Writing--Description
Description is the soul of writing and the source of much surprise. Writers surprise us when they suddenly make us see familiar objects in new ways, describe people who seem to come alive on the page, or recreate places and events so that they seem real. Whatever you write, descriptive words and phrases give it life and create interest for the reader. Description is rarely used alone; it almost always combines with other patterns. The ability to describe is a skill that you can develop. By carefully choosing descriptive details, you can create pictures in your readers’ minds, engage their interest, and give them a sense of being there.
Describing comes naturally to people. Description is a familiar means of self-expression you use whenever you want to tell a friend about a movie you have seen, a book you have read, a person you care about, or a place you have been. You describe your symptoms to a doctor. You describe previous work experience to a prospective employer. These people can ask questions for clarification when they don’t understand something. Readers of your essays, however, do not have opportunities for questions; they have only your words on a piece of paper. Your descriptions must enable them to “see” what you are talking about.
When describing something, you should try to involve as many sensory details—sight, sound, touch, taste, smell—as possible. You can be objective and report information without bias or emotion, or you can be subjective and explain by expressing your feelings and impressions. Whether you choose to be objective or subjective, you need to include in your thesis a controlling idea that provides an overall impression of whatever you are describing. Then you must support that idea with details.