Descriptive writing
HELLO, STUDENTS! This mode of writing is part of section three of Paper 02. Usually, you are given a scenario and instructed to describe what you see, hear or feel. Sometimes you are also asked to describe the mood.
There are two points I want you to consider. They are:
1. A descriptive essay is not the same as a story.
2. If descriptive writing is not your area of expertise or within your comfort zone, do not attempt it.
These two points are particularly important because of certain observations that have been made at the script-marking level. One main area of concern is that some students confuse descriptive writing with story writing. It is important for you to know the differences because in CXC, the descriptive and narrative pieces carry two separate mark schemes.
DEFINITION
Descriptive writing, simply put, requires you to be descriptive. It engages the five senses in order to provide details of a place, person, thing or experience. This type of writing involves the use of words to paint a picture in the readers’ minds in a vivid and imaginative manner. These words usually include adjectives, dynamic verbs and adverbs. Descriptive writing also involves the use of figurative language, interesting comparisons and striking images.
You can use descriptive writing in the following ways: To communicate important ideas. To allow readers to become a part of an experience. To express your feelings clearly. To evoke specific emotional responses from the readers.
To present scenes, people or experiences in a realistic and unforgettable manner.
DESCRIBING PEOPLE
Describe physical appearance, actions, personal qualities and how people react to them.
DESCRIBING PLACES
Describe the details of the scene/place in such a way that it can be visualised.
Use language that helps to create a particular mood.
DESCRIBING AN EXPERIENCE
Capture how people look and behave, the setting and the mood.
ORDER OF DESCRIPTION
Your descriptions can be (in): 1. Chronological – This framework is often used when describing an event and you want to capture its sequence from beginning to end.
2. Spatial – This is used when describing places.
3. Order of importance – This focuses on the least important to the most important. It is often used when describing people.
REMINDER
A key feature of descriptive writing is that you show rather than tell.
Here is an example of the difference between showing and telling.
Telling: The fire was pretty. The flames that expanded in the hearth were orange, red and made a loud noise. The fire smelled good and we loved it.
Showing: Vibrant orange and red tendrils explored the hearth like a newborn’s curious hands, occasionally voicing pops and sighs in joyous wonderment. The pungent, yet wonderful smell of burning wood spread into the room. We breathed it all in as soft, contented smiles lit our faces.
You will notice that in the description, the fire figurative language was used to create vivid representation of the fire and people’s responses to it. Students, it is never enough to use bland words like good, bad or nice.
Below, I have provided a description of place that I wrote. Pay attention to the mood that is created, the use of figurative language, and adjectives. After you have finished reading, ask yourselves these questions: Did the passage appeal to the senses? Did it convey specific emotions? Did it capture the place and the character’s experience in the place vividly?
THE ABANDONED HOUSE
Here I stood – the victim of a dare. I took a deep breath and pushed the rusty, old gate open. I scanned the yard that was now overgrown with tall, thick, intimidating grass in some areas and covered in a blanket of leaves in others. As I approached the house that loomed in front of me, leaves that had fallen from the huge ackee tree crunched beneath my feet and the grass parted reluctantly as I moved through its barricade. Finally, I was standing at the bottom of the frail-looking wooden steps that led to the front door of the house. Thick, carpet-like dust clung to the steps and a few dried carcasses of bugs could be seen on their backs. The windows which opened on to the abandoned verandah seemed to hang desperately on to their hinges and whenever the wind blew they moved nervously. The darkness that lay behind the windows was frightening and the silence within tensed expectantly, awaiting my invasion.
As I climbed the steps, they creaked in protest as if disturbed from slumber, but I continued towards the front door which was a faded, weather-beaten brown, lined with cracks that dominated its thirsty board. The door knob was almost consumed by a thick, lacy network of cobwebs, but I brushed them aside as I gripped and turned it with sweaty, shaking palms. As the door shuddered open, I sneezed as the musty smell of neglect invaded my nostrils. I had made it. I then turned to face my friends and lifted my arms in victory.
We will stop here this week and continue our focus on descriptive writing next week.
Here are the answers from last week’s activities.
ACTIVITY 1
a. The writer uses this device to highlight that she really wishes or wants her children to be like the ones she dreamt about. It reveals her longing.
b. Clothes off hangers/shoes in disarray/socks littering the floor/towels on the bed (Any two).
c. The exclamation marks are used to emphasise just how surprised/shocked the writer is at the neat condition of the room.
d. She believed this because this was what they usually said in response to hearing that macaroni and string beans were for dinner. It was a typical response. e. The word is ‘instead’. f. The children were eager and serious about doing their homework and were not willing to waste any time.
g. She considers them to be strange because
she is not used to them behaving in such a responsible manner. h. She realises that everything was just a dream and she is now back to reality.
ACTIVITY 2
skilfully, frantically, cautiously, boldly, eagerly, plaintively, efficiently, passionately, leisurely, mercilessly (The words come in the order of the original sentences.)
I trust you have done well in the activities. Take care!