DEFINITION

• A descriptive paragraph describes a thing, a

person or a place. The detailed information
allows the reader to form an image in his
imagination.
The better the description, the clearer the
image will be.
 DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH
• *FOR DESCRIPTION, WRITERS MUST USE WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY SEE, SMELL, HEAR, AND FEEL.
*THE DESCRIPTION IS SUCCESSFUL IF IT IS SO VIVID THAT IT RECREATES THESE SENSATIONS FOR THE READER. *ONE
WAY TO RECREATE THESE SENSATIONS WITH WORDS IS TO USE SIMILES AND METAPHORS TO COMPARE THE THING
BEING DESCRIBED WITH SOMETHING FAMILIAR TO THE READER. *
• *A SIMILE IS AN EXPRESSION THAT COMPARES TWO THINGS USING THE WORD LIKE OR AS + A NOUN PHRASE.
EXAMPLE: *THE TREE WEARS THE SNOW LIKE A WHITE FUR COAT.
*A METAPHOR IS A COMPARISON THAT DOES NOT USE THE WORDS LIKE OR AS.
EXAMPLE: *THE SNOW ON THE TREE IS A WHILE FUR COAT THAT PROTECTS IT FROM THE WINTER. *

COMPONENTS IN DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH •THE TOPIC SENTENCE – THE FIRST SENTENCE INTRODUCES THE TOPIC. •THE SUPPORTING DETAILS –
USE LOT OF ADJECTIVES •USE LANGUAGE THAT APPEALS TO THE SENSE SUCH AS: ~THE LOOKS OF THE OBJECT ~THE SOUNDS OF THE OBJECT ~THE
FEELS OF THE OBJECT ~THE SMELLS OF THE OBJECT ~THE TASTES OF THE OBJECT THE FIVE SENSES • THE TENSE USED IS MOSTLY THE PRESENT
SIMPLE WHEN DESCRIBING. • THE CONCLUDING SENTENCE – GIVES GENERAL INFORMATION BASED ON WHAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BEFORE. P/S:
ADJECTIVE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN A DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH – HELP TO DESCRIBE THINGS EFFECTIVELY.
TRANSITION WORDS
EXAMPLES touch
water
smell
air
sound
laughing
taste
sand
sight
the sun
sand fish splashing lotion sand
heat hot dogs music children
food trucks volleyball lifeguard
sun block toys
boats
canoes

Here's an example. I want to write a paragraph that describes a lake:

Lake Harriet is a great place to to swim and relax. In the summer, the water is warm and clean, and the beaches are
large enough to accommodate groups of people seeking relief from a midsummer scorcher. In addition to swimming,
visitors to the lake can go canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, or fishing. The blue water is a refreshing, tempting sight. The
sweet scent of sun block wafts through the air from sunbathers lying on the beach. Children laugh and splash in the
water, and nearby volleyball games stir passionate shouts in the heat of competition. Meanwhile lifeguards sit atop
their towers and make sure everyone is safe. In the distance, sail boats catch the soft breezes that ripple Lake
Harriet's surface, and canoeists glide quietly past. This is what summer is all about!
CONCLUSIONS

• CONCLUSION DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH EXPLAINS US TO KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE PERSONS, THINGS,

PLACES, ANIMALS BY USING ADJECTIVE, SIMILES, AND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE. IN SO DOING, SENSORY
DETAILS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY CAN HELP THE READER SEE, HEAR, FEEL, SMELL, AND TASTE WHAT
IS BEING DESCRIBED. THIS IS THE GOAL OF A DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH.