1.) Description of Weather: Describe weather that is especially noticeable and creates a mood, such as a summer thunderstorm, a sunny day in early spring, a windy fall day, or a dreary, overcast winter afternoon.
2.)Observation of the Animal World: Take your cue from zoologist, Deborah Behler, and choose an animal at the zoo or in your home as your topic.
Deborah Behler is a zoologist and wildlife writer. She writes about the animals at the Bronx Zoo---more than 4,000 of them! When Behler gathers details for her writing, she relies on her observation of the animals in their exhibits. "Sensory language in descriptive writing is important because that's how people understand what's going on around them- what you see, what you hear, [what you] touch."
3.) Responding to Fine Art: Jot down notes about the scene in this painting. What objects do you see? What details is the painter able to capture? Write a description of the scene in this painting, or of a similar scene in your own life. Be sure to describe the sights, sounds, smells and textures that belong to the scene.
4.) Responding to Literature: Read "Water" by Helen Keller, paying attention to the sensory details she uses. Then write a description of an object. In the first part of your description, use just the senses Keller uses. (Hint: not your eyes) Then describe the object using your other senses.
CONSIDERING YOUR AUDIENCE:
Who will read your description? How much do they know about your subject? If your audience has never seen what you're describing, make sure you describe even the most basic details about your subject. If your readers are already familiar with your subject, focus on details that show how special it is.
Your purpose in writing a description is to share what you have experienced with readers. TO achieve this purpose, include vivid sensory details in your writing. A sensory detail is a word, phrase, or sentence that gives precise information about the look, sound, taste, touch, or smell of something.
GATHERING DETAILS
Before you begin writing, gather details about your subject. Make sure you gather details for all of the senses. Sensory details are especially effective for creating a vivid picture for readers, as you can see in this example:
NO SENSORY DETAILS: I got into the wagon for a hayride.
ADDED SENSORY DETAILS: The hay crackled when I threw myself down, wrapping me in a cloud of sweet and sour smells and prickling me busily along my arms.
Use Each of Your Senses.
Imagine your subject, along with all the sights, scents, textures, sounds, and tastes linked to it. Then fill in a chart like the one attached to help you gather details for each of the senses. Then refer to the chart as your draft, using details from it in your description.
2.)Observation of the Animal World: Take your cue from zoologist, Deborah Behler, and choose an animal at the zoo or in your home as your topic.
Deborah Behler is a zoologist and wildlife writer. She writes about the animals at the Bronx Zoo---more than 4,000 of them! When Behler gathers details for her writing, she relies on her observation of the animals in their exhibits. "Sensory language in descriptive writing is important because that's how people understand what's going on around them- what you see, what you hear, [what you] touch."
3.) Responding to Fine Art: Jot down notes about the scene in this painting. What objects do you see? What details is the painter able to capture? Write a description of the scene in this painting, or of a similar scene in your own life. Be sure to describe the sights, sounds, smells and textures that belong to the scene.
4.) Responding to Literature: Read "Water" by Helen Keller, paying attention to the sensory details she uses. Then write a description of an object. In the first part of your description, use just the senses Keller uses. (Hint: not your eyes) Then describe the object using your other senses.
CONSIDERING YOUR AUDIENCE:
Who will read your description? How much do they know about your subject? If your audience has never seen what you're describing, make sure you describe even the most basic details about your subject. If your readers are already familiar with your subject, focus on details that show how special it is.
Your purpose in writing a description is to share what you have experienced with readers. TO achieve this purpose, include vivid sensory details in your writing. A sensory detail is a word, phrase, or sentence that gives precise information about the look, sound, taste, touch, or smell of something.
GATHERING DETAILS
Before you begin writing, gather details about your subject. Make sure you gather details for all of the senses. Sensory details are especially effective for creating a vivid picture for readers, as you can see in this example:
NO SENSORY DETAILS: I got into the wagon for a hayride.
ADDED SENSORY DETAILS: The hay crackled when I threw myself down, wrapping me in a cloud of sweet and sour smells and prickling me busily along my arms.
Use Each of Your Senses.
Imagine your subject, along with all the sights, scents, textures, sounds, and tastes linked to it. Then fill in a chart like the one attached to help you gather details for each of the senses. Then refer to the chart as your draft, using details from it in your description.