Descriptive Paragraph A descriptive paragraph is a piece of writing that is intended to convey meaning to the reader through sensory details.

A good writer will use a few carefully chosen words to allow the reader to have a mental picture of what is being described. ACTIVITY 1 - Writing a Descriptive Paragraph (#113 competency) Here is an example of a descriptive paragraph: I am forty years old, rather tall and I have blue eyes and short black hair. I wear casual clothes as I teach students in a relaxed atmosphere. I enjoy my job because I get to meet and help so many different people from all over the world. During my spare time, I like playing tennis which I play at least three times a week. I also love listening to classical music and I must admit that I spend a lot of money on buying new CDs! I live in a pretty seaside town on the Italian coast. I enjoy eating great Italian food and laughing with the likable people who live here. Written Exercise I Answer these questions about yourself on a piece of paper. How old are you? What do you look like? What kind of clothes do you wear? Why? What do you do? Do you like it? What are your favorite hobbies? Why do you like them? Where do you live? Do you like living there? Why or why not? Written Exercise II Now that you have the information about yourself ready. Fill in the gaps in to complete this descriptive paragraph about yourself. I am _________ years old, I _________________ (your looks). I wear ________________ because ______________. I am a ______________. I like / don't like to _______________________because _____________________. I enjoy ______________. I often _____________ (describe how often you do your hobby). I also like ________________ (write about another hobby) because ________________. I live in ____________. People in ____________ are ________________ . I enjoy / don't enjoy living in ______________ because ____________.

ACTIVITY 2

Model Descriptive Paragraph Focusing On An Object

The following paragraph, follows the basic pattern of topic sentence, supporting sentences, and conclusion "My Tiny Diamond Ring," On the third finger of my left hand is the pre-engagement ring given to me last year by my sister Doris. The 14-carat gold band, a bit tarnished by time and neglect, circles my finger and twists together at the top to encase a small white diamond. The four prongs that anchor the diamond are separated by pockets of dust. The diamond itself is tiny and dull, like a sliver of glass found on the kitchen floor after a dishwashing accident. Just below the diamond are small air holes, intended to let the diamond breathe, but now clogged with grime. The ring is neither very attractive nor valuable, but I treasure it as a gift from my older sister, a gift that I will pass along to my younger sister when I receive my own engagement ring this Christmas. Written Exercise 1 Analyzing The Quality of the Object Presented Based on Description (#115 competency) Directions: Read the model descriptive paragraph and answer the following 1. What is the object being described in the selection? 2. Who gave the pre-engagement ring ? 3. 4. What is the ring made up of? How does it look like? Why does the writer treasure the diamond ring? questions.

5. If you were given the same kind of ring , are you willing to pass it along to others? Why or Why not? Written Exercise 2 Giving Analysis of Description Paragraph !. How does the author begin the paragraph? 2. Enumerate supporting details about the object? 3. Explain why the author treasure the object. Analyzing the Model Description Notice that the topic sentence in this paragraph not only identifies the belonging (a "pre-engagement ring") but also implies why the writer treasures it (". . . given to me last year by my sister Doris"). This kind of topic sentence is more interesting and revealing than a bare announcement, such as, "The belonging I am about to describe is my pre-engagement ring." Instead of announcing your topic in this way, focus your paragraph and gain the interest of your readers with a complete topic sentence: one that expresses an attitude or a reason as well as identifies the object you are about to describe.

ACTIVITY 3 Writing a Descriptive Paragraph Focusing on an Object How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph About An Object Descriptive paragraphs let the reader touch, taste, see, hear and smell what you are describing. The reader should feel as if they can see what you are describing ... Here's a common model for organizing a descriptive paragraph. Begin the paragraph with a topic sentence that identifies your prized belonging, and briefly explain its significance to you. Next, describe the item in four or five sentences, using the supporting details that you listed after probing your topic. Finally, end the paragraph with a conclusion or sentence that emphasizes the personal value of the item.

Directions: Choose a topic and make a descriptive paragraph. 1. My New Notepad 2. What Music Is 3. My Favorite Gadget 4. My Favorite Ball 5. My Room 6. My Vision/Mission in Life 7. Who Am I 8. My Dreams

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Expanding Ideas in Writing A Description of An Object by Using Exact and Vivid Words (#114 competency) Written Exercise 1 Adjectives Describing a Tree Draw a tree in the center oval. Write eight adjectives describing your tree. For each adjective, write a sentence using that word

TREE

This is a thumbnail of the "Draw a tree in the center oval. Then think of and write eight adjectives describing your tree. Then, for each adjective, write a sentence using that adjective Written Exercise 2 Make a descriptive paragraph about a tree using the exact and vivid words you used in the first exercise,

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Written Exercise 3 Expanding the Sentences with Appropriate Details Make the following paragraph vivid by expanding the sentences with appropriate details of your own choosing. Substitute concrete and specific words for the abstract and general ones. I remember clearly how awful I felt the first time I attended Mrs. Garcias second year class. I had recently moved from a small town in Bataan to a crowded suburb of Manila. My new school looked big from the outside and seemed dark inside as I walked down the long corridor toward the classroom. The class was noisy as I neared the door; but when I entered, everyone became quiet and looked at me. I felt uncomfortable and wanted a place to hide. However, in a loud voice Mrs. Garcia directed me to the front of the room to introduce myself.

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Giving and Responding to Feedback On Ones Paper in the Revision (#116 competency) Descriptive writing is very common right now but when it comes to revising, do you know how to edit your paragraphs? Looking to wax your revising and editing skills on a paragraph whose purpose is to offer up a description? Here's how you do it: 1. Check your topic sentence. First, make sure you have one - descriptions tend to flow much better when the reader knows what you're describing. Next, make sure you suggest its significance to really drive home the point. 2. Descriptive statements should be clear and specific. There's only one instance when a description is vague: when you have no idea what you're talking about. Otherwise, you will need to make sure they consistently bear the two qualities we mentioned. 3. Your paragraph should be unified. Don't muddle your descriptive paragraph with non-related information. That doesn't serve your purpose and will likely leave the reader scratching their heads. 4. Have you used a logical pattern in organizing your sentences? If you haven't, try the most basic for descriptive paragraphs: answering the basic questions about the topic being detailed. 5. Your sentence should conclude strongly. Accomplish this by closing with a sentence that reminds the reader why this particular subject is significant. That will help keep it fresh in their minds. 6. Make sure you proofread thoroughly. This goes for any type of writing, of course. Lucky for you, there are a whole lot of powerful writing software that can get this part done. Use them to your advantage. After revising your paragraph answer the checklist. Revision Checklist: Descriptive Paragraph Does your paragraph begin with a topic sentence--one that identifies the item you are about to describe and suggests its significance? Are your descriptions consistently clear and specific? Have you put your descriptions into complete sentences? Is your paragraph unified--that is, do all of the supporting sentences relate directly to the topic introduced in the first sentence? Have you followed a logical pattern in organizing the sentences in your paragraph? Have you concluded the paragraph with a sentence reminding the reader of the item's special significance? Have you proofread your paper carefully?