Modul 1

English For Communication

Dosen Pengampu: Vidia Puspita

1. Descriptive Text
1.1 Definition of Descriptive Text
Descriptive is a text which says what a person or a
thing is like. Descriptive texts usually:
● Make use of adjectives and adverbs
● Use comparisons to help picture the scene (something is like something else)
● Employ the reader’s five senses (how something feels, smells, looks,
sounds, and tastes)

1.2 Social/Language Function of Descriptive Text

The social function of Descriptive text is to give information about a particular entity
bydescribing its features, history, and special characteristics.

Universitas Gunadarma
Modul 1
English For Communication

Dosen Pengampu: Vidia Puspita

1.3 Generic Structure of Descriptive Text

The followings are the structure of Descriptive text.
a. Identification or general statements. It introduces or identifies
specific object ( aperson, place, animal or object).

b. Descriptions: the parts of a text describe the object characteristics,

appearances, personality, habits or qualities related to what the writer
describes.

1.4 Language Features of Descriptive Text

Some language features that you can follow to make a Descriptive text are as follow:
1. Focusing on specific participant.
2. Using adjectives
3. Using Simple Present Tense.
4. Using action verbs.
5. Using Simple Past Tense (to describe a thing, a place, or a person
which doesnot exist anymore)

Look at the model of Descriptive text below.

Text Structure THE AMAZING TAJ MAHAL IN INDIA

Identification Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight

wonders of the world. It was built by a
Muslim Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of
his dear wife at Agra.
Taj Mahal is a Mausoleum that houses the
grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal. The
mausoleum is a part of a vast complex
comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate
garden, a mosque (to the left), a guest house
(to the right), and several other palatial
buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of this
complex, with the river Jamuna behind it.

Universitas Gunadarma
Modul 1
English For Communication

Dosen Pengampu: Vidia Puspita

Description of design The Taj stands on a raised, square platform

(186 x 186 feet) with its four corners
truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The
architectural design uses the interlocking
arabesque concept, in which each element
stands on its own and perfectly integrates
with the main structure. It uses the principles
of self- replicating geometry and a
symmetry of
architectural elements.
Description of Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter
appearence and rises to a height of 213 feet. It is flanked
by four subsidiary domed chambers. The four
graceful, slender minarets are 162.5 feet
each. The central domed chamber and four
adjoining chambers include many walls and
panels of Islamic decoration. Taj Mahal is built
entirely of white marble. Its stunning
architectural beauty is beyond adequate
description, particularly at dawn and sunset.
The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full
moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors
experience the Taj as if suspended when
viewed from across the Jamuna river.

Then, complete the text structure and the language features of

DescriptiveText below.

Text Structure Someone I Admire

Someone I admire is my cousin, Laura. She is

five years older than me, so she’s 19 now and
she lives in Bristol. She is very friendly and
confident and she’s got long, wavy, brown hair
and greeny-brown eyes. She is medium height,
slim, and very fit because she is dancer.

Universitas Gunadarma
Modul 1
English For Communication

Dosen Pengampu: Vidia Puspita

She’s been dancing since she was six years old

and trains every day at her dance school. She
wants to be a professional dancer, but it’s a
very difficult profession because it’s so
competitive. She often dances in shows and
I’ve been to watch her several times. Her
favourite type of dance is modern, which is
sometimes a bit strange, but I love watching
her dance.
Laura is very busy because she also studies
photography at university. She’s a really good
photographer and has taken lots of amazing
photos of me and my family. Her photos have
won a few prizes and last year one of her
photos was in an exhibition at an art gallery in
London.
Laura doesn’t have a lot of free time and she’s
also trying to learn German because she wants
to go to Germany next year to do a
photography course. I think Laura is very hard-
working and she deserves to become a
professional dancer one day.
(Source:https://learnenglishteens.britishcoun
cil.or g/skills/writing/intermediate-b1-
writing/someone-i-admire)

Language features:

 Adjectives: (5 words)
 Adverbs: (5 words)
 Action verbs: (5 words)
 Simple present: (2 sentences)
 Simple past: (2 sentences)

Universitas Gunadarma
Modul 1
English For Communication

Dosen Pengampu: Vidia Puspita

Universitas Gunadarma