by itself and convey any of the five sense sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
20
Besides, a descriptive paragraph explains what something looks, sounds, feels, smell, or tastes like.
21
According to Langan ―the main purpose of a descriptive essay is to make readers see--or hear, taste, smell or feel
–what you are writing about.
22
Fink, et.al give the opinion about function of descriptive itself, whereas, the purpose of description is to present the reader with a picture of a person,
subject, or setting. Therefore, as a reader of description, we should take a note of some elements of description as follows
23
: 1.
Concrete details. A concrete detail is a specific description that supports, reflects, or expands a writer’s attitude or purpose.
2. Images. An image is a concrete, literal real and actual description of
a person, physical object, or sensory experience that can be known through one of the five senses sight, sound, taste, smell and touch.
3. Similes. Simile is a comparison, using like or as, between two objects.
The comparison is between two things essentially different yet similar in one aspect.
4. Metaphors
5. Connotative Language
3. Kinds of Descriptive
Descriptive writing will be written if they want to describe something such as places, people, or other objects
24
. Related to the differences of the objects that the writer wants to describe about them, Ellis classifies three different kinds of
descriptive writing.
25
20
S.H. Burton, J.A. Humphries, Mastering English Language, New York: Palgrave, 1992, p. 180.
21
Barbara Fine Clouse, The Student Writer, New York: McGraw Hill, 2008, p. 40.
22
Langan, Jhon, College Writing skill, New York: McGrawHill, 2005, p. 174.
23
Lila Fink, et al. A Text for Writing and Reading, Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1983, p. 41.
24
Sandra McKey, Fundamental of Writing for a Specific Purpose, London: Prentice Hill, 1983, p. 17.
25
Barbara Lenmark Ellis, How to Write Successfully in High School and College, Fourth Edition, New York: Barron’s Educational Series, 2005, pp. 32—37.
a. Description of Object
Sandra McKay argued that the best way to make the description of an object or a thing is by describing the physical characteristics of an object or a
thing to point or to show the picture of it. Example:
Guitar My most valuable possession is an old, slightly warped blond
guitar--the first instrument I taught myself how to play. Its nothing fancy, just a Madeira folk guitar, all scuffed and
scratched and finger-printed. At the top is a bramble of copper-wound strings, each one hooked through the eye of a silver tuning key. The
strings are stretched down a long, slim neck, its frets tarnished, the wood worn by years of fingers pressing chords and picking notes. The body of
the Madeira is shaped like an enormous yellow pear, one that was slightly damaged in shipping. The blond wood has been chipped and gouged to
gray, particularly where the pick guard fell off years ago.
No, its not a beautiful instrument, but it still lets me make music, and for that I will always treasure it.
b. Description of Place
Related to the description of places, McKay stated that the best way to describe a place is to show someone the actual place or take a picture of it or just
give the characteristics of place.
Example: MY HOUSE
I live in a small house. It has five rooms: there are two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Indeed it is a small house; but I
like living in here for wasting my spare time. When the door is open, I can see the living room. It is so small
with only three chairs and a table, nothing else. I prefer reading a novel in this room.
My bedroom is in the left side of the living room. In this room there is a night table next to the bed, a TV, a radio, and a computer. When
being bored of reading, I usually play online games, chat with my friends via Facebook and so on.
Next to my bedroom is my mothers. I do not know what is inside because I never come in to see it. In the right side of the living room there
is the kitchen. In the kitchen I have everything I need when I get hungry. It is pleasure when my mother cooks, the smell fills my whole house.
I know it is a very small house; but it is the best place I have ever had seen.
