The Basic Outlook of a Descriptive Sentences

STUDY THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH CLOSELY

My grammatical errors and typo errors should be tackle with common sense.

The night was crooked like never before. It brought a chilly and foul air across the city to a lawn outside my house.  My legs were fully stretched and my palms were resting behind my head. The summer green grass underneath was warm and feathery.  My eyes were looking for the moon amid those twinkling stars. However, the yellow crescent moon was playing hide and seek with an ugly looking cloud. I was waiting for the Nightjar to sing her sweet song as usual but all I could hear was the continuous hooting of an owl which made the night even more ghostly.


In the above paragraph, I have used all the four features of the descriptive essay which we have discussed in our ealier lesson.

1.The most vivid pictorial details from the above paragraph:

Example form above Paragraph:
a. My legs were fully stretched and my palms were resting behind my head. (This gives picture in the minds of the readers how the speaker is lying outside his home.)

2.  Use of  Figurative Language from the above paragraph:
b. The night was crooked like never before. It brought a chilly and foul air across the city to a lawn outside my house. (The night is personified)
c. However, the yellow crescent moon was playing hide and seek with an ugly looking cloud. (Moon and cloud personified)
Use of personification is just an example you may use other too but as i said "DON'T OVER USE IT!" Remember we are writing an essay not lyrical poem.

3. Sensory Language
LETS EXAMINE THE WHOLE PARAGRAPH AND FIND OUT THE FIVE SENSORY WORDS:

a. The night was crooked like never before. It brought a damp and foul air across the city to a lawn outside my house.  My legs were fully stretched and my palms were resting behind my head. The summer green grass underneath was warm and feathery.  My eyes were looking for the moon amid those twinkling stars. However, the yellow crescent moon was playing hide and seek with an ugly looking cloud. I was waiting for the Nightjar to sing her sweet song as usual but all I could hear was the continuous hooting of an owl perched on an old juicy gooseberry tree.  The crooked night became even more ghostly.

The following table shows the sensory words accordingly:

All the underlined words are arranged according to its senses in above table. the point is as we write we should include sensory words which will naturally show sensory details. at our level, we should explore how to use compound words especially compound adjectives such as "green grass", "Crooked night", "sweet song" etc. At times, you wont able to include all the five senses and that absolutely "OK!"

4/ Intense/Strong Feelings
Descriptive essay is also personal essay like narrative essay. therefore the writer feelings must reflect in your essay. the above paragraph tells that the speaker is experience eerie feeling. There is  also a feeling of disappointing as he is not able to fulfill his wish of listening to the song of the Nightjar. The term"ghostly" clearly indicates that he was feeling spooky at that moment. So expressing your feelings through words in descriptive writing is indispensable. 

I HOPE I MADE SENSE TO YOU ALL....Drop me messages for further discussion!
GOOD LUCK...STAY AT HOME!!! COVID-19 MUST BE DEFEATED!!!

Features of Descriptive Essay

1. The pictorial details

The biggest ever challenge of the writer is to pen down picture worded paragraphs in descriptive essay. Now, the question is-how to create pictures in the mind of the readers. As a writer, we should be showing rather than telling. Study the example given below:

Example 1

Dema is nervous. The is the example of telling the readers rather than showing. This sentence informs the reader rather than creating a picture of Dema being nervous. Now check the second example.

Example 2

Dema’s breathing became uneasy, her hands were sweaty and she could hear her heart pounding. Her throat became dry and she almost choked when she began to speak.

This is showing-here, the reader can picture how Dema is feeling.  As a writer, we have to remind that we should show instead of simply informing.

Exercise 1 

Dema is angry. (This is telling, show her anger using 2-3 sentences) 

 2. Figurative language

Use of figurative language is must in descriptive writing. it gives a fresh look to your sentences. the figurative language largely revolved around simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole and idiomatic phrases.

Example1  shows the absence of figurative language which should be avoided

Dema is nervous.

Example 2

Dechen began to feel butterflies in her stomach when was about deliver her speech. The underlined words is an idiomatic expression which cen be equated to a figurative language.

Example 3

Dema was as nervous as cat. She could only manage to stammer as she stood before the podium.  The underlined sentence is simile.

Meek like a mouse, she stood before a murmuring crowd. ( we can play with  figurative language however, we must be careful not to use it excessively.)

Exercise 2

Describe the image given below in 3-4 sentences. Remember? Show-don't tell! 

  

3. Sensory Details (imagery)

As a writer, one should include the sensory details. Describing using the sense of touch, smell, sound, taste and sight is key to descriptive writing. The graphical representation of the sensory language is shown below:

Exercise 3

Identify the sensory words from the given sentences below:

Sound	Smell	Touch	Taste	Sight
The door was creaking as I entered the room.	The room is musty due to monsoon season.	The floor felt wet and smooth to my tired feet.	I ate  a Salty,crunchy potatoes chips with an oily burger.	Dechen has a rosy cheek with a glittering blue eyes.

  

In the next session, I will show you a descriptive paragraph with all the four features.  We have discussed the three features above; the fourth feature will be discussed along with descriptive paragraph. In the mean time,  make notes and complete the exercise. 

How to look at Descriptive Essay...

THE FOLLOWING LESSON IS MEANT FOR CLASS IX STUDENTS OF MENDRELGANG CENTRAL SCHOOL.  Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, the students and the language teacher has decided to continue learning through blogging in absence of normal schooling. The language used will be casual and error prone, common sense should prevail in such mode of learning due to various factors.

Descriptive Essay

Provides detailed pictorial description of a person, place, thing or an animal. Descriptive essay should show rather than telling. It should show through sound,smell,appearance,taste and touch. Painting a clear picture with words in the mind of readers is the main objective of any descriptive writing.  lets look at the features of the essay below:

I have listed down these four key features that you should include while writing a descriptive essay. You should ensure how to get these features reflected in your essay. so before we discuss these features in detail, you may copy the given information and reflect on these features. In my next post, we will discuss the features one by one. Drop me your doubts via facebook or SMS me. 

Ode to Buddha

  

Up amid the wise grey haired Himalayas and beneath his sole,

And far down to the gorgeous gargling Ganges,

 Your sweetest song sung sweetly soothes my soul,

Sweetened like Keat’s nightingale and sugary candies.

From dungeons, my shackled senses shaken with a warm breath,

Unchained me from this freezing vales and isles.

Your lucent poesy is unheard on earth,

Mistress agony smirks and sits through the aisles.

 Karma claws this brittle body to death,

Father! I long for pills to free her wrath,

And sleep blissfully before a warm hearth

Hearken! Hearken! Hearten me holy heart

 I plead: tip me to slurp your slush sutras.   

This surreal life is slitting me apart,

My beastly soul needs your magic mantras.

Sleeping under your Bodhi tree I yearn,

Forlorn eyes trek far to see your glimpses    

Like a lost yogi in a cold cavern.

Yet kneeling down I supplicate to learn

To erase throbbing pain is my wishes. 

Alas! This gorgeous Karma kisses me again,

Ringing kneeling bell, she shuts my heaven.

Naked Desire

                                                                                                                        

Sensuous verse oozes out from your heart,

Stripping, winking and tiptoeing you pose

Like a lustful maid, “What thou is your art?”

From the deepest slumber I rose and froze.

“O, virgin being can thou sing thy love song?”

Cold my heart is jaded and dried I lie,

Your heavenly music is what I long,                                            

Awaken; high I fly never to die.

Alas! Samsaric you are-pettiness!

Licking your tongue filled with horny nectar,

 My soul is blackened with long emptiness,

Never a god! You were but an actor!

Let’s handsome conscience clothed and clean my mind,

So to spread love to the endless mankind!

Introduction of an essay

Writing isn't boon from the god, it is more of honing skills associated with writing. Get the technique right, and keep practising: skills do require serious practice  and little prayers. Moreover,  reading and listening is strongly advised as it is closely linked with good writing. Growth of our writing is so subtle that it is very difficult to  pinpoint exactly from which day we have improved our writing. However, you must know that writing is progressive and requires constant practice to keep the momentum going.

Now, let's look at the basic component of introduction of the essay which given below:



Your introduction should include a hook, background information and your thesis statement. You can employ any style of hook depending upon your taste. After the hook make sure that you have the background information where you clearly explain about the topic. Finally, your introduction should wrap up with the thesis statement. These three are the basic requirement to write an introduction.

Keep practising-Good luck!!!