Post by moogle on Aug 12, 2007 4:13:15 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Lesson 1:[/glow]
It is a common fact that what makes a good piece of writing more powerful is the description used. This week we will be looking at how to write descriptive writing, and use it effectively. This means you will not be using narratives in your sample; I want this to purely be description.
Basic descriptive tools.
Adjective: Describing word.
Eg: The beautiful sunset.
Beautiful is describing the sunset.
Simile: Describing word using "like" or "as". Used to liken something to something else. Eg. "Her eyes were like storms raging in a dark sky."
Her eyes are being likened to storms.
Metaphor: Describing word, which implies that something is something else. Eg, "Her eyes were storms raging in a dark sky."
Her eyes become storms.
Extended Metaphor: Same as above, except the metaphor becomes a running theme. In this example, everytime that person does something, a reference to storms will be alluded to.
Eg: "Her hair crackled with the intensity of her fury."
Crackled referring to lightening, which is alluding to storms.
Personification: Something inanimate takes on human qualities.
Eg: "The night stretched her arms over the little village, embracing it in her dark blanket of sleep."
Night is being personified as a woman, stretching her arms.
Adverb: Descriptive word that describes a verb.
Eg: "She really enjoyed the walk."
"Really" is the adverb.
Alliteration: Group of words which flow on from each other, using the same first letter for each words.
Eg: A solitary, old man, strolled along the sandy seashore.
"S" is the letter being used to create alliteration.
As you become more confident with your writing, these basic tools of description will become almost second nature for you to use.
Some of you may be thinking this is insanely easy, but I assure you, starting from the basics is the best thing. There will be a discussion thread set up to go with this lesson so that we can all discuss the terms, and help each other become more confident with descriptions. I expect everyone to participate in it.
Practical Work:
Write a descriptive piece of writing for your favourite place in Hogwarts using all of these techniques.
Please PM your sample of writing to me. Grammar will be taken into account, so please take the time to proof read your writing.
Minimum of 200 words.
For this lesson there will be no set due date, but a lesson will be posted every two weeks for those of you who are wondering. Try to get the work done before I post the next lesson, which, as I said before, will be in two weeks.
It is a common fact that what makes a good piece of writing more powerful is the description used. This week we will be looking at how to write descriptive writing, and use it effectively. This means you will not be using narratives in your sample; I want this to purely be description.
Basic descriptive tools.
Adjective: Describing word.
Eg: The beautiful sunset.
Beautiful is describing the sunset.
Simile: Describing word using "like" or "as". Used to liken something to something else. Eg. "Her eyes were like storms raging in a dark sky."
Her eyes are being likened to storms.
Metaphor: Describing word, which implies that something is something else. Eg, "Her eyes were storms raging in a dark sky."
Her eyes become storms.
Extended Metaphor: Same as above, except the metaphor becomes a running theme. In this example, everytime that person does something, a reference to storms will be alluded to.
Eg: "Her hair crackled with the intensity of her fury."
Crackled referring to lightening, which is alluding to storms.
Personification: Something inanimate takes on human qualities.
Eg: "The night stretched her arms over the little village, embracing it in her dark blanket of sleep."
Night is being personified as a woman, stretching her arms.
Adverb: Descriptive word that describes a verb.
Eg: "She really enjoyed the walk."
"Really" is the adverb.
Alliteration: Group of words which flow on from each other, using the same first letter for each words.
Eg: A solitary, old man, strolled along the sandy seashore.
"S" is the letter being used to create alliteration.
As you become more confident with your writing, these basic tools of description will become almost second nature for you to use.
Some of you may be thinking this is insanely easy, but I assure you, starting from the basics is the best thing. There will be a discussion thread set up to go with this lesson so that we can all discuss the terms, and help each other become more confident with descriptions. I expect everyone to participate in it.
Practical Work:
Write a descriptive piece of writing for your favourite place in Hogwarts using all of these techniques.
Please PM your sample of writing to me. Grammar will be taken into account, so please take the time to proof read your writing.
Minimum of 200 words.
For this lesson there will be no set due date, but a lesson will be posted every two weeks for those of you who are wondering. Try to get the work done before I post the next lesson, which, as I said before, will be in two weeks.