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Descriptive Paragraph Instructions

 

Topic: Choose 1 of the following to physically describe: a person, a place, or an object about which you have strong feelings. Use any 1 or any combination of prewriting strategies to generate topic ideas. There is also a list of suggested topics in your textbook. Your paragraph must be at least 150 words.

 

Overall impression/point: This should be your descriptive overall impression of your topic. What specific impression do you want your audience to have of this person, place, or object? Include at least 1 very specific descriptive word.

 

Audience: Be specific in selecting your audience. Who would be interested in hearing this description? Who might benefit by hearing about this subject?

 

Purpose: To inform? To entertain? To persuade? Choose 1 or perhaps a combination of 2.

 

Topic Sentence: Combine your topic and your overall impression into a complete sentence. Remember, you are physically describing your topic.

 

Your Vantage Point: Where are you physically in relation to what you are describing? Are you fixed in one place, or are you moving?

 

Spatial Order: Pick the order in which you will present your details: near to far, left to right, head to toe, outside to in?

 

Brainstorm Sensory Details: Brainstorm a list of details that are specific and appeal to as many of the 5 senses as possible: sights, sounds, tastes, textures, and smells related to your topic and your overall impression. If you cannot reasonably include all of the senses, that’s fine.

 

Plan: Arrange your sensory details in an order according to your chosen spatial order, just as shown in your textbook.

 

Complete each step using the Descriptive Paragraph Prewriting Template Below

 

 

 

 

 

Descriptive Paragraph Prewriting Template

 

 

 

Step 1: Descriptive Paragraph Prewriting & Paragraph Plan

 

 

 

Directions: Be sure to complete all of the elements below. If you fail to do so, your content for this assignment will be incorrect.

 

 

 

Topic:

 

Overall impression/Point:

 

Audience:

 

Purpose:

 

Topic Sentence:

 

Your Vantage Point: 

 

Spatial Order: 

 

Brainstorm Sensory Details: 

 

      Sights:

 

      Sounds:

 

      Tastes:

 

      Textures:

 

      Smells:

 

Plan: Arrange your sensory details in an order according to your chosen spatial order, just as shown in your textbook. Provide your plan in the space provided below.

 

 

Step 2: Descriptive Paragraph Rough Draft

 

 

 

Directions: Write a rough draft that follows your paragraph plan, beginning with your topic sentence. Do not worry about spelling or grammar; just let your thoughts flow. End with a good concluding sentence that restates your controlling idea or expresses a thought that restates your dominant impression. It should be approximately 150 words, no less and not too much more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Descriptive Paragraph Revised Draft

 

 

 

Directions: Copy your Descriptive Paragraph Rough Draft (from above) and paste it below, click on “Tools” or “Review” if you are using Microsoft Word, and hit “Track Changes.” This is so your instructor can see all the changes you make. Begin reading through your rough draft and make changes to the content as you see fit. Add more descriptive words if needed or delete irrelevant ones that do not help create your dominant impression. Add transitional words or phrases to help the paragraph flow in a logical order. Then, save the draft with the changes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4: Descriptive Paragraph Edited Draft

 

 

 

Directions: Turn off the “Track Changes” feature. Copy your Revised Descriptive Paragraph Draft (from above), paste it below. Now, click on “Tools” or “Review” if you are using Microsoft Word, and turn the “Track Changes” feature on. Edit for any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. Focus especially on editing for all the different elements you have studied recently, including consistency of verb tense. Save these changes.

 

 

 

NOTE: Use of contractions (can’t, won’t, doesn’t, etc.) and second person (any form of the pronoun “you”) is strictly prohibited and will result in loss of points on writing assignments.

 

********************** Please use this template*******************************