Descriptive writing



descriptive writing | |

|Goal: |

|Descriptive writing vividly portrays a person, place, or thing in such a way that the reader can visualize the topic and enter |

|into the writer’s experience. |

| |

|Characteristics: |

|The general characteristics of descriptive writing include: |

|elaborate use of sensory language |

|rich, vivid, and lively detail |

|figurative language such as simile, hyperbole, metaphor,  symbolism and personification |

|showing, rather than telling through the use of  active verbs and precise modifiers |

| |

|Uses: |

|Descriptive writing appears almost everywhere and is often included in other genre, such as in a descriptive introduction of a |

|character in a narrative. |

| |

|Exercises: |

|Observe, and then describe an event. |

|Think of a person or object that stands out in your memory. Write a description of that subject. |

|Find an example of descriptive writing; explain the elements that make this a good example. |

| |

|expository writing |

|Goal: |

|Expository writing seeks to inform, explain, clarify, define or instruct. |

| |

|Characteristics: |

|The general characteristics of expository writing include: |

|focus on main topic |

|logical supporting facts |

|details, explanations, and examples |

|strong organization |

|clarity |

|unity and coherence |

|logical order |

|smooth transitions |

| |

|Uses: |

|Expository writing appears in and is not limited to letters, newsletters, definitions, instructions, guidebooks, catalogues, |

|newspaper articles, magazine articles, manuals, pamphlets, reports and research papers. |

| |

|Exercises: |

|Write a story about a trip you are going to take and what friend you want to take with you. Explain why this friend would be |

|the best person to go with you. |

|Describe the cause and effects of pollution in the environment. Narrow your topic to one form of pollution, such as something |

|that causes air, water or land pollution. |

|Explain the process of baking a birthday cake. |

|Find an example of expository writing; explain the elements that make this a good example. |

| |

|narrative writing |

|Goal: |

|Narrative writing tells a story or part of a story. |

| |

|Characteristics: |

|The general characteristics of narrative writing include: |

|plot structure |

|introduction |

|rising action |

|climax |

|falling action |

|resolution |

|conflict |

|characterization |

|setting |

|theme |

|point of view |

|sequencing |

|transitions |

| |

|Uses: |

|Narrative writing appears in and is not limited to novels, short stories, biographies, autobiographies, historical accounts, |

|essays, poems, and plays. |

| |

|Exercises: |

|Write a story about the best celebration you have ever had; tell why this is your favorite. |

|Think of a time when you were nervous. It might be your first plane ride or the first time you slept over night with a friend. |

|Tell what happened and how you reacted. |

|Write a fictional story about being an eyewitness at a historical event. |

|Find an example of a narrative; explain the elements that make this a good example. |

| |

|persuasive writing |

|Goal: |

|Persuasive writing intends to convince the reader of a stated opinion or belief. |

| |

|Characteristics: |

|The general characteristics of persuasive writing include: |

|stated position or belief |

|factual supports |

|persuasive techniques |

|logical argument |

|call to action |

| |

|Uses: |

|Persuasive writing appears in and is not limited to speeches, letters to the editor, editorials, advertisements, award |

|nominations, pamphlets, petitions, scholarly writing, and opinion pieces. |

| |

|Exercises: |

|Write a letter to your member of parliament telling him why you think daylight savings time should or should not be changed. |

|Write a speech to be delivered to the school board to convince them to require or not require school uniforms. |

|Find an example of persuasive writing; explain the elements that make this a good example. |

| |

|poetry |

|Goal: |

|Poetry is an art form that uses evocative language and form to communicate an idea or an experience. Because it is highly |

|individual, the structure and elements are varied and unlimited in scope. |

| |

|Characteristics: |

|The general characteristics of poetry may include: |

|figurative language |

|rhyme and euphony |

|meter |

|poetic devices |

|free verse |

|blank verse |

| |

|Uses: |

|Poetry appears almost everywhere, and examples include haiku, couplet, tercet, quatrain, cinquain, limerick, ballad, lyrics, |

|sonnet, etc. |

| |

|Exercises: |

|During a walk, pick up one item. Write about what you found. |

|Write about something you miss or crave. For example, in winter write about summer. |

| |

|technical writing |

|Goal: |

|The goal of technical writing is to clearly communicate a select piece of information to a targeted reader or group of readers for|

|a particular purpose in such a way that the subject can readily be understood. It is expository writing that requires a response |

|from the reader. |

| |

|Characteristics: |

|The general characteristics of technical writing may include: |

|objective point of view |

|clear, concise language |

|factual information |

|uncomplicated structure |

|logical order |

|identified audience |

| |

|Uses: |

|Technical writing appears in reports such as lab, accidents or progress reports, directions to a destination, manuals, evaluation |

|forms and questionnaires, business letters, resumes, presentations, descriptions of the design and features for new products, and |

|instructions that help the reader visualize what they are doing and what they are working with. |

| |

|Exercises: |

|write, in complete sentences or a paragraph, to explain what you did wrong in solving a math problem. |

|create a product then describe how your product works to prospective buyers! |

| |

Other ideas:

Action/Adventure

Biographical

Fantasy

History

Horror/Scary

How-To/Advice

Humour

Inspirational

Mystery

News

Opinion

Research

Review (book, movie, web site)

Romance/Love

Sci-fi

Scientific

Sports

Thriller/Suspense

Travel

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