What is Descriptive Writing?

For the past few weeks, I have been blogging about writing. From talking about writing workshop and conferences, the best practices teachers should employ in their classes, the 6 + 1 writing traits, and writing strategies. I cannot help but stress on the importance on having our students to be competent in writing not only for Language Arts but in all content areas.

Can you guess what I will be talking about this week? Yep, you guess correct, writing. But not just any writing, this week I will be talking about descriptive writing. Like what it is? and techniques used to help students produce read worthy pieces.

What is Descriptive Writing?

Descriptive Writing involves using words to paint a memorable picture and set a distinctive mood. Describing a person, place or thing in such a way that a picture is formed in the reader's mind. Capturing an event through descriptive writing involves paying close attention to details by using all five senses. using the senses help the reader's to create a clear picture and understanding of what they are reading.

When using descriptive writing or any other type of writing, students should be encourage to always use a chart/graphic organizer, in this case a senses chart to aid with their descriptive writing. Before I began to write this blog I engaged in the writing process. I wrote a draft and then reread and revise before I felt I was ready to type. I think that engaging the stages of the writing process in the classroom is very crucial to the students. 

All students require feedback from their teacher so they can improve on their written pieces, but what is also important is allowing students to give each other feedback. I believe that feedback from their peers are a very useful strategies that can be used in the classroom. It is common knowledge that most time students learn best from each other.

In order to teach descriptive writing effectively to the students we should employ these techniques listed below.

Descriptive Writing Techniques

1. Students should give Specific Information in their pieces. Writers add description when they include specific details and information. For example instead of saying something is noisy, say instead the car roared loudly. students should also include specific behaviors and activities, name their characters for instance do no say the little girl, say instead Sarah.
2. Word Choice:  Includes specific nouns, vivid verbs like instead of saying Sarah walked, the students can say Sarah hiked. Immediately a picture began to form in the reader's head about the distance Sarah walked,  and add colorful modifiers. 
3. Sensory Images: The five senses are incorporated in the writing.
4. Figurative Language: Like personification ( giving objects life) and onomatopoeia. and the final is 
5. Dialogue: Adding dialogue is a way to show the readers what is happen instead of telling them what is happening.

We cannot forget about assessment. There are many ways a teacher can assess descriptive writing.

    1. By observing and conferencing with students 

    2. Use an informal assessment procedure and note whether students use any descriptive techniques and 

    3. Checklist and rubrics can also be used for assessment.

Assessment is needed because it give students an idea of the level they are at in their writing to where they want to be. 

Having a clear idea of how the marks are being allocated with have students  focus more on the task of writing and the details required to garner full marks. I would like to see going forward teacher using rubrics or checklist where all aspect of writing is being assess. We as teacher, focus more on the mechanics in students writing, but writing is much more that mechanics. Writing is an embodiment of strategies, tone, organization etc.