Chapter 10 Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing is painting pictures with words, which means making writing more detailed and vivid with using specific information, picking up words carefully, inventing sensory images, making comparisons, and containing dialogue. There are five useful techniques in descriptive writing like specific information, word choice, sensory images, and comparisons. If I use one of them when teaching writing, I’d like to choose comparisons. It’s because metaphors and similes look like poems that children can read with ease. In addition, they can stimulate children’s imagination and understanding to develop. Geller (1985; cited in Tompkins, 2008, p. 225) states, “Children grow in their understanding of figurative language and their ability to say, read, and write comparisons." Morse (2010) adds, “Often, when a concept is difficult to understand, the poet will use a figure of speech to draw a comparison to something more easily understood.”

According to Jaeun Kim, students should be taught some descriptive writing techniques by teachers. I also agree with her opinion. Students have to know writing rules and skills to be good writers because the information is a guide to an exemplary writing. Thus, teachers should actively help them to be excellent writers as keeping in mind the fact that teachers are the only guiders in class.

References

Morse, S. (2010). How to write a comparison poem. eHow, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_5620131_write-comparison-poem.html

Tomkins, G. E. (2008). Teaching writing: Balancing process and product. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.