Descriptive+writing+assignment

· **Focus on a moment **: rather than a series of events (this would make the story a narrative) · **Create a dynamic piece of writing **: Use descriptions that move the story forward. Don’t just list things, make sure they are descriptions that help tell the story. · **Be observant: ** Don’t go into detail about the “blue sky” and the “white clouds.” Readers know what color the sky is, so don’t describe it for them. **It’s the oddities that paint a scene**. If you are describing a diner, don’t write about the booths and the counter. Mention the ketchup stain on the window or the cheeky writing in the men’s bathroom. Also avoid clichés, for example, starting your story with the //‘Golden sunlight streamed through my bedroom curtains’// · **Authenticity: ** Careful description makes a scene more believable for readers. This is also why it’s important to use details in your writing. · **Show me ** what you told me: If you write something vague go into the details that show the reader what you mean. Don’t expect them to undestand abstract thoughts, they need concrete examples to move the story forward.
 * III) WRITING THE FIRST DRAFT: **
 * **Be specific **. If you see a tree swaying in the wind, describe exactly what you observe so that the reader can see what you see. Say what kind of tree is swaying. Adverbs and adjectives can also help bring your writing to life. For example, with just a few details the simple sentence "That tree is swaying in the wind," can become "That enormous evergreen is swaying wildly in the powerful wind." Or, "That pine tree is bending back in the strong wind.
 * Expand choices of nouns, verbs, and adverbs to improve writing as well. Discuss how the person walked: did he **saunter,** did he **stride down** the corridor, did he **tiptoe** quietly round the corner? **Attention to choice of adjectives and adverbs** can make your writing lively without using pretentious words.

Read your writing to yourself or to a friend. Did you include enough detail? Were you specific in your descriptions? Do you like what you've written? Is there something you think could be better? Here are some guidelines to revise:
 * PROCESS OF WRITING** (click here)
 * IV) Revise your writing **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Don’t be literary or lyrical: If it makes you feel like Arundhati Roy inside you are probably being too self-conscious and that comes across in the writing. Aka, it’s crap. Don’t let the reader know you are being descriptive, it should sneak its way in.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Be sure that each word or phrase you use is exactly the way you want to say it. Everything you write is important so be sure that it's the best it can be.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Vary the way you begin your sentences so that they don't all sound exactly the same. For example, don't start every sentence with "Then" or "So." Avoid sentences like this: "Then I did my homework. Then I ate dinner. Then I went to bed." Start sentences with transition words like "After," "Next," and "Finally" to make sentences more direct and more interesting. For example, "I did my homework. After that I ate my dinner. Finally, I went to bed."
 * <span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Vary your sentence structure (for further help on this aspect, visit __<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">[] __<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Use a thesaurus to find new and specific words. For example, instead of the word house, a thesaurus may suggest more specific ideas such as home, cabin, mansion, cottage, etc. But be careful not to overdo it or your writing with sound pretentious. **Word choice must be appropriate to the context.** For example, if you are describing green cough syrup then using ‘emerald’ and ‘jade’ to describe the colour isn’t appropriate as they make the medicine sound precious rather than disgusting. **Be imaginative** with your description- the green could be compared to alien excrement!

"Good," "bad," "went," and "said." Other worthy candidates for banning include: "nice," "walked," and "then." Instead, for example, discuss how the person walked: did he **saunter,** did he **stride down** the corridor, did he **tiptoe** quietly round the corner? **Attention to choice of adjectives and adverbs** can make your writing lively without using pretentious words.
 * BANNED WORDS: **