Description

DescriptionDescriptionofPlaces,ObjectsandPeopleContentsDefinitionofdescriptionTypesofdescriptionWaystodevelopadescriptionessayDescriptionofaplaceDescriptionofanobjectDescriptionofapersonAssignmentDescriptionDescriptionisthetypeofwritingthathelpsthereadertoseeintheirmind’seyewhatsomeone/someplace/somethingislike.Orwemaysaydescriptionispaintingapictureinwordsofaperson,place,object,orscene.Adescriptionessayisgenerallydevelopedthroughsensorydetails,ortheimpressionsofone’ssenses---sight,hearing,taste,smell,andtouch.Leaveouttheirrelevantonesandkeepthosewhichhelptobringoutthedominantcharacteristicoroutstandingqualityofthepersonorthingdescribed.ExampleofAdoptingSight---AFriendlyClownOnonecornerofmydressersitsasmilingtoyclownonatinyunicycle--agiftIreceivedlastChristmasfromaclosefriend.Theclown‘sshortyellowhair,madeofyarn(纱线）,coversitsearsbutispartedabovetheeyes.Theblueeyesareoutlinedinblackwiththin,darklashesflowingfromthebrows.Ithascherry-redcheeks,nose,andlips,anditsbroadgrindisappearsintothewide,whiteruffle（花边）arounditsneck.Theclownwearsafluffy（蓬松的）,two-tone（两种颜色的）nyloncostume.Theleftsideoftheoutfitislightblue,andtherightsideisred.Thetwocolorsmergeinadarklinethatrunsdownthecenterofthesmalloutfit.Surroundingitsanklesanddisguisingitslongblackshoesarebigpinkbows.Thewhitespokes（车轮的辐条）onthewheelsoftheunicyclegatherinthecenterandexpandtotheblacktiresothatthewheelsomewhatresemblestheinnerhalfofagrapefruit.Theclownandunicycletogetherstandaboutafoothigh.AsacherishedgiftfrommygoodfriendTran,thiscolorfulfiguregreetsmewithasmileeverytimeIentermyroom.TypesofdescriptionObjectivedescription---recorddetailswithoutmakinganypersonalcomment.Subjectivedescription---thewriterisfreetointerpretdetailsforthereader/audience.Note:Fewdescriptionsoutsideofsciencewriting,however,arecompletelyobjective.WaystodevelopadescriptionessayThroughtheimpressionsofone’ssenses---sight,hearing,taste,smell,andtouchUsingspatialorder:describingthephysicallayoutoftheplace(leftright,bottomtop,clockwise/counterclockwise,insideoutside)UsingchronologicalorderUsespecificwordsDecideonthedominantimpressionGeneralandSpecificWordsforGoodDescriptionSpecificwordshelptomakewritingclear,exact,vivid,andstriking,fortheyaremoreinformativeandexpressivethangeneralwords.Compare:agoodmankind,honest,just,generous,sympathetic,warm-hearted,selfless,brave,honorablegoodfoodtasty,delicious,nourishing,rich,wholesome,fresh,appetizing,abundantHousemansion,villa（别墅）,chateau（庄园）,cottage,bungalow（平房）,cabin,hut,shack,shanty,shed,barn(仓房）GeneralandSpecificWordsforGoodDescriptionPracticeEg.Laugh:smile,grin,chortle,guffaw,sneer,titter,giggle……Cry:sob,weep,blubber,snivel,howl,bawl,wail,moan,Animal:Flower:Wind:RainTree:Walk:Angry:Lookat:……GeneralandSpecificWordsforGoodDescriptionGeneral:Itisoftenwindyanddustyhereinspring.Specific:Inspringthereisoftenaverystrongnorthwestwind.Itcarriessomuchfinedustwithitthatsometimesthesunbecomesobscure.Thereisnoescapefromthefinedust;itgetsintoyoureyes,yourears,yournostrils,andyourhair.Itgoesthroughthecracksofclosedwindowsandcoversyourdesksandchairs.GeneralandSpecificWordsforGoodDescriptionGeneral:Theroomwasamess.Specific:AsIwalkedintotheroomIcouldbarelyfindacleanplacetostep.Therewereclothesalloverthefloor,alongwithpapers,books,andpossiblywhatlookedlikeanold,moldysandwich.Thestenchwasunbearable.GeneralandSpecificWordsforGoodDescriptionGeneral:Ilovethesmellofsunshine.Specific:?YourturnCriticalReadingonDescriptionofanObjectReadthefollowingthreedescriptiveparagraphsaboutthesunshineandgiveyourcomments.1.ILiketheSmellsofSunVeryMuchIlikethesmellsofsun.Itissweet,whichtasteslikeanice-cream.Ithaschangeablecolor,whichturnstheplaingroundbecomebrightandfull.Ithassoftsunshine,whichletmybodyfeelwarmandcomfortable.Ithasaquietlanguage,whichmakesagentlewhisperthroughmybodyandtellsmewhatarethesecretsofthesun.Ithasawonderfulpower,whichreflectsthepureandthebeautifulthingsintheworld,brightensallthedarkthingsup,andencouragesmetoovercomeallthedifficultiesinmylife.Ilikethesmellsofsunverymuch.BystudentCommentonSmellsoftheSunbyStudentComment:Thedescriptionisveryimaginativebuttooabstract.Trytoaddmoreconcreteexamplestoshowwhyyoulikethesmellofsun.2.SmellsoftheSunIlovethesun.Ilovethesun’srays,lightandwarmth,especiallythesun’ssmells.Whenthesuncomesagainaftertherain,Icaninhalethehumidairmadebythesun’sheat.Inasunnygarden,thescentofthegrassandofplantsthatcarrythesmellsofthesunwaftalonginthebreeze.Ilikesunningmybedclothesifitisanicewarm,sunshinyday,thenthebedclothesgainanaromaofthesunaftertheirsunbath.Iaskmyson,“Canyousmellthesuninyourbedclothes?”Hepicksupacornerofhisbedclothes,thenbendshisheadclosetothemandbreathesindeeply.Heanswers,“Whatawonderfulsmellofthesun.”Ienjoythesmellsofthesun.---ByXeJiaoCommentonSmellsoftheSunbyXeJiaoComment:XeJiaowritesofthesun'ssmellsinashortparagraph.Sheillustratesforusthepowerofconcreteimagery,dialogue,anddescriptivewords.3.FreeTranquilizerVancouver’ssummersunshinemakesmelazy.Iindulgemyselfundertheshadeofthem