Unit
1
1.1
Definition of Descriptive Paragraph
Descriptive
paragraph is paragraph which expresses or describes place, thing and person in
such vivid detail that the readers can easily visualize the described place,
thing and person, or can feel that they involve in the experience.
Some
descriptive paragraphs may be technical, for instance, describing about things
or place such as car or classroom; on the other hand, it may describe an event
or a place and include more figurative language (simile, metaphor etc.) or
describe felling or emotion. Therefore, before writing a descriptive paragraph,
it is important to consider the purpose and the audience.
Exercise: can you define what a descriptive paragraph is?
1.2
Generic Structure
Descriptive paragraph is intended to
describe place, person, and thing so that the reader will be able to visualize
the descriptions. Writing descriptive paragraph, generally, you have to regard
as the following generic structure of descriptive paragraph:
a.
Identification
Identification
is a part in which you identify or write the recognition; moreover, it can be a
general statement about place, person, or thing that you want to describe.
b.
Descriptions
Descriptions
are vivid detail of place, person, or thing that you want to describe so that
the reader can easily imagine or picture the descriptions, or they can feel
that they involve in the experience.
c.
Conclusion
The last part
of descriptive paragraph is optional (i.e. it may be included or not). In this
part, you conclude the paragraph or restate the identification or general
statement.
Exercise: can you mention the generic structure of descriptive
paragraph?
SUMMARY:
v
Descriptive paragraph is paragraph which expresses or
describes place, thing and person in such vivid detail that the readers can
easily picture or visualize what is being written about, or they can feel that
they involve in the experience.
v
In writing descriptive paragraph, there are some
generic structures that should be followed:
a.
Identification
You
identify or write general statement of the place, person, or thing that you
want to describe.
b.
Descriptions
You
describe the place, person, or thing which is going to be described.
c.
Conclusion
This
part may be included or not. It can be restatement or conclusion of the
paragraph.
Unit
2
2.1
Characteristics of a Good Descriptive Paragraph
Instead of
having characteristics a good paragraph as what has been previously stated in
module 1 (i.e. topic sentence, supporting sentences, unity and coherence), www.kangguru.org writes a good descriptive
paragraph should also possess the following characteristics:
§
Using imaginative language, interesting comparisons and
images that appeal to the reader’s senses.
§
Using specific and concrete vocabulary to describe details.
§
Involving the reader enough so he/she can actually visualize
or picture the things, person or people being described.
§
Using appropriate transitional phrases so that the paragraph
will be well organized and structured.
§
Considering the purpose and audience of the paragraph.
Exercise: Can you mention the characteristics of a good descriptive paragraph?
2.2
Writing Descriptive Paragraph
In this sub discussion you will be given
step by step processes of writing descriptive paragraph. The process of writing
descriptive paragraph is preceded by writing the identification, descriptions,
and conclusion, and it can be further described as follows:
a.
Identification
Identification
states or identifies the place, person or thing that you want to describe.
Identification can be used as topic sentence of the paragraph.
Example: Slash is one of my favourite guitar players
b.
Descriptions
After
stating identification of the paragraph, now you try to develop it through
providing it with some descriptions that can picture place, person, or thing
that you are going describe. These descriptions should be well organized in
order to make it easier to read and understand.
The following
are some descriptions which can be drawn from the topic sentences:
Example:
-
His skill is not good enough.
-
His style in playing guitar amazes me.
-
He is tall.
-
He has white skin with a hairy skull and his name tattooed on
his right upper arm.
-
He has special characteristic that differentiates him with
other guitarists.
-
He has long black curly hair covered by magician hat and
tight skin pants.
-
He always uses ‘Les Paul Gibson’ guitar.
-
He also uses some accessories such as rings, silver bangles,
skull necklace, and a gold ‘nose ring’ jabbed on the right nostril.
c.
Conclusion
After
writing a good identification and its descriptions, now you should also write a
good conclusion. A conclusion is not absolutely necessary, but it is very often
very helpful to the reader because it usually signals the end of the paragraph
and because it reminds him/her of your important points.
A
concluding sentence can be a paraphrase (i.e. repetition of the topic sentence
in different words) of the topic sentence or summary which is not specifically
stated in the topic sentence.
Example: To summarize, Slash is very stylish rock guitarist in
his period.
After constructing identification, descriptions, and conclusion,
these three elements are further arranged into a descriptive paragraph. In
arranging these elements, we, obviously, have to consider the two additional
elements (i.e. unity and coherence). The paragraph will be as follows:
Examples:
Slash
Slash is one
of my favourite guitar players. Even though his skill is not good enough, his
style in playing guitar amazes me. He is tall; moreover, he has white skin with
a hairy skull and his name tattooed on his right upper arm. Besides, he has
special characteristic that differentiates him with other guitarists. For
example, his long black curly hair covered by magician hat and tight skin pants
always accompany him when he rocks his fans with ‘Les Paul Gibson’. Instead of
these, he also uses some accessories such as rings, silver bangles, skull
necklace, and a gold ‘nose ring’ jabbed on the right nostril. To summarize,
Slash is very stylish rock guitarist in his period.
Exercises: Please
describe the steps of writing a descriptive paragraph!
2.3
Let’s Practice
a. Recognizing Identification, Descriptions and Conclusion.
To improve your understanding about
generic structure of a descriptive paragraph, now you try to identify and list
identification, descriptions and conclusion of the following paragraph:
My Lovely Room
My room is
very enjoyable for studying. My lovely room has 4 m2 in width, and
it is painted white. The light is suitable for studying particularly reading
and writing; furthermore, the chair makes me comfortable. My room also has a
small bookshelf in which all of my books are put. The bookshelf is placed on
the right side of the door, so it is reachable when I am sitting on my chair.
In spite of these, it also has good ventilation that makes air in my room
always fresh. In summary, I love my room because it makes me comfortable, and
it motivates me to study.
1
Topic Sentence
§
2.
Supporting Sentences
§
§
§
§
§
3.
Concluding Sentence
§
b. Writing Your Own Descriptive Paragraph
In order to make you more skillful in
writing a paragraph, the following practice steps can be followed (Writing
under pressure 15 minutes):
1
Choose the following titles:
-
My Classroom
-
My Dictionary
-
My Best Friend
2.
Draw the identification from the title chosen.
3.
Make at least four descriptions for your
identification or main idea.
4.
Conclude your paragraph.
5.
Put your identification, descriptions, and conclusion
together in the form of paragraph, and try to arrange them in unity and
coherence. (You can check the result by using paragraph checklist page 19)
Note: Lecturer asks three or five students to
present or to write their paragraph in front of the class while the other
students try to identify the three major structural parts of a good paragraph.
SUMMARY:
v
A well-written descriptive paragraph has five elements:
identification, descriptions, conclusion, unity and coherence. Instead of these
a good descriptive paragraph should use imaginative language, use
concrete/specific vocabularies, involve the readers, use appropriate
transitional phrases, and consider the purpose and audience.
v
After stating the identification, and then you have to
provide some descriptions so that the reader will be able to picture the idea,
and conclusion is drawn if it is necessary. Finally, to make the paragraph more
interesting and understandable to read, these elements are well arranged to
make it unity and coherence.
Descriptive
Paragraph Checklist
§
Form ___ Does your paragraph have a title?
___ Do you write the title correctly?
___ Do you use writing style accordingly?
§
Identification ___ Does your paragraph contain an
identification?
§
Descriptions ___ Do your descriptions develop the
identification?
§
Conclusion ___ Does your paragraph have a conclusion?
§
Unity ___ Does your paragraph develop one main idea?
§
Coherence ___ Is it readable and understandable?
___ Do you use enough transitional signals?
§ Structure and
Mechanics ___ Are all
your sentences grammatically correct?
___ Do you use correct punctuation?
