The Colourful World of Descriptive Writing
Read the passage below. It tells us what is happening in this picture.
The girl and the boy sat down and watched the water and trees before them.
It was a good sight. It was very beautiful.
They were enjoying the sound of the water and the birds flying overhead.
What word would you use to describe the picture and the passage?
Dull? Boring? Unattractive?
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This week's blog is all about the colourful world of descriptive writing!
Do not be alarmed!
By the end of this post, you would know five techniques that can be used
to add a splash of colour to this dull picture.
Before we get started, it is important to note that descriptive writing can be a phrase, sentence or paragraph, either within a composition or an entire composition.
Let's get started! Let's add some colour.
Adding specific information whether it be behaviours or actions, names of characters, identifying the setting or listing attributes
can add a bit of colour to your writing.
As a teacher, it is our duty to help our students, to become good writers by helping them to show their readers what the piece is about. Do not tell them!
Allow the words to paint a picture.
Let's add some more colour to our writing by:
Choosing specific nouns, using vivid verbs
Adding colourful modifiers, avoiding repetitions and overused words
Differentiating among similar words.
Word choice is very important in writing descriptive pieces. Students learn to choose their words carefully in order to describe events and experiences.
Ready to add some more colour?
This technique speaks for itself.
Use the five senses: taste, smell, sight, hearing and touch.
It is our duty as teachers to help student develop their writing that includes as many of
the five senses as possible.... not just sight.
Give the reader an experience. Allow them to feel as though they are right there in the scene.
I am excited to add some more colour.
Try giving human attributes to nonhuman things (Personification)
Use words with a sound association (Onomatopoeia)
Use compare and contrast
Use phrases that have a meaning that can't be determined by individual words (Idioms)
AVOID overused phrases (Clichés)
Students learn about these figurative devices.
Encourage them to try out the figurative devices in their writing pieces.
DO NOT just summarize what the characters talked about.
Add power to the writing by using dialogue to move the story forward.
Have different characters use unique language
Use substitutes for "said" carefully
REMEMBER to use the correct punctuation marks.
Show readers, do not tell them!
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Now that we have gone through all five techniques. Let's see the final product.
Sally and Jacob lounged at the river bank mesmerized at the exquisite scene before them.
They listened to the trees rusting in the wind and the splash of the water
as the Brown Pelicans dove in in search of food.
"This is so peaceful," sighed Jacob. Sally nodded in agreement.
Isn't that better? We have added a lot of colour to the scene and used the techniques above to revise our paragraph. By allowing students to practice, they will become better writers and be able to use their words to bring their descriptive pieces to life.
I hope you enjoyed this week's blog post!
Happy Writing! 😁
- Onida Tyrell
Hi Onida! The ideal beginning to keep me intrigued!! This is the kind of writing we as instructors like to see from our pupils. This week's sessions focused on descriptive writing, which I really enjoyed! I consider descriptive writing as my favorite type of writing since it enables individuals to express themselves through colourful writing and enhances the readability and vividness of writing. The techniques you stated are essential for teachers to use in order to assist students with descriptive writing. Ultimately, descriptive writing really adds colour!!!
ReplyDeleteIndeed Zoe, descriptive writing can be very fun! It allows the writer to have fun with the piece and to really put his or her flare into the writing. In doing this, the writer is able to capture the readers and really hook them to the piece.
DeleteI definitely agree with Zoe. The introduction of your blog has grasped my attention and left me wanting to read more. In reading your blog I realized that this type of writing and the techniques mentioned are exactly what we as teachers look for in our students writing pieces. As an individual I love to read but not write. However, reading your blogs every week encourages me and motivates me to not give up on writing but to implement what I have read from your posts. I also looked forward to going back to the classroom and encouraging my students to use these techniques so that they may be like you and colour their writing world.
ReplyDeleteThis is true Mohanie. Some persons enjoy reading but not writing. It is crucial that we recognize that they go hand in hand. The tips and tricks each week will definitely help us become better writers so that we can be able to help our students
DeleteI have now realize that writing and reading do go hand in hand. Through your blogs, Zoe’s blogs and all that we have learnt thus far I would be able to become a better writer and therefore be able to properly model the process for my students when I am back in the classroom.
DeleteOnida, I agree with the comments above. I love how you took us from the drab black and white picture and added colour as you explained each component of descriptive writing. That is indeed what descriptive writing is about... adding colour and making things pop. In doing so we create a vivid picture for our readers. My students struggle with finding adjectives to use. They are stuck on pretty or handsome or big or small. They need a little encouragement to step it up a bit.
ReplyDeleteExcellent portrayal of the descriptive piece. This is my favorite type of writing to teach. The way you started out black and white and then added colour to the piece as we went along definitely grasped my attention. That is definitely the whole idea of descriptive writing... adding colour through information, word choice, sensory images, figurative language and dialogue. When students learn to write proper descriptive pieces they expand their vocabulary and move away from the cliché words. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete-P. Hodge
Onida this blog is very informative. This is indeed the entire idea of descriptive writing.
ReplyDelete