Do the following descriptive exercises on a separate sheet of paper

Thinking Exercise 1: Sensory Detail

Thinking Exercise 1A
Read the following paragraphs. Then, write or type your answers to the following
questions:
1. Which paragraph is more interesting? Why?
2. Which paragraph helps you to "see" the beach in your mind? How does
the writer do this?
Paragraph A

I like to go to the beach. There is a lot of sand and some trees there. People play
games on the beach, and some people like to swim. I used to go to the beach
very often in my country.
Paragraph B
from "The Beautiful Beach" by Mora Siregar

I remember one time in particular that I went to the beach with my friends. First,
I looked for good place when I arrived at the beach, because it would be very
crowded on weekends or holidays. I selected a cool place under the trees and
extended a mat on the white sand. The wind that blew through the trees softly
made the weather cool and pleasant. Peace came into my heart when I looked at
the very beautiful long, white sand. People played games on the beach; for
instance they played volleyball. Some of them swam in the shallow sea. There
were some kids trying to make something in the sand, and then trying to break
it. Everybody looked happy at that time.

When you describe a person, place, thing, or animal, it is important that you
give the reader a clear picture of what you are describing. The best way to do
this is to use sensory detail. It is called "sensory detail" because it uses the
five senses; it shows how something or someone looks, sounds, smells,
tastes, or feels. Writing that has a lot of sensory detail is much more
interesting to read!

Thinking Exercise 1B
Look at Paragraph B above. Write or type your answers to the
following questions about the paragraph:

1. What sensory details does Mora use in this paragraph?

(Make a list).

2. Which of these sensory details makes the strongest

"picture" in your mind? Why?
The best way to learn to use sensory detail in your writing is to practice
"seeing" detail around you. Most of us are blind to all but the most obvious
details of our environment. It takes practice to begin to look at things from a
new perspective.

Thinking Exercise 1C
Look at the picture below, then answer the following questions.

1. What do you see? (Give details, details, details.)

2. What might you hear?
3. What might you feel? (Think about the textures of the
materials in the photograph.)
4. What might you smell?
5. What impression does this photograph give you?

Lee Friedlander, “Sweet Emma Barrett” New Orleans, 1958