Descriptive Writing:

Painting A Picture
With Words
• An effective written description is one
that presents a clear picture to your
reader.

• A successful description uses vivid

vocabulary, including colorful adjectives
and figurative language.

• An interesting description attracts the

reader’s attention.
 Imagery
Imagery is the use of
words to create images,
or mental pictures.
Imagery helps you
picture how something:
* looks
* sounds
* smells
* tastes
* feels
Read this descriptive introduction from an informational text:

“Dark shapes glide through the night sky on

silent wings, their sinister shadows outlined
against the light of a full moon. Swooping
down to the earth, they hover near houses and
deserted buildings, breaking the peace of the
night with their disturbing presence. Carriers of
disease, drinkers of blood, companions of
witches and demons, bats – the very word brings
a shiver of fear to most people.”
~ Sylvia A. Johnson, Bats
 Description of the Wind
“Anybody could see how cold it got. The wind already
had glass edges to it, stiffening muscles and practically
cutting through the stitches of our clothes. When it
blew, the chill stabbed our teeth like icicles, and our
voices jiggled every time we talked.”
From Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida
by Victor Martinez
 Things to Remember About
Descriptive Writing
• Be specific, not vague.
• Elaborate (add more details and expand
your ideas).
• Use vivid vocabulary (strong nouns, verbs,
and adjectives).
• Include details that relate to your five
senses.