Description

When we are asked to describe something, the text we create is a Description. A description tells the reader in detail about how something looks, feels, sounds or behaves. When writing descriptively, we think of our 5 senses (sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing) and how we can express those sensations. In a description it is common for you to use lots of Adjectives and Adverbs about colour, size, age, distance or even emotion. Remember, an Adjective is a word that describes something (red, big, dark, happy) and an Adverb is something which describes how something is being done (quickly, slowly).

Type of Language Used

From one sentence up to a paragraph depending on what your teacher has asked you to do
Word Type - Adjectives and Adverbs
Could be Past Tense (describe what happened yesterday), Present Tense (describe what you can see at the moment) or Future Tense (describe what is going to happen in the future)

Structure of a Description

A description can range from one sentence to a paragraph and has two elements:

A statement of what is being described
A range of describing words for each element. Elements could include:

Colour
Size
Emotions
Sounds
Feel
Actions

Your teacher may ask you to describe one thing or several things in a picture, text, song or video.

What does a Description Look Like?

In the example below, a student has been asked to imagine they are on a holiday and describe what it would be like to walk down a busy street in New York City (USA). They used the photo as inspiration to help with their description.

A Morning in New York City!

I slowly stepped on to the busy street of New York City. Flashes of yellow pass by as numerous Taxi's rush to their destination, honking loudly as people scatter across the street. Many of the people are in crisp, black suits, holding briefcases as they make their way to work. They do not seem bothered by the 'hustle and bustle' of Times Square. Standing on this street, I continue to people watch as the smell of freshly cooked bagels travels through the air, making my stomach rumble and ache with hunger. As I make my way to the nearest coffee shop, I cast my eyes to the large billboards which cover the walls of buildings, promoting everything from the latest movie, to the most popular stage show on Broadway. The vibrant colours of the billboard makes my eyes hurt as they change from one picture to the next, flashing continuously.

Tips for Success

HASS

Have I:

Used an introductory sentence to establish the main idea and indicated to the reader what the description is on?
Considered the key elements of the subject, including re-visiting the picture (or re-watching a video), making sure you have not missed something?
Considered the people, events, setting and objects portrayed in the text, film or picture?
Used a range of words, including adjectives and adverbs in my description?

English

Have I:

Used an introductory sentence to establish the main idea and indicated to the reader what the description is on?
Considered the key elements of the subject, including re-visiting the picture (or re-watching a video), making sure you have not missed something?
Considered the characters, setting and objects portrayed in the text, film or picture?
Used a range of words, including adjectives and adverbs in my description?

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