Introduction
Take a moment to enjoy the following video about a young man's travel adventures.
Click on the link below. Watch the video.
Describe at least 5 things that he saw on this year of traveling.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTYXsprhc0M]
Task
Imagine you are from Antarctica and you arrived in the US during Autumn for the first time where you were welcomed by the following scene. Write one (1) paragraph giving a detailed description of what you see.
Process
Step 1:
Write down the definitions for the following words
Sensory Language http://tinyurl.com/senslang
Simile and metaphor- http://literarydevices.net/simile/
Copy & paste this link and watch the video on similes and metaphors: http://tinyurl.com/q54ars5
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoSBVNUO2LU align:center]
Step 2: Practice with sensory details
Choose 1 picture from the National Geographic Photograph website and describe what is happening in the picture using as many SENSORY DETAILS as possible. Write at least 30 words.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips/
Step 3: Practice with similes
Choose 1 picture from the National Geographic Photgraph website and write 3 similes that describe the picture. Remember, you can write a simile based on the way a photograph makes you feel or how you imgaine the people in the photograph feeling.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/visions-of-earth/visions-earth-2014#/…
Step 4: Practice with metaphors
Choose 1 picture from the National Geographic Photgraph website and write 3 metaphors that describe the picture. Remember, you can write a simile based on the way a photograph makes you feel or how you imgaine the people in the photograph feeling.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/visions-of-earth/visions-earth-2015#/…
BONUS: Post your favorite picture from National Geographic on Instagram and tag @ObrienEnglish (+5 points). Write your sensory language, simile or metaphor in the comments (+10 points).
Post the picture and/or the sensory language, simile or metaphor. Tag @ObrienEnglish (+15 points total)
Conclusion
The primary purpose of descriptive writing is to describe a person, place or thing in such a way that a picture is formed in the reader's mind. Capturing an event through descriptive writing involves paying close attention to the details by using all of your five senses. Writing descriptively makes your work more interesting and engaging to read.
You will benefit from keeping in mind this simple advice: If the reader is unable to clearly form a visualization of the thing that you are describing, try again!
Credits
Resources
Use this word bank to spice up your writing: http://www.waunakee.k12.wi.us/faculty/lcarothers/EffectiveWriting/Descr…