Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Descriptive Writing

What is Descriptive Writing?

• Descriptive writing helps readers create a clear picture of people, places, or objects in their mind.

• Descriptive writing provides details that help the reader see, hear, taste, smell, or feel something that the writer has experienced.

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Descriptive Writing Traits

• A clear topic that is developed by relevant supporting details

• Descriptive details that are well chosen for the topic

• Paragraphs that are organized in a logical and creative way

• Varied and appropriate transitions that show the relationship between ideas and concepts

Descriptive Writing

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Descriptive Writing Traits

• Precise words and phrases, possibly including figurative language, that create a clear coherent picture for the reader

• A voice that is appropriate for the purpose and audience

• Sentences that vary in length and type to add flow to the writing

• No or few errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Descriptive Writing

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing paints a picture in the reader’s mind using the following features:

• Sensory details

• Vivid descriptions

• Strong nouns and verbs

• Colorful adjectives and adverbs

• Figurative language

• Prepositional phrases

Let’s look at how we can use these

features in good descriptive writing.

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Descriptive Writing Example

Descriptive Writing

My uncle and I sat on the beach, squishing the warm sand between our toes. The sea shells we had collected glittered like jewels under the sun. On the wooden dock, patient fishers leaned against the weathered railing and waited. My uncle and I watched as a sailboat knifed swiftly through the crystal-blue water, the waves pounding against her wooden hull.

Sensory Details

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Prepositional Phrases

My uncle and I sat on the beach, squishing the warm sand between our toes. The sea shells we had collected glittered like jewels under the sun. On the wooden dock, patient fishers leaned against the weathered railing and waited. My uncle and I watched as a sailboat knifed swiftly through the crystal-blue water, the waves pounding against her wooden hull.

Descriptive Writing

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Figurative Language

My uncle and I sat on the beach, squishing the warm sand between our toes. The sea shells we had collected glittered like jewels under the sun. On the wooden dock, patient fishers leaned against the weathered railing and waited. My uncle and I watched as a sailboat knifed swiftly through the crystal-blue water, the waves pounding against her wooden hull.

Descriptive Writing

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Strong Verbs

My uncle and I sat on the beach, squishing the warm sand between our toes. The sea shells we had collected glittered like jewels under the sun. On the wooden dock, patient fishers leaned against the weathered railing and waited. My uncle and I watched as a sailboat knifed swiftly through the crystal-blue water, the waves pounding against her wooden hull.

Descriptive Writing

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Colorful Adjectives

My uncle and I sat on the beach, squishing the warm sand between our toes. The sea shells we had collected glittered like jewels under the sun. On the wooden dock, patient fishers leaned against the weathered railing and waited. My uncle and I watched as a sailboat knifed swiftly through the crystal-blue water, the waves pounding against her wooden hull.

Descriptive Writing

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Colorful Adverbs

My uncle and I sat on the beach, squishing the warm sand between our toes. The sea shells we had collected glittered like jewels under the sun. On the wooden dock, patient fishers leaned against the weathered railing and waited. My uncle and I watched as a sailboat knifed swiftly through the crystal-blue water, the waves pounding against her wooden hull.

Descriptive Writing

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Mood is the feeling a reader gets when reading a description. The mood can be happy, scared, excited, or sorrowful, to name a few. Writers choose their words carefully to create any mood they want.

How do you feel after reading the following passage?

Lightning forked across the stormy sky as Will crept out from the safety of his house and into the night. His nervous eyes scanned the shadowy darkness and came to rest on the dilapidated shed in the backyard. A low, angry growl rumbled from the shed. His hands slick with sweat, Will grabbed the shed door and pulled. The rusty hinges moaned in protest.

Descriptive Writing

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Tone is how the writing sounds. It is the attitude a writer expresses in a piece of writing. The tone should also be appropriate for the purpose and the audience.

What is the tone of the following passage?

Marco Polo was born in Venice, Italy, in 1254. When Marco was only six years old, his father and uncle traveled to China and became friends with Emperor Kublai Khan. His father’s travels had a great influence on Marco. He was already highly educated and spoke several languages. When his father and uncle asked Marco to accompany them to China, Marco was ready.

Descriptive Writing

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Descriptive Writing

Some common types of descriptive writing include the following:

• Descriptive Essay

• Scientific Observation

• Biographic Sketch

• Descriptive Vignette

• Geographic Description

• Descriptive Article

Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.