ACADEMIC WRITING I

May 9, 2014

AnnouncementAssignment 3 final draft deadline changed, again

New deadline:

Sunday May 11 (11:59 pm)

TodayDescriptive Writing <continued>

Descriptive WritingTells a story about a specific thing (object, person, place)

- Appeals to the senses: sights, sounds, smells, taste, feel

A good description is a “word picture”

- The reader can imagine the object/person/place in his or her mind.

- “Shows” more than it tells.

Descriptive StyleDescriptive writing requires:

- Specific details - Descriptive vocabulary Adjectives:

size, color, shape, texture, smell, purpose, personality, location, etc.

verbsadverbs

- Sensations and emotions.

Descriptive writing has a “direction”

Descriptive StyleDescriptive writing requires:

- Specific details

- Adjectives:size, color, shape, texture, smell, purpose,

personality, location, etc.

- Descriptive “action verbs”Try to avoid “be” verbs.

- Sensations and emotions.

Descriptive StyleAvoiding “be verb + adjective”

i.e.,

The food was unappetizing. The pale chicken slices floated limply in a pool of murky fat.

The sprinkler was refreshing. The cool water from the sprinkler sprayed our hot faces.

Descriptive StyleThe tree is very tall.

Improved:

- The tree stretches toward the sky.

- The tree's branches reach far upwards.

- The tree brushes the clouds.

Source: klick.wordpress.com

Descriptive StyleThe blanket is colorful.

Improved:

- Rich colors decorate the blanket.

- Deep hues of red, green, and orange cover the blanket.

Source: www.sarasews.net 

Descriptive StyleAlmond bong bong ice cream is delicious.

Improved:

- The wonderful taste of almond bong bong lingers on the tongue long after it is gone.

- Almond bong bong tastes of sweet cream, soft chocolate, and crunchy almonds.

Source: www.baskinrobbins.co.kr

Descriptive StyleSnakes are scary.

Improved:

- Snakes strike fear into my heart.

- Snakes, quiet and cunning, frighten Tony as though they were real-life monsters.

Source: www.animaldanger.com

Descriptive StyleWhen she was young, Jiho was happy when she visited Woobang Land.

Improved:

- When she was young, visiting Woobang Land brought joy and excitement to Jiho.

Source: klick.wordpress.com

More descriptive style- Use more “vivid” adjectives

i.e. The Burj Khalifa is taller than its surrounding buildings.

-The Burj Khalifa towers over thebuildings surrounding it.

-The Burj Khalifa looms over the buildings surrounding it.

Source: did-you-know-thats.blogspot.com

More descriptive style- Use adverbs to enhance the adjectives

i.e. The Burj Khalifa is taller than its surrounding buildings.

- The Burj Khalifa towers over the buildings surrounding it.

-The Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it.

-The Burj Khalifa looms impressively over the buildings surrounding it.

More descriptive style- Enhance nouns with adjectives or descriptive phrases

The Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it.

- The huge Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it.

- The massive Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it.

- The cloud-brushing Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it.

More descriptive style- Enhance nouns with adjectives or descriptive phrases

The Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it.

- The 800m high Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it.

- The nearly 1km tall Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it.

- The Burj Khalifa, at nearly 1 km high, towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it.

More descriptive style- Use similes

- Using “like” or “as” to compare your subject with something.

The Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it like a giant standing over men.

- The Daegu summer is like living in a sauna all day, everyday.

More descriptive style- Personification

- Giving human characteristics to objects

The Burj Khalifa towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it, mocking them for their small statures.

The house, with its smashed windows and filthy walls, begs for repairs.

More descriptive style- Symbol

- Describing your subject as representing an idea (or concept, or virtue)

The Burj Khalifa, a symbol of Dubai’s financial power, towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it, mocking them for their small statures.

The Burj Khalifa, representing human technological prowess, towers intimidatingly over the buildings surrounding it, like a giant arm reaching to the sky.

Assignment 4Write a descriptive essay.

- Choose one of the following:

1. Describe your favorite restaurant.

2. Describe an underdeveloped area that requires help to improve.

Assignment 4See example here:

http://www.irsc.edu/uploadedFiles/Students/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingLab/E7-Descriptive-Essay-Guidelines.pdf