The following sentence pays no attention to description: There was a tree in the backyard.

1. The following sentence pays no attention to description: There was a tree in the backyard. The following sentence is rich in sensory details; compare it with the above sentence and decide which one is more appealing: The majestic apple tree loomed over the wooden playhouse; its craggy branches were like loving arms beckoning children to climb and play. The following sentence pays no attention to description: There was a tree in the backyard. The following sentence is rich in sensory details; compare it with the above sentence and decide which one is more appealing: The majestic apple tree loomed over the wooden playhouse; its craggy branches were like loving arms beckoning children to climb and play. We often use descriptive language in our conversations to describe such things as: a trip you have just taken, a dance or concert you attended, a person you recently met or a particularly delicious meal. Descriptive writing can be used for different purposes. Persuasive writing such as editorials and advertising contain descriptive language to convince the reader to do something or buy something. Fiction, poetry and essays use description to give the reader a vivid picture and to feel emotions more intensely. A descriptive essay is a short piece of writing that uses sensory details to create a dominant impression in the reader's mind. A dominant impression is the overall impression created by the description. This is created by the diction (word choices) the writer uses in his/her descriptive essay. For example, a description of a room in a house might leave the reader with a dominant impression of: organized, cluttered, cosy, elegant or stark and dreary. A description of a person might leave the reader with the dominant impression of a controlling, peaceful, motivated or shy person. Descriptive writing must have a dominant impression. The dominant impression depends on the words the writer uses in the descriptive essay.

2. We often use descriptive language in our conversations to describe: • a trip you have just taken, • a dance or concert you attended, • a person you recently met or • a particularly delicious meal. • Descriptive writing can be used for different purposes: • Persuasive writing such as editorials and advertising contain descriptive language to convince the reader to do something or buy something. • Fiction, poetry and essays use description to give the reader a vivid picture and to feel emotions more intensely. • A descriptive essay is a short piece of writing that uses sensory details to create a dominant impression in the reader's mind.

3. A dominant impression is the overall impression created by the description. This is created by the diction (word choices) the writer uses in his/her descriptive essay. For example, a description of a room in a house might leave the reader with a dominant impression of: organized, cluttered, cosy, elegant or stark and dreary. A description of a person might leave the reader with the dominant impression of a controlling, peaceful, motivated or shy person. Descriptive writing must have a dominant impression. The dominant impression depends on the words the writer uses in the descriptive essay.

4. An effective descriptive passage uses our senses and creates a sense of something seen, heard, touched, tasted and/or felt. Instead of telling the reader what to feel or think ("The beach is gorgeous."), it is better to communicate this through sensory details. The sand was silk underneath my feet (touch). The ocean roared in my ears as I strolled along the shore (sound). The seagulls swooped and cried (sound) interrupting my reverie. The sun was a ball of fire and the clouds were fluffy cotton balls floating past (sight). I could taste the salt on my tongue after a refreshing dip in the ocean (taste). The dominant impression created in the above paragraph is calm and peaceful. This is created by the diction: strolled, floating, refreshing, fluffy, silk, reverie. The paragraph appeals to more than one of our senses, which evokes a more vivid image in the reader's mind.

5. Now, read about the same place (the shore of the ocean) but with a different dominant impression: The sand was whipping around the shoreline as the gale force winds picked up speed. The seagulls screeched as they careened down to the ferocious waves. The sun was lost in the black clouds; the icy breeze from the water forced me to pull my sweater closer around my shoulders. The salt water stung as it splashed my face. You can see that by changing the diction, you can change the dominant impression. The dominant impression in this paragraph is wilder and less relaxing. This is created with words such as: whipping, gale force winds, careened, screeched, ferocious, stung, splashed.