Writing Mini LessonsWriting Mini Lessons

Sensory LanguageSensory Language

Sensory Language appeals to the 5 senses: sight, Sensory Language appeals to the 5 senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, touch. sound, taste, smell, touch.

Authors use sensory language to make their Authors use sensory language to make their writing vivid. In some selections, an author writing vivid. In some selections, an author may focus on only one or two senses. In other may focus on only one or two senses. In other selections, an author may appeal to as many of selections, an author may appeal to as many of the senses as possible.the senses as possible.

You may have heard someone say, You may have heard someone say, "Write about your "Write about your feelings.feelings." While " While that is good advice, it may not be an that is good advice, it may not be an easy task for every individual. A less easy task for every individual. A less threatening place to start might be threatening place to start might be with the senses: sight, sound, smell, with the senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Using the senses is an taste, and touch. Using the senses is an excellent strategy for descriptive excellent strategy for descriptive writing. writing. 

There are 5 senses so write about all 5There are 5 senses so write about all 5

SOUND - Imagine that you were surfing when a SOUND - Imagine that you were surfing when a storm blew in. The waves crashed in around you storm blew in. The waves crashed in around you as you tried desperately to get back to shore. You as you tried desperately to get back to shore. You couldn't see anything. All you could hear was the couldn't see anything. All you could hear was the roar of the waves. Describe that sound to roar of the waves. Describe that sound to someone who has never been surfing. someone who has never been surfing.

SIGHT - Describe a sunset to a blind man.    SIGHT - Describe a sunset to a blind man.   

SMELL - SMELL - You are lying in bed on Saturday morning You are lying in bed on Saturday morning when you awaken to the aroma of coffee percolating when you awaken to the aroma of coffee percolating and bacon frying. The phone rings and you begin to and bacon frying. The phone rings and you begin to tell your friend about the smells of breakfast tell your friend about the smells of breakfast cooking.  cooking. 

TASTE - TASTE - You and your sister decide to concoct a new You and your sister decide to concoct a new smoothie. You mix all the drinks in the refrigerator smoothie. You mix all the drinks in the refrigerator into you’re a blender. Then you add strawberries, into you’re a blender. Then you add strawberries, bananas, tomatoes, and last night's leftover bananas, tomatoes, and last night's leftover meatloaf. Last, you throw in a raw egg, a cup of meatloaf. Last, you throw in a raw egg, a cup of milk, and some ice. As the blender crushes the milk, and some ice. As the blender crushes the mixture into a drink, you and your sister / brother / mixture into a drink, you and your sister / brother / friend argue over who will have to taste it first. You friend argue over who will have to taste it first. You lose. Describe the taste of that first swallow.  lose. Describe the taste of that first swallow.  

TOUCH - Ever touch a baby's skin, a puppy, TOUCH - Ever touch a baby's skin, a puppy, kitten etc.? Describe how it feels. Can you kitten etc.? Describe how it feels. Can you compare it to your own skin. How is it compare it to your own skin. How is it different?different?

TASTE - TASTE - You and your sister decide to concoct a You and your sister decide to concoct a new smoothie. You mix all the drinks in the new smoothie. You mix all the drinks in the refrigerator into you’re a blender. Then you refrigerator into you’re a blender. Then you add strawberries, bananas, tomatoes, and last add strawberries, bananas, tomatoes, and last night's leftover meatloaf. Last, you throw in a night's leftover meatloaf. Last, you throw in a raw egg, a cup of milk, and some ice. As the raw egg, a cup of milk, and some ice. As the blender crushes the mixture into a drink, you blender crushes the mixture into a drink, you and your sister / brother / friend argue over and your sister / brother / friend argue over who will have to taste it first. You lose. who will have to taste it first. You lose. Describe the taste of that first swallow.  Describe the taste of that first swallow.