Sample Descriptive Writing
The Person I am
An innate question for humans beings is, “Who am I?” A failure to answer this question can be
disastrous for our well-being, since it refers to making a distinctive decision to what we aspire to do, and
what we want to achieve in our lives. Consequently, it becomes easier for people to manipulate and
shape us into what they want if we do not give ourselves an answer to this fundamental question. As for
me, I have become grounded in an idea of myself, and this has aided me in being self-confident.
Professor Richard Gunde (2002) posits that a person’s physical appearance is the foundation on
which other people judge them. Unfortunately, identifying oneself this way is inaccurate, as other
people cannot appropriately deduce who I am just by my height or the way I dress. For instance, I am a
short person, which consequently assigns me to the lower regions of the social ladder, so to speak. Most
people will treat me with prejudice due to my height. But only after these interlocutors interact with me
can they more or less form an idea of who I am. A personality—that is a gateway into knowing who
people truly are. Through the personality I exhibit, people can perceive who I am. My friends see me as
caring and generous, willing to go that extra mile for them.
In order for a person to achieve their goals, they need to set high standards and values, and
pursue them throughout their whole life with diligence. However, the fact that not many people act
upon this is quite disturbing, as it seems that such people simply go adrift and do not make efforts to
manage the many areas of their lives as a coherent whole. I think that I could be called an exception. I
am a focused and organized person who is determined to achieve the best that life has offered in the
way of opportunities. I know when I will retire, and what activities I should engage in at their correct
time in my life. I also know how much money I will have saved by the time I am fifty years old.
Besides being above the rest in determination and organization, I have a penchant for writing. I
attribute this to my parents who were both teachers and encouraged me to read and write from a
tender age. By the time I was three, I could read and write, and I would spend my spare time cuddled up
on the floor trying to make sense of high school textbooks while my peers were out playing in the
sandpit. When writing, at times I get so enthusiastic that I hardly realize what I am trying to put across.
My fingers fly over the keyboard and ideas just pour from my head. Later, when I go through the
hodgepodge of scribbled ideas, I invariably notice themes. Evaluating these themes help me decipher
my bottled-up emotions and interpret my characters. In stories, the characters express my viewpoint.
Opinion essays, on the other hand, demonstrate my values.
I believe that physical appearances are not the best yardstick for evaluating who a person really
is. My personality, ambitions, and what I love doing should be the best criteria for defining my identity.
One should never be worried that they do not know everything about themselves, as we are
continuously learning and discovering new aspects of ourselves. Personally, I am satisfied knowing that
my friends value me and consider me an asset.
Reference:
Gunde, Richard. (2002). Who am I? Where did I come from? Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.
Prof. Ana Katrina P. de Jesus Ι DHUM, CAS, UPLB I 10/24/2015 | Traditional Types of Discourse
Sample Narrative Writing
Survival of the Fittest
by Polo F. Imperial
Today was supposed to be my first day at the gym. But I woke up to two horrifying photographs
on my Facebook timeline, and my body felt twice as heavy as usual. Why do I have to get up and face a
world as shitty as this one?
One is of the lifeless body of a Syrian refugee child, washed ashore in the beaches of Turkey; the
other is of the director of a lumad school in Surigao, stabbed to death by paramilitary agents inside an
empty classroom. The Syrian boy’s name is Aylan Kurdi. He was three years old. At least twelve others
perished with Aylan, including his mother and Galip, his five-year old brother. They were trying to reach
Greece, in a doomed attempt to escape poverty and violence in their homelands. Eight thousand miles
away, the cold-blooded killing of Emerito Samarca and two other lumads who were shot on the same day
are the latest casualties of the militarization of lumad communities in Mindanao. Hundreds of families
had to seek refuge away from their homes.
I realized it is not difficult to be horrified at these images, especially for someone like me whose
primary goal in life only a few days ago was to lose weight, whose existence is so much different from
these tales of danger. I live in a comfortably large house with air-conditioned rooms, without any lack for
food or clothing, and with plenty of resources to spare for luxuries like a private car and high-end
electronics.
And yet their reality is the only reality from which my protected, middle-class upbringing shields
me from. I read somewhere that more than a million Filipino workers leave our country every year in
search for jobs abroad. Whole urban poor communities are demolished to give way for commercial
complexes. Farmers of Luisita remain landless, while indigenous tribes are displaced to give way for largescale mining.
I think what Anna said in class yesterday was perfect, and it sums up in beautifully articulate terms
what I myself could not say any better. Our professor wanted to know what we think about what
happened, and Anna, in her trademark sass, refused to give a direct answer. “I don’t even believe it’s a
question of empathy, or pity, or horror, or disbelief,” she said in perfect Filipino. “The question is why,
despite humanity’s innate kindness, these things happen.”
Later, just as I thought I was lucky to walk with her towards the parking lot after class, I told her
that I agree with her. “There must be something wrong in this world that makes desperate people make
dangerous choices, that makes people turn against each other.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything earlier in class?” she asked me. For a second, I thought she
was angry, until I saw that she was smiling knowingly, and I knew at once that she has read the Collegian‘s
first issue. “Write about it on your next column piece,” she shouted as she got inside her car and sped
away.
Source:
Imperial, P. (2015). Survival of the fittest. Retrieved from http://www.philippinecollegian.org/?p=9732
Prof. Ana Katrina P. de Jesus Ι DHUM, CAS, UPLB I 10/24/2015 | Traditional Types of Discourse
Sample Expository Writing
Are Today's Youth Less Creative and Imaginative?
(1) It sounds like the complaint of a jaded adult: Kids these days are narrow-minded and just not as
creative as they used to be.
(2) But researchers say they are finding exactly that. In a 2010 study of about 300,000 creativity tests
going back to the 1970s, Kyung Hee Kim, a creativity researcher at the College of William and Mary,
found creativity has decreased among American children in recent years. Since 1990, children have
become less able to produce unique and unusual ideas. They are also less humorous, less imaginative
and less able to elaborate on ideas, Kim said.
(3) Has modern society really extinguished the creative spark among our youth?
(4) Experts say creativity is innate, so it can't really be lost. But it needs to be nurtured. "It's not that
creativity can necessarily disappear," said Ron Beghetto, an education psychologist at the University of
Oregon. "But it can be suppressed in particular contexts."
(5) The current focus on testing in schools, and the idea that there is only one right answer to a
question, may be hampering development of creativity among kids, Beghetto said. "There's not much
room for unexpected, novel, divergent thought," he said. But the situation is not hopeless, Beghetto
said. In fact, there's evidence to suggest that, worldwide, youngsters are very creative, particularly with
their use of digital media, Beghetto said. And a recent study found that, at least in their playtime, kids
are becoming more imaginative. Experts agree changes can be made in the classroom to cultivate
creativity.
No child gets ahead
(6) In her study, Kim analyzed results from the Torrance test, an exam that measures an aspect of
creativity called divergent thinking. In this test, kids might be shown two circles and asked to draw
something out of these shapes. Interestingly, scores on the Torrance test have been decreasing while
SAT scores are increasing. However, better test scores do not necessarily translate to improved
creativity, Kim said. You can do well on a test by studying a lot, but it won't encourage original thinking.
(7) Kim said No Child Left Behind, an act of the US Congress passed in 2001 that requires schools to
administer annual standardized tests as a way to assess whether they are meeting state education
standards, may be partly responsible for the drop in creativity scores. "I believe No Child Left Behind
really hurt creativity," Kim said. "If we just focus on just No Child Left Behind — testing, testing, testing
— then how can creative students survive?" Kim said. Other culprits may be the rise in TV watching, a
passive activity that doesn't require interactions with others, Kim said.
(8) Kim's work has also shown creativity declines in adulthood as we become more aware of the notions
of right and wrong answers, she said.
Prof. Ana Katrina P. de Jesus Ι DHUM, CAS, UPLB I 10/24/2015 | Traditional Types of Discourse
(9) But just because we are doomed to become less imaginative as adults does not mean society
shouldn't work to salvage creativity in children. After all, ideas in childhood may lead to future career
pursuits.
(10) "If this trend continues then students who look different, nonconformists, will suffer, because they
are not accepted," Kim said. Research shows that if creative personalities don't adjust to the school
system, they can become underachievers and drop out of school, she said.
Time to play
(11) Kids also nurture their creativity abilities when they "pretend," said Sandra Russ, a psychologist at
Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, who was not involved in Kim's study. Elements of insight,
fantasy and emotional expression all go into this type of story-making, Russ said.
(12) Nowadays, with kids' overbooked schedules, there is less time for pretend play, Russ said. Russ
looked back at studies she has conducted on pretend play since 1985. In all, the studies involved close to
900 children ages 6 to 9, who were asked to make up a story using two puppets. Stories were rated
based on how many ideas the kids came up with, the novelty of the ideas, and the emotions expressed
within the tales.
(13) Russ found that, over time, imagination in the stories increased, with the stories in 1985 showing
significantly less imagination than stories (created by different groups of kids) in 2008. "Given the
changes in [our] culture, we were surprised, and I would say encouraged," Russ said. The results suggest
kids are resilient, and may be finding ways to develop these abilities through other means besides strict
playtime. For instance, some video games call for creative problem-solving strategies, Russ said.
(14) The results do not necessarily contradict Kim's findings. The researchers can't be sure whether kids
will actually apply their playtime imagination to the real world, Russ said.
Hide and seek
(15) So how can we make sure not to squelch kids' creativity once they step inside a classroom?
Beghetto said the interaction between students and teachers has become one of "intellectual hide and
seek." The students try to match what they think the teacher wants to hear. "If you can do that, you can
be 'successful' in school," Beghetto said.
(16) Teachers don't spend a lot of time exploring unexpected ideas because they might not be sure
where it will lead, Beghetto said. As a result, "out-of-the-box" thinking gets discouraged. Beghetto is not
blaming teachers, who may even feel as though they cannot teach creativity. But teaching to prepare for
tests and teaching to develop creativity are not mutually exclusive, Beghetto said. Teachers should
recognize that unexpected answers may still lead to meaningful conversation and learning in a
classroom, he said. And schools may be able to implement tests that assess students broadly and allow
for more creativity.
"I think there should be a variety of ways to assess what students know and how they know it,"
Beghetto said.
Source: Rettner, R. (2011). Are today's youth less creative and imaginative? Retrieved from
http://www.livescience.com/15535-children-creative.html
Prof. Ana Katrina P. de Jesus Ι DHUM, CAS, UPLB I 10/24/2015 | Traditional Types of Discourse
Sample Argumentative Writing
Why Instagram is Not All that Bad
In a world where digital products have more and more effect on people’s daily lives, certain
software or media products inevitably become the center of the public’s attention. Moreover, they
become the part of an individual’s lifestyle. Along with Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube, which already are
daily companions for millions of people, there is one more application that causes debates and
conflicting assessments – Instagram.
Though it has many opponents, Instagram is in fact a useful program helping people develop
their creativity and learn about culture. Of course, as with any other digital product, Instagram can be
used totally ineptly. Billions of boring and similar selfies, kittens, flowers, “Converse” sneakers, and food
photos have become the subject for ridicules. However, what Instagram critics miss is that it is still used
by a vast number of truly creative people.
For instance, many famous photographers, whose talent is undisputed, use Instagram to share
their photos taken on their phones. Such photographers as Richard Koci Hernandez (@koci), Cory
Richards (@coryrichards), Michael O’Neal (@moneal), Jimmy Chin (@jimmy_chin) are real professionals.
Just for instance, Jimmy Chin and Cory Richards are photographers for National Geographic. And there
are many more professional photographers on Instagram. Basically, this means that any person
possessing a smartphone can follow their accounts, and receive daily portions of high quality images. It
is like a first-hand workshop, direct lessons on photography, and denying this advantage of Instagram is
not reasonable.
One of the biggest advantages of Instagram is that it is in all meanings mobile. In the 21st
century, a smartphone is a thing that almost nobody leaves at their home. Considering that almost every
smartphone has a camera, every time one walks around the city, he or she has a tool to capture the
most interesting and inspiring moments around them, and what is more important, receive a
momentary feedback. Of course, “likes” are not a truly adequate assessment of your creativity, but if
you are followed by famous (or simply talented) photographers, and they like your photos, it can be a
hint that you are moving in the right direction.
Instagram has its own advantages not only for creative people, but also for businesses. In fact, it
is a great platform for what is called visual marketing, when you have an ability to introduce your
products to potential customers directly (i.e. visually) in the most attractive way. One can form a whole
feed of marketing images that encourage interaction and purchasing. In addition, promoting accounts in
instagram is not difficult, so gaining a number of followers and potential customers is not a big deal.
Instagram is not all about advantages, though. There are many people who post mediocre, or
even bad photos, hoping to get more likes. Obsession with shooting selfies has officially become a
psychological disorder (CE), and the amount of people with bad taste in photography can be depressing.
However, if used responsibly and with a purpose, Instagram can be a useful tool.
Prof. Ana Katrina P. de Jesus Ι DHUM, CAS, UPLB I 10/24/2015 | Traditional Types of Discourse
Regardless of its disadvantages, Instagram remains a useful and fun tool for both amateur and
professional photographers. It allows common people to follow famous photographers and learn from
their works. It also allows users to receive feedback about their creativity. In addition, Instagram can be
an effective media platform for businesses, allowing companies to use so-called visual marketing to
engage customers.
References:
Herman, J. (2013). The benefits of using Instagram for business. Maximize Social Business. 28 Oct. 2013.
Web. 11 Sept. 2014.
Martino, J. (2014). Scientists link selfies to narcissism, addiction and mental illness. Collective Evolution.
07 Apr. 2014. Web. 10 Sept. 2014.
Prof. Ana Katrina P. de Jesus Ι DHUM, CAS, UPLB I 10/24/2015 | Traditional Types of Discourse
Name: ____________________________
Student Number: ____________________
Date: ______________________
Recit Section: _______________
Descriptive Writing – The Person I am
1. What is being described in the
essay?
2. Name 3 ways by which the person
was described.
3. Identify the irrelevant sentence in
Par. 2. Write your complete
answer.
4. Identify the sentence in Par. 3 that
violates pronoun-antecedent
agreement rules. Write your
complete answer.
5. Are all sentences in the concluding
paragraph relevant? If not, which
should be omitted?
Narrative Writing – Survival of the Fittest
1. Narrative writing has a plot. Based
on the article, answer the
following:
a. Where did the event happen?
b. Who was/were involved in the
situation?
c. What were the consequences of
this event?
d. Is the story finished? If not, what
continuation do you anticipate?
2. What more formal term can you
substitute for “shitty” in Par. 1?
3. Were dialogues/direct speech
used effectively in the said article?
Give the line you like best.
Prof. Ana Katrina P. de Jesus Ι DHUM, CAS, UPLB I 10/24/2015 | Traditional Types of Discourse
Expository – Are today’s youth less creative and imaginative?
1. What does the article
explain/inform us about?
2. Identify the paragraph/s that
used the following modes of
development? Simply write the
paragraph number.
a. Illustration and examples
b. Cause and effect
c. Comparison and contrast
d. Analysis of a Process
Argumentative – Why Instagram is Not All that Bad
1. What is the author’s main
argument?
2. Identify a sentence where author
appealed to logic.
3. Identify a sentence where author
appealed to emotion.
4. Identify a sentence where author
conceded to the opposing view.
How did he turn this around to
support his own argument?
GENERAL QUESTIONS:
1. Choose the article with…
a. most interesting and attentiongrabbing introduction
b. least interesting introduction
c. most impacting conclusion
d. least impacting conclusion
2. Article you will recommend for your
friends to read. Why?
TITLE OF THE ARTICLE
Prof. Ana Katrina P. de Jesus Ι DHUM, CAS, UPLB I 10/24/2015 | Traditional Types of Discourse