BASIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS

WEEK 17
AGENDA:
• Descriptive Essay
• Persuasive Essay
DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
 Shades of neon
illuminated the
The woman on the
edges of clouds,
beach watched the Which one
backlit by the sizzling
sun set over the is better?
sun that slipped
ocean.
beneath a cerulean
sea.
 The woman on the
beach watched the
TELL
sun set over the
ocean.

Shades of neon
illuminated the
edges of clouds,
backlit by the sizzling SHOW
sun that slipped
beneath a cerulean
sea.
 Shades of neon illuminated the
edges of clouds, backlit by the
sizzling sun that slipped beneath
a cerulean sea.
 S
P
A Description is an important and useful
What is T
communication skill. When writers use
I
Descriptive A vivid descriptions, they do not only
Writing? L
make their writings more lively and
interesting, but they also indicate their
attitude towards the subject through
senses the choice of words and details.

Vivid
 S
P
A
What is T
I
Descriptive A Descriptive writing applies to the five
Writing? L
senses, so it tells how something looks,
feels, smells, tastes, and/or sounds.

senses

Vivid
 S
P
A
What is T
I
Descriptive A SMELL
Writing? L

the aroma of freshly brewed coffee

senses

Vivid
 S
P
A
What is T
SOUNDS
I
Descriptive A
Writing? L

traffic, honking horns

senses

Vivid
 S
P
A SIGHT
What is T
I
Descriptive A
Writing? L
The sun scattered tiny diamonds
across dew-covered grass as it peeked
out from beyond the
senses horizon.

Vivid
 S
P
A
What is T TOUCH
I
Descriptive A
Writing? L

The texture of the adobe hut’s walls

resembled coarse sandpaper.
senses

Vivid
 S
P TASTE
A
What is T

Descriptive
I sweet, sour, salty, bitter, tart
A
Writing? L

Giant goose bumps formed on my

tongue when I accidentally
senses bit into a sliver of lemon.

Vivid
 S
P
A
What is T
A description usually follows a pattern
I
Descriptive A of organization which is called spatial
Writing? L
order. Spatial order is the arrangement
of items according to their physical
position or relationship.
senses

Vivid
The S t a i r
w
a
y
When I was two or three years old, I lived in a house that had a strange, atmosphere. I do
not remember anything about the house except the stairway. It was dark, squeaking, and
quite narrow, and its steps were a little high for me to climb up. From the bottom of the
stairway, it seemed like an endless climb to the top.

Beyond the darkness at the top of the stairway, there was an elegant, middle-aged lady
leaning against the wall. I had to pass her every time I went to my room, for my room was
the first room beyond the stairs on the second floor. The lady wore a beautiful dress with a
quiet pattern and a tinge of blue, and her peaceful eyes stared at me every time I went up
the stairs.

As I carefully climbed up the last step, her eyes became fixed on me. She didn't talk, nor
did she move. She just stood there and watched me clamber up the stairs. One day I
touched her, but she did not react. Her face did not change expression, nor did she even
blink. She just kept staring at me with her glittering eyes. Later, we moved out of the
house, and I never saw her again. Now I know that the lady was a mannequin. My aunt,
who lived in the house, used it for her dressmaking class. I did not know my mother.
Maybe imagined that the mannequin standing at the top of the stairs was my mother. The
stairway with the strange atmosphere has an important place in my earliest memories.
 SPATIAL ORDER SIGNALS

S
P
at the top of
A in the center
What is T
on the left
I
Descriptive A in front of
Writing? L in the front of
inside
next to
senses between
behind
Vivid in back of
in the back of
across
 Description may be objective
or subjective.

S
P
A
What is T objective description aims primarily to
I present word pictures of a person, a
Descriptive A
scene, or an object.
Writing? L

subjective description may be used

senses with exposition or narration as in
creative writing. Being artistic and
Vivid literary, it stimulates the imagination,
appeals to the emotions, and gives
pleasure as well.
Ask anyone to name his or her favorite wild animal. Some people will choose the
most dangerous ones, like lions and tigers. But it is also true that many people
will choose the Giant Panda Bear as their favorite animal. It is very different from
other large wild animals. Why are pandas so appealing? Scientists think that the
panda is popular because of its appearance.

Although pandas are a type of bear, they don’t look like other bears. They have
large heads that are covered with white fur, except for their eyes and ears, which
are black. While adult pandas weigh up to 350 pounds, cubs weigh only three to
five ounces at birth. This is only 1/900th of the mother’s weight! Throughout their
lives, pandas look cuddly and soft.

The panda’s appearance has made it one of the most popular animals in the
world. In the past, China has given other countries pandas as a sign of friendship.
Organizations use the image of the panda to encourage the protection of wild
animals and promote world peace.
PERSUASIVE ESSAY
A persuasive essay presents your personal point of view in a certain topic or
issue. In this manner of writing, you are required to organize your
arguments and provide explanation which may be accompanied by
evidence so that the readers will be persuaded in believing that your
opinion is acceptable.
Difference of Argumentative Writing from Persuasive
Writing
Sample Persuasive Essay