Writing a
Descriptive Essay
H. Lategan
Format
Introduction
1 -Set the scene
-Grab attention
Body Paragraphs
2 Carry on with the descriptions
3 Conclusión
End with a climax.
2
Important
1 Denotation and Connotation
Strong NOUNS and VERBS
2 Instead of adjectives and adverbs
3 Show, don’t tell
3
Strong nouns and verbs
Theme
Some words have emotions and associations attached or
1 Strong nouns create a vivid picture for the reader.
PRESENTATION TITLE / YOUR NAME
The boy.
2 Strong verbs
This sentence shows absolutely no emotion.
Use your own The toddler/preschooler/teenager/university student. We
3 figures of speech have a better picture of the character.
I walked.
This sentence shows absolutely no emotion.
I sped/ jolted/dashed/sauntered/tip-toed.
Connotation and denotation
Theme
Some words have emotions and associations attached or
create a vivid picture for the reader.
1 Strong nouns
PRESENTATION TITLE / YOUR NAME
She lives in a house.
2 Strong verbs She lives in a penthouse/mansion/orphanage/apartment.
These words evoke a certain feeling or mood.
Use your own
3 figures of speech
She had on a lovely dress.
Abigail’s pencil skirt hugged her legs. Tight.
Katlego’s romper looked like a work of art. Beautiful.
Connotation and denotation
Theme
Some words have emotions and associations attached or
create a vivid picture for the reader.
1 Strong nouns
PRESENTATION TITLE / YOUR NAME
She lives in a house.
2 Strong verbs She lives in a penthouse/mansion/orphanage/apartment.
These words evoke a certain feeling or mood.
Use your own
3 figures of speech
She had on a lovely dress.
Abigail’s pencil skirt hugged her legs. Tight.
Katlego’s romper looked like a work of art. Beautiful.
Using figures of speech
Theme
Create your own. If you use the ones you have been taught,
Símile it might seem like a cliche.
1 Metaphor
Her dress danced to the beat of the thunder.
PRESENTATION TITLE / YOUR NAME
Personification
2 Alliteration Thato’s tie was a Boa Constrictor.
3 Onomatopoeia
Show, don’t tell
Theme
Omphile was upset that her friend came into her room.
1 Angry
Omphile’s eyes darted towards the door where two pigtails
had intruded. She flung her English book at the intruder.
PRESENTATION TITLE / YOUR NAME
‘Ouch,’ Phoebe howled.
2 Scared
Karabo was scared.
3 Other emotions
Karabo glanced at the door then window, door then window.
He wrung his hands and used a tissue to wipe the sweat
from his forehead. It was almost time.
Write your own paragraph.
1. Write your own descriptive paragraph. Then edit it, and
see how you can improve the descriptions.
1 1 paragraph
PRESENTATION TITLE / YOUR NAME
Edit the nouns
2 and verbs
How can you
3 improve it?
Plan and write your essay
Plan your body paragraphs and climax first, and then come up
with a way in which to start it in an interesting way.
1 Avoid clichés
Topic - Describing a house.
How do I want the story to end?
PRESENTATION TITLE / YOUR NAME
How do people What is going to happen?
2 normally start?
For example. At the end, I will find a stranger’s phone ringing
How can you make in the house.
3 the introduction
special? Most people would start describing a room or what it looks
like outside. Cliche.
‘I heard it again. A baby’s cries were echoing from the
kitchen. First sentence.
Plan and write your essay
Plan your body paragraphs first and then come up with a
way in which to start it in an interesting way. Think about
the end/climax and the work your way back.
1 Avoid clichés
PRESENTATION TITLE / YOUR NAME
Some examples
How do people
2 normally start?
Describing a house.
3 How can you make Describing a party.
it special?
Meeting someone for the first time.
Getting into trouble.
THANKS!
