Unit

By the end of this unit, you are expected to be able to:

define what a descriptive paragraph is and

mention its generic structure

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 picture what it looks
like. In addition, descriptive paragraph is also defined as a paragraph
which is written with our senses since the paragraph will make the
readers see, touch, taste, hear or smell the object.
The writer should try to present his/her paragraph in the light of
the five senses so that the readers will have the same picture as the writer.
Furthermore, writing a descriptive paragraph is mainly intended to
provide the reader with a vivid description so that the paragraph will
appear as a picture to the readers. Therefore, a good descriptive paragraph
will make the readers clearly catch what is trying to describe.
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 object. Writing descriptive
paragraph, generally, you have to consider the following generic
structure:
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.

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b. Descriptions
Descriptions are vivid detail of place, person, or thing that you want to
describe so that the readers can easily imagine or picture the object, or
they can feel the object with their five senses.
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.
Exercise: can you mention the generic structure of descriptive paragraph?
SUMMARY:
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 when the readers
read the paragraph, it appears in their five senses.
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 in such vivid detail in
order to give a crystal clear picture to the readers.
c. Conclusion
This part may be included or not. It can be restatement or
conclusion of the paragraph.

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Unit

By the end of this unit, you are expected to be able to:

mention characteristics of a good descriptive

paragraph and

write a good descriptive paragraph

2.1 Characteristics of a Good Descriptive Paragraph

A good descriptive paragraph, in general, should be able to present
a picture to the reader. Therefore, it should be written on the basis of the
following characteristics.
a. Using descriptive words that appeal to the readers senses. Present
verbal pictures what the reader can see, touch, taste, hear or smell.
b. Using specific and concrete vocabulary to describe details.
c. Involving the reader enough so he/she can actually visualize or picture
the things, person or people being described.
d. Using appropriate transitional phrases so that the paragraph will be
well organized and structured.

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 will tell the reader what is going to be
described.
Example: Saul Slash Hudson who amazes me in playing guitar is one of
my favourite guitar players.

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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 to describe. These descriptions
should be well organized in order to make it unified and coherent. Use as
many as possible descriptive words that reveal the description of the
object.
In descriptive the more details you include, the more clear your
reader will imagine what you are describing. Your details should appeal
to the five senses, and they should tell the reader how something looks,
smells, sounds, feels and tastes. Write about colors, sizes, shapes, odors,
noises, and textures.
To develop your descriptions, in order to make them well
organized, you can use spatial order (Oshima and Hogue 2007). In
description, a writer uses spatial order to organize his/her ideas. Spatial
order is the arrangement of items in order by space. Here are some spatial
order signals: at the top of, in the center, on the left, in front of, in the front
of, inside, next to, between, behind, in back of, in the back of, across
The following are some descriptions which can be drawn from the topic
sentences:
Example:
-

He is 179 cm tall and well-built.

His style in playing guitar amazes me.

He has white skin with a haired skull and his name tattooed on his
right upper arm.

He has white skin with a hairy skull and his name tattooed on his
right upper arm.

He has special characteristic.

He has long black curly hair covered by magician hat and tight skin
pants.

He always uses Les Paul Gibson guitar.

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He also uses some accessories such as rings, silver bangles, skull

necklace, and a gold nose ring pierced in 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 often very helpful to the readers because it usually
signals the end of the paragraph and because it reminds them 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: Slash who is admired by a lot of people 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:
Slash
Saul Slash Hudson who amazes me in playing guitar is one of my
favourite guitar players. He is 179 cm tall and well-built; moreover, he has
white skin with a haired skull and his name tattooed on his right upper
arm. As my favourite guitarist, 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 in a live concert with Gibson Les Paul. In
addition, he usually uses some accessories such as rings, silver bangles,
skull necklace, and a gold nose ring pierced in the right nostril. To
summarize, Slash who is admired by a lot of people is very stylish rock
guitarist in his period.
Exercises: Please describe the steps of writing a descriptive paragraph!

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2.3

Lets 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 Banana Garden
Behind my childhood home, there is a large piece of land that is
surrounded by banana trees growing in wild disorder. Crowds of banana
trees grow freely everywhere. Their green leaves are so thick that sunlight
cannot pass through. Underneath the trees, the ground is so moist that
wild mushrooms and plants grow there all year around. In the center is a
wild field where the children of my village often fly kites. Every evening,
just before sunset, some birds arrive to look for a place to rest their tired
wings. They want to land in the dark banana garden, but the banana
leaves are too wide to be made into nests. The birds cry out and then fly
away, seeking a better place to nest. During the rainy season, it rains for
days and days, and the banana leaves become glossy and slick. The rain
also makes the banana garden produce a very strange melody. On rainy
days, I used to sit near my window and listen ti this wonderful song.
Now, whenever I hear the plop-plop-plop of raindrops on the roof of my
small, tidy apartment in the city, I remember the beautiful, wild banana
garden of my childhood. (Oshima and Hogue 2007)
1 Topic Sentence

2. Supporting Sentences

3. Concluding Sentence

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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 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:
A well-written descriptive paragraph has five elements: identification,
descriptions, conclusion, unity and coherence. Besides, a good
descriptive paragraph should use descriptive words that appeal to the
readers senses, use concrete/specific vocabularies, involve the readers,
and use appropriate transitional phrases.
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 should be
well arranged to make it unity and coherence.

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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?

___

Are all your sentences grammatically correct?

___

Do you use correct punctuation?

Structure and
Mechanics

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