Descriptive Paragraphs
A descriptive paragraph provides a vibrant experience for the reader through vivid language
and descriptions of something. Descriptive paragraphs do not need to be personal in nature.
Instead, descriptive paragraphs must focus on vividly and objectively describing something to
the reader. In order to provide this vivid detail, the writer must use language that appeals to the
reader’s five senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. To appeal to these senses, the writer
must use descriptive language, usually in the form of adjectives, that describes the sensations
felt by the senses. For instance, examine the differences between the descriptions below:
Sentence 1: The tree was tall and green.
Sentence 2: The soft and damp pink flowers of the dogwood tree smelled sweet in the cool
spring air as the wind whistled through its yellow-green leaves.
How do these descriptions compare? If these two sentences both describe the same tree, which
sentence provides a better picture for the reader? Why?
While the first description does provide some detail (that the tree is both “tall” and “green”), it
does not help the reader picture the tree. Saying that the tree is “tall” and “green” does not help
separate the tree being described from any other tree. The second sentence, however, provides
the reader with descriptive information that makes the tree unique. Unlike the writer of the first
sentence, who only vaguely describes how the tree looked, the writer of the second sentence
appeals to at least four of the reader’s five senses. This writer describes how the tree feels (soft
and damp), how the tree smells (sweet), how the tree sounds (it whistles), and how the tree
looks (pink and yellow-green). Through these descriptions, the reader can see, hear, feel, and
smell the tree while reading the sentence
Words associated with each of the five senses
See Hear Smell Taste Feel
• colours • loud • sweet • delicious • soft
(green,
• grating • pungent • sour • creamy
blue, red)
• metallic • acrid • sweet • rubbery
• contrast
(light vs. • atonal • delicious • savoury • firm
dark)
• melodic • disgusting • salty • cool/hot
• depth (near
vs. far) • euphonious • appetizing • spoiled • unctuous
• texture • discordant • fresh • bitter • porous/smooth
(rough, • screeching • stale • earthy • knobby
pebbly,
smooth) • gravelly • fruity • spicy • sticky
• shape • harmonious • tantalizing • bland • dry/moist
(round,
square,
triangular)
• dimensions
(height,
width,
length)
Providing good details in a descriptive paragraph also rests on the idea that a writer
must show and not tell the reader. While good details in a paragraph are important, the most
essential part of a descriptive paragraph is the reason for writing the paragraph. Since
descriptive paragraphs should explain to the reader the importance of what is being described,
in addition to helping the reader picture it, the author must show the reader how and why
something is significant rather than simply telling the reader. A good writer helps the reader
picture what they are describing; however, a better writer shows the reader the purpose or
reason for describing something.
By showing and not telling the reader and by using descriptive language that appeals to the five
senses, descriptive paragraphs provide the reader with a detailed account and the significance
of something. Thus, this something being described is the most important aspect of the
descriptive paragraph. Generally, descriptive paragraphs describe one of four somethings: a
person, a place, an object, or an event.
Example:
“The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow across the tranquil beach.
The gentle waves lapped against the powdery sand, leaving delicate patterns in their wake. The
salty scent of the ocean mingled with the sweet fragrance of tropical blooms that adorned the
shoreline. As I walked barefoot, the soft sand caressed my feet, and the cool water tickled my
toes. Seagulls soared gracefully overhead, their cries echoing through the salty breeze. The
scene was a perfect harmony of colours, sounds, and sensations, a serene oasis that enveloped
me in its peaceful embrace.”
In this example, the descriptive writing transports the reader to a beach at sunset, utilizing
sensory details to evoke a vivid image. The use of words like “warm,” “golden,” “tranquil,”
“gentle,” and “soft” appeals to the reader’s senses, allowing them to visualize and experience
the scene.
Task:
Imagine yourself walking through a peaceful valley. Describe the sights, smells, and
atmosphere
Think about your childhood home/village/school etc. Write a descriptive paragraph that
captures its unique
