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Note: With the essay discussions, you have a choice: develop a lesson for your MOP, or simply work the pages to help you begin writing your essay. (Which is what I would do.)
The (Delicious) DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY Page:
A descriptive essay describes a thing.
So now you know everything about writing a descriptive essay.
Not likely!
What's wrong with that sentence is it tells instead of shows.
Let me try again:
All essays "describe", but a "descriptive essay" focusses on a physical description of a topic in order to make a point. Generally, this essay form begins with a vivid introduction of the topic, a collection of images and metaphors that catch the reader's attention by appealing to his senses. The reader sees and feels the experience of standing in a field of new mown hay, the embarrassment of forgetting your wallet and credit cards at home on a date, of the terror of the slow, clacking ascent to the top of a roller coaster, of the painful loneliness suggested by the finely tuned, exquisite cell phone that glitters in the moonlight, but never rings.
Damn! That is so much better!. Can I write or what!?
Here's another great example:
Describing your kid brother by writing "He was sick." does not have the impact of:
"Jeremy's face suddenly turned an ugly shade of pale gray. His eyes turned yellow as he bolted from his chair, gagging convulsively, a horrid, green-brown eruption of vomit flowed with each gurgling cough."
Yeah! Now I'm showing!!
(I'm also showing a link to my sponsor up above. That's why the above phrase "credit card" is colored blue. Hey! They cover my cost of posting this site!)
Your turn. What are you going to describe? In the space below jot down a few things that you'd like to describe. Then, choose one and put a star next to it.
Stuck for an idea? How about:
Describe an object that has lots of meaning for you: your car, your guitar, your pet cat. Etc
Describe a place that has lots of meaning for you: looking into the Grand Canyon, a city or home from your past.
Describe a person who has some special meaning for you: family member, lover, enemy, leader, boss.
If you're still stuck for an idea try reading through the list in the Topic Generator Page.
Now that you've got a topic, so what?
Why do you want to show us this description?
What is your point? thesis?
I hope you could tell that my "point/thesis" was about how showing has more of an impact that telling.
What's yours?
Now: Do an exploratory. Show don't just tell. Describe the day, the place, the sounds, the...
If you would like to use the convenient and friendly Generic Worksheet: Generic Work Sheet, otherwise get your own paper!
Better yet, cut your finger and write it in blood!
Suggestion: To help you show rather than tell use active verbs.
Instead of "He is sick." say "He barfed on my shoe."
Not, "I am in love." but, "I love how her sweet lashes sweep across my cheek when we hug."
For more about this brilliant tip: E- Prime.
Wow! Is this fun or what?
