Descriptive Paragraphs ENL 207 Fall 2015 Descriptive Paragraphs

Descriptive Paragraphs ENL 207, Fall 2015

Descriptive Paragraphs • Describes a person, place, or object and paints a picture for your reader through sensory details • May also include information about functions, traditions, or personal experiences and how they relate to the person, place, or object that is being described • Tells the reader what the subject is like, rather than what the subject is

Topic Sentence • Is usually the first sentence in a paragraph • Includes an opinion that must be supported by a vivid description Topic: What is going to be described (a person, place, or object) Controlling Idea: An opinion that must be supported by description which exemplifies the person, place, or object being described. “And the first thing I saw, the only thing I could see at first, was a magnificent bed. ” Magpies by Amy Pan pp. 3

Topic Sentences What is the topic and controlling idea of each of these sentences? “I knew from the beginning that our new home would not be an ordinary house. ” Magpies by Amy Pan pp. 2 “This was a wonderful clock to see, but after I heard it that first hour, then the next, and then always, this clock became an extravagant nuisance. ” Magpies by Amy Pan pp. 4 “My mother regained her pleasant nature. ” Magpies by Amy Pan pp. 4

Supporting Sentences • Should make your reader see, hear, or feel what you are describing • Describing a Person • Focus on physical features or personality traits • Describing an Object • Can focus on color, shape, size, or the function • Describing a Place • Can focus on objects, colors, sights, smells, or sounds

Supporting Sentences Read the following excerpt from “Magpies” and determine what is being described: an object, person, or place. “…It was heavy and light at the same time: soft rose silk and heavy, dark, shiny wood carved all around with dragons. Four posts held up a silk canopy, and at each post dangled large silk ties holding back curtains…” Magpies by Amy Pan pp. 3

Supporting Sentences Read the following excerpt from “Magpies” and determine what is being described: an object, person, or place. “…She put her old clothes back on, long Chinese gowns and skirts now with white mourning bands sewn at the bottoms. During the day, she pointed to strange and funny things, naming them for me: bidet, Brownie camera, salad fork, napkin. In the evening, when there was nothing to do, we talked about the servants: who was clever, who was diligent, who was loyal. We gossiped as we cooked small eggs and sweet potatoes on top of the houlu just to enjoy their smell…” Magpies by Amy Pan pp. 4

Concluding Sentence • A restatement of the topic sentence • A comment • A statement that summarizes the features you talked about in the paragraph combined with a restatement of the topic sentence

Concluding Sentence Read the following model paragraph. Determine what type of concluding statement is used: a restatement of the topic sentence, a comment, or a summary of the features being described. “And the first thing I saw, the only thing I could see at first, was a magnificent bed. It was heavy and light at the same time: soft rose silk and heavy, dark, shiny wood carved all around with dragons. Four posts held up a silk canopy, and at each post dangled large silk ties holding back curtains. The bed sat on four square lion’s paws, as if the wright of it crushed the lion underneath. Yan Chang showed me how to use a small steep stool to climb onto the bed. And when I tumbled onto the silk coverings, I laughed to discover a soft mattress that was ten times the thickness of my bed in Ningpo. ” Magpies by Amy Pan pp. 3

Model Paragraph Analyze the structure of the following paragraph. 1. Identify the topic sentence. What is the topic and controlling idea? 2. What types of supporting details are included? 3. Identify the concluding sentence. What type of concluding sentence is used?

Model Paragraph “My mother seemed to regain her pleasant nature. She put her old clothes back on, long Chinese gowns and skirts now with white mourning bands sewn at the bottoms. During the day, she pointed to strange and funny things, naming them for me: bidet, Brownie camera, salad fork, napkin. In the evening, when there was nothing to do, we talked about the servants: who was clever, who was diligent, who was loyal. We gossiped as we cooked small eggs and sweet potatoes on top of the houlu just to enjoy their smell. And at night, my mother would again tell me stories as I lay in her arms falling asleep. ” Magpies by Amy Pan pp. 4

Describe it! Activity Work with a partner. 1. Partner A: Close your eyes. 2. Partner B: Describe the object, place, or person described on the slide using sensory details or explaining the purpose/function of what is pictured. (1 minute) 3. Person A: Guess what the object is. If you guess correctly within the time limit, your group will receive a point. Switch partners.

Hone y

An Oasis

A Baby Duck (Duckling)

Chocolate Cake

New Yor k Cit y

Taylo r Swift

Paragraph Prompt BRAINSTORM: Think about an object, place, or person who is very special or meaningful to you. Choose one thing, place, or person. Then, using sensory details, describe it in a structured paragraph.