She just stood there and watched me
clamber up the stairs. One day I touched her, but she didn’t react. Her face
did not change expression, nor did she even clink. She just kept staring at me
with her glittering eyes. Later, we moved out of the house, and I never saw
her again. Now I know that the lady was a mannequin. My aunt, who lived in
the house, used it for her dressmaking class. I did not know my mother.
Maybe I imaged that the mannequin standing on the top of the stairs was my
mother. The stairway was the strange atmosphere has an important in my
earliest memories.
With a Partner
pg. 66
Come up with words to describe each of these
nouns. Use your five senses and adjectives.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A storm
Subway station or bus stop at rush hour
A busy airport
The emergency room of a hospital
Your place on your map
What does this word look like? Make a guess based on the word you recognize!
Word Dictionary
WORD:
WORD:
Guess:
conclusion
Definition
Connection
Sentence
Synonyms:
Sketch/Image:
Antonyms:
Notice that –ion on the end of a word makes a noun!
What is the root word? conclude
Conclusions
pg 47
A concluding sentence sentence signals the end of the
paragraph and reminds the reader of the main idea. Here
are three tips to help you write a good concluding
sentence.
1. Begin with a conclusion signal. Most conclusion
signals have commas after them: others do not.
2. Remind your reader of the main idea by one the
follow methods:
a. Repeat the idea in the topic sentence in different words.
b. Summarize the main points of the paragraph.
3. Never end a paragraph with a new idea.
Animals in Captivity
Animals living in modern zoos enjoy several advantages
over animals in the wild. The first advantage is that zoo
animals are separated from their natural predators. They are
protected o they live without risk of being attacked. Another
advantage is that someone feeds them regularly, so they do
not have to hunt for food. Also, they do not suffer times when
food is hard to find. A third advantage of living in zoos is that
veterinarians give animals regular check-ups and sick animals
get prompt medical attention.
1. In conclusion, because all their needs are taken care of,
most zoo animals are healthy and content.
2. In conclusion, living in a zoo has many advantages for
animals, but it also has some disadvantages.
3. In conclusion, zoos keep animals safe from predators.
Try It Yourself!
1. The college cafeteria is an inexpensive place to
eat. For example, you can get a cheeseburger,
french fries and a soda for only $3.00. A slice of
pizza is only $1.50 and a cup of coffee is only
$0.50. There is a daily special for about $2.50. It
includes an entrée, rice or potatoes, and a
vegetable. The salad bar is the best deal of all.
You get all you can eat for $2.00.
Write a concluding sentence.
Try it Yourself
I was afraid of many things during my childhood. When I
was two years, I was afraid to sleep in the dark. My vivid
imagination went wild. I imagined creepy monsters with
four green eyes and drooling mouths coming to get me
from under the bed or within the closet. A few years later,
I was scared of insects. I thought the big fat ants would
eat me, the buzzing bright yellow-jackets would sting me
and the lovely little ladybugs would crawl into my clothes
and make me itch. As I grew up, I was worried to play
outside. I decided huge, man-eating pitbulls would come
running after me on my bicycle or try to run me over and
tear into my skin with their sharp white teeth and stinky
breath.
Write a concluding sentence.
Try to write a conclusion for your
place.
What does this word look like? Make a guess based on the word you recognize!
Word Dictionary
WORD:
WORD:
Guess:
observation
Definition
Connection
Sentence
Synonyms:
Sketch/Image:
Antonyms:
We are going to “People Watch.”
Homework:
Go to the place you
mapped. Complete
the worksheet.
Bring in the
completed sheet next
week.
Write a descriptive
paragraph about the
person you observed
using the sheet as a
guide.
Blue Journals
are due next
week.