KS3 Descriptive Writing

Character Description

Photo courtesy of (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

 Learning Objective
• To describe a fictional character.
• To use figurative language to describe a character.

Success Criteria
• To use well-chosen adjectives.
• To understand how verbs and adverbs contribute to the movement or sound of a
character.
• To use a range of figurative language to create a vivid image.
 Thinking Time
Think about:

A character from a novel that you have read or are reading.

Create a mind map and include everything you know about that character.

Include: Top Tip:

Consider how you know
• what they look like; all this.
• what they wear; Has the author used
effective description?
• what they sound like;
• how they move;
• anything else you know.
 Tell Them About It
With a partner, take it in turns and describe your character to each other.

Whilst you are describing, they should attempt to draw the character.

You should not mention:

• any events from the story.

• their name or age.
• another character that they may be similar to.

Artistic skill doesn’t matter, but details do!

The outcome of the drawing will depend on
your ability to describe.
What Should We Describe?

appearance

mannerisms sound

Pause for Thought

Any other ideas?

qualities movement
How Can I Include Everything?
• What is their voice like?
• How might they sound in different situations?
• Can you use a simile here?

• Do they have any distinctive features?

• What do they wear?
• Use interesting adjectives? Can you think of any
• Could you use a metaphor? other ways to describe?
Write down as many as
you can, e.g. verbs,
• How do they walk or move?
adjectives…
• Use adverbs and specific verbs?
• Would alliteration help describe their actions?
 Did You Get These Techniques?
simile - a descriptive technique that compares one thing with another, usually using 'as' or 'like'.

metaphor - a descriptive technique that names a person, thing or action as something else.

hyperbole - a use of obvious exaggeration for humorous or dramatic effect.

personification - a metaphor attributing human feelings to an object.

pathetic fallacy - a type of personification where emotions are given to a setting, an object or the weather,
e.g. a stormy sky suggests something bad will happen.

onomatopoeia - words that sound like the noise they describe, e.g. crash, bang, crack.

oxymoron - a phrase combining two or more contradictory terms, e.g. bitter sweet.

emotive language - language intended to create an emotional response in the reader.

Or These Parts of Speech?

powerful verbs

interesting adjectives

well-chosen adverbs
 Be Subtle
• An effective character description should not just be a list of information. Try to
weave details into your writing implicitly.

• Try to integrate descriptive information into what is happening.

Top Tips:
Rather than writing he is frightened’, you
could write ‘he crept timidly towards his
fate.’

Rather than writing ‘he was tall’, you could

write ‘his shadow loomed and towered
powerfully above those belonging to the
other creatures.’
 Have a Go...
In your group, have a go at rewriting these simple sentences to make them much
more exciting and vivid.

Pause for Thought

He was short. Share your best one
with the class.

She had blonde hair.

He was nervous.

She was frightened.

Look at the Images Below

Photo courtesy of (thomasleuthard/5198470559@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

 How?
In your groups, choose one of the images:
Answer the following questions using full sentences and the most interesting
description you can:

1. How does your character speak?

2. How does your character cross a room?
3. What do your character’s eyes remind you of?
4. How does your character feel?

Try to be as imaginative as possible.

Photo courtesy of (thomasleuthard/5198470559@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

 Descriptive Task
Choose one of the photos as your inspiration.
It does not have to be the one your group chose.

Task: Write a description of your chosen character.

Remember: the photo is only for inspiration,
so be as imaginative as you can.

Try to use:
• adjectives/powerful verbs/adverbs;
• similes and metaphors;
• onomatopoeia;
• alliteration.

Photo courtesy of (thomasleuthard/5198470559@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

 Plenary
Can you highlight any examples of these in your own work?

• adjectives/powerful verbs/adverbs
• similes and metaphors
• onomatopoeia
• alliteration

Take Notes
Set yourself a
target to improve.

‘To improve my descriptive writing, I should

try to...’
Photo courtesy of (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution