What is Descriptive Writing

The main function of descriptive writing is to describe a place, person, event, or thing.

The writing format ensures that it can help the reader create a clear image of whatever is presented to them.

One of the best ways to ensure proper descriptive writing is to pay close attention to the details that can engage all the senses.

Teaching students to write in a more descriptive fashion will improve their writing skills and make it more interesting and engaging for the readers. 

Why Teach Descriptive Writing?

While descriptive writing is a part of creative writing skills, here are some exclusive reasons why students should learn descriptive writing:

• It helps students present any event, person, or thing in an interesting manner full of details.
• It encourages students to use and improve their vocabulary skills.
• It helps students clarify their understanding of a new subject or topic.

How to Teach Descriptive Writing?

Writing is a self-taught skill and cannot be taught by teachers.

While the best way to learn descriptive writing is to write a piece and learn from its mistakes, there are some things teachers can do.

a. Teachers can share descriptive writing skills through several model writings through different literature articles which are full of descriptive writing.

b. Teachers can include lessons on the practice of descriptive writing for the academic year.

c. Teachers can bring to attention the importance of descriptive writing and provide opportunities for students to exercise their vocabulary and engage in descriptive topics in the classroom.

Characteristics of Descriptive Writing

Good descriptive writing includes vivid details that appeal to the senses of the reader and allow them to paint a clear picture in their mind.

Proper descriptive writing can intrigue all senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.

Descriptive writing may also be used to present the emotions of the person, place, or thing.

One of the best ways to move on to descriptive writing is to strategize the information you want to include and place them tactfully.

Good descriptive writing often makes the use of figurative languages like analogies, similes, and metaphors to provide a decent comparison for the reader to help them paint a better picture in the mind.

Efficient descriptive writing includes the use of precise language. General adjectives, nouns, and passive verbs are not to be used in descriptive writing.

The best way to write a descriptive piece is to involve specific adjectives, nouns, and strong active action verbs to give the reader a clear picture of what they are reading.

Good descriptive writing requires good organization. Some simple ways to organize descriptive writing include:

• Chronology (time)
• Spatial (location)
• Order of importance (priority)

When describing a person, some of the most important aspects of the writing is the physical description followed by the emotions and actions.

It is important for the writer to bring to light all the aspects of the person for the reader to create a clear picture. 

Wrapping Up!

Descriptive writing is a difficult form of writing that includes several minor details of a place, person, or event.

One of the best ways to start writing a descriptive piece is to make a rough draft with all the information in the right chronology.

This will help you find the structure and maintain the order of importance so the reader does not lose interest halfway.