Descriptive Writing Essay

1. Descriptive Writing Essay Canned Lesson #2

3. Step 1: Read the prompt carefully before you begin. Writing Situation: Each season of the year is beautiful in some way. Think of which season is your favorite. What does it look like? What does it feel like? Is there a smell or taste to it? Directions for Writing: Now write an essay describing your favorite season of the year. What does this place look like? What are the sounds you hear there? What does it feel and smell like?

4. Step 2: Choose a Topic Based on the Prompt.

5. Step 3: Prepare the graphic organizer. Now fold your paper into 4 squares.

6. Step 4: Complete the Graphic Organizer. Unfold the paper and draw a box in the center. In the center box write a sentence to convey your topic.

7. Example: Cooler weather. Write one reason you enjoy spending your time playing in the Colorado mountains. Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Write one reason you enjoy this season. Example: Gorgeous leaves. Write another reason you enjoy the season. Example: When I close my eyes, I can see many things on the mountains. Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. The mountains in Colorado are where I enjoy spending my time playing. I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. Write a third reason that you enjoy the season. Autumn is my favorite season Because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. Summarize your 3 reasons. Example: Chilly nights.

8. Example: Cooler weather. • Wind • Air • Clouds Write one reason you enjoy spending your time playing in the Colorado mountains. Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Add three details to your reason. • Example: Gorgeous leaves. • Colors • Sounds • Smell Add three details to your reason. Example: When I close my eyes, I can see many things on the mountains. Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. The mountains in Colorado are where I enjoy spending my time playing. • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. Add three details to your reason. Autumn is my favorite season Because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. Summarize your 3 reasons. • Example: Chilly nights. • Hot chocolate • Porch • Star gazing

9. Example: Cooler weather. • Wind • Air • Clouds Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Elaborate on one detail. ELABORATE • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season.

10. Example: Gorgeous leaves. • Colors • Sounds • Smell Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves and a fit of giggles. The chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. Elaborate on one detail. ELABORATE • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season.

11. Example: Example: Children under the age of 16 feel invincible. • Lack of maturity • Understanding of consequences • Video games – get another life. Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves and a fit of giggles. The chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. Elaborate on one detail. • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. • Example: Chilly nights. • Hot chocolate • Porch • Star gazing Elaborate on one detail. With a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I gaze at the stars. ELABORATE

12. Step 5: Add transitions. Step 5: Add transitions. Around me, On the way there, • Example: Gorgeous leaves. • Colors • Sounds • Smell You can find a list of transition words online! • Example: Cooler weather. • Wind • Air • Clouds Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves and a fit of giggles. The chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. Once I get home, There is no doubt, • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. Autumn is my favorite season Because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. • Example: Chilly nights. • Hot chocolate • Porch • Star gazing • With a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I gaze at the stars.

13. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Around me, On the way there, • Example: Gorgeous leaves. • Colors • Sounds • Smell • Example: Cooler weather. • Wind • Air • Clouds The chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves and a fit of giggles. Each square will become a paragraph. There is no doubt, Once I get home, • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. Autumn is my favorite season Because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. • Example: Chilly nights. • Hot chocolate • Porch • Star gazing • With a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I gaze at the stars.

14. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. • The introductory paragraph (the center box) sums up each reason. As my scarf blows in the wind, I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. Why would fall be my favorite, though? Cooler weather, gorgeous leaves, and chilly nights make those autumn months special.

15. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Beautiful clouds grace the darkening sky as temperatures drop and silvery, glimmering stars appear. Leaves crunch beneath my boots as I walk back to my home. As my scarf blows in the wind, I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. Why would fall be my favorite, though? Cooler weather, gorgeous leaves, and chilly nights make those autumn months special. • Begin the introductory paragraph with a hook. Samples of hooks can be found online.

16. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to paper. On the way there, Around me, Next Paragraph • Example: Gorgeous leaves. • Colors • Sounds • Smell • Example: Cooler weather. • Wind • Air • Clouds Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves and a fit of giggles. The chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. There is no doubt, Once I get home, Autumn is my favorite season Because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. • Example: Chilly nights. • Hot chocolate • Porch • Star gazing • With a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I gaze at the stars.

17. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Next Paragraph Around me, the chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. The air is filled with the sweet smell of fresh rain and rotting tree bark, an oddly nice-smelling mixture. A rainbow of leaves sets off the dark brown earth and I marvel at the colors as I pull my hoodie closer to my body. Clouds hover close to the treetops as I trot along the path home.

18. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to paper. On the way there, Around me, • Example: Gorgeous leaves. • Colors • Sounds • Smell • Example: Cooler weather. • Wind • Air • Clouds Next Paragraph Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves and a fit of giggles. vThe chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. There is no doubt, Once I get home, Autumn is my favorite season Because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. • Example: Chilly nights. • Hot chocolate • Porch • Star gazing • With a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I gaze at the stars.

19. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Next Paragraph Onthe way there, I spot a pile of leaves and I simply can’t resist the urge to jump in. Beautiful colors fly and twirl in the air, leaving me dazzled. Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves with a fit of giggles. The smell of leaves surrounds me, making me feel at home.

20. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to paper. On the way there, Around me, • Example: Gorgeous leaves. • Colors • Sounds • Smell • Example: Cooler weather. • Wind • Air • Clouds Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves and a fit of giggles. The chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. There is no doubt, Once I get home, Next Paragraph Autumn is my favorite season Because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. • Example: Chilly nights. • Hot chocolate • Porch • Star gazing • With a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I gaze at the stars.

21. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Next Paragraph Once I get home, I sit on my porch in the backyard, staring into the dark sky. With a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I gaze at the stars. A pigeon calls from the night. “Amazing,” I whisper in awe as I spot the constellations. It’s a perfect time to unwind after a long day.

22. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Around me, On the way there, • Example: Gorgeous leaves. • Colors • Sounds • Smell • Example: Cooler weather. • Wind • Air • Clouds The chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves and a fit of giggles. There is no doubt, Once I get home, • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. • Example: Chilly nights. • Hot chocolate • Porch • Star gazing • With a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I gaze at the stars. Autumn is my favorite season Because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. Summary Paragraph

23. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to paper. On the way there, Around me, • Example: Gorgeous leaves. • Colors • Sounds • Smell • Example: Cooler weather. • Wind • Air • Clouds Crackle! Snap! They crunch as I lean back, falling into an even bigger pile of leaves and a fit of giggles. The chilly wind’s fingers send tingles down my spine as a pigeon’s feather tickles my tomato-red nose. • I can’t help but think that autumn is the most beautiful season. There is no doubt, Once I get home, Summary Paragraph Autumn is my favorite season Because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. • Example: Chilly nights. • Hot chocolate • Porch • Star gazing • With a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I gaze at the stars.

24. Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Summary Paragraph There is no doubt, autumn is my favorite season because of the weather, leaves, and chilly nights. As I wake up the next morning to find the orange sun chasing the dark night and stars away, all that I can do is smile. While I pull on a pair of jeans and zip up my favorite boots, I can’t help but think that fall is truly a graceful season. On my way out the door, I sigh happily and rewrap my scarf. In my mind, autumn is the most beautiful season on Earth.

25. Step 7: Vocabulary Review your paragraphs. Can you add adjectives (describing words) and interesting adverbs (describing action words)? ADJECTIVES ADVERBS

26. Step 7: Vocabulary BEFORE: The dog ran to get the ball. AFTER: 1. The huge, black dog dashedquickly to fetch the red ball.

27. Step 7: Vocabulary Remember: The more sophisticated vocabulary you use…the higher your score. horse stallion

28. Step 8: Visual Expression Use similes, metaphors, and personification to give your essay more visual expression. 1. “. . . she tried to get rid of the kitten which had scrambled up her back and stuck like a burr just out of reach.” — Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott 2. “Time has not stood still. It has washed over me, washed me away, as if I’m nothing more than a woman of sand, left by a careless child too near the water.” — The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood 3. “Her romantic mind was like the tiny boxes, one within the other, that come from the puzzling East . . .” — Peter Pan, by J. M. Barrie.

29. Step 8: Visual Expression Use similes, metaphors, and personification to give your essay more visual expression. • 1.That car is a dream. (perfect, beautiful) • 2.Time marches on. (steadily, constantly, deliberately) • 3.This class is hell. (difficult, cursed, impossible to escape, haunting) • 4.I want to get off this merry-go-round of stress. (never-ending, confusing, giddy, never-progressing)

30. Step 8: Visual Expression Use similes, metaphors, and personification to give your essay more visual expression. • 1.The cigarettes stole his health and spent it on phlegm. • 2. And with those four words her happiness died. • 3.My heart has been skipping around in my chest since I saw her. • 4.The wind whistled throughout the day. • 5.The road twisted and turned continuously for 100 miles. • 6.Her jewelry clearly spoke about her wealth. • 7.One look at the garden and you could tell that the plants were begging for water. • 8.Anyone who has seen my photographs will know that the camera loves me.

31. Step 9: Reread Your Work Reread your work to make sure you have: • Stay on topic • Give your 3 big ideas in the introductory paragraph • Have paragraphs that give details about your 3 ideas • Elaborate on a detail in each paragraph • Have a summary paragraph that restates your 3 ideas • Begin each paragraph with a transition word • Include adjectives, adverbs, similes, metaphors, and personification • Show, Don’t tell!