These are the most important elements to remember when it comes to description:

• The reader needs description to paint the picture of a location or scene in their head, but too much bogs down the story, slows the pace and detracts from the forward movement of the plot.
• It’s essential to describe your characters as soon as possible after they’re introduced. But, don’t over describe them – let the reader fill in their own details, this enables them to cement a picture of the character in their mind.
• Use the five senses as much as possible, think about what your character can hear, see, smell. Think about touch and taste. Don’t use too many senses in each scene, but use them to paint a real, tangible picture.
• Use colour well.
• Practice writing description – e.g. describe characters whose pictures you have found in magazines, or describe a room you’ve visited.
• Don’t overdo description – remember the join-the-dots rule – let the reader fill in some detail for themselves.
• Metaphors can be very powerful in description, evoking a mood or theme that runs through your story. Don’t forget, if you’ve heard it before it’s a cliché – to be avoided at all costs – you are a writer, be creative, come up with your own metaphors and similes.
• Use description to develop mood – a stormy day, a bright white apartment.
• Tie description to action to show the reader rather than tell them what is happening.
• Be aware of what you can assume the reader knows (e.g. the shape of a newspaper), and what they don’t know.
• Quirky details are good – they stand out in the reader’s mind. Do your research and build on a small detail to inform the reader about your characters and locations.

Instruction:   The author wants to do more than tell your about her teacher. She wants to create in your mind a clear mental picture of whom her favourite teacher is.  As you read, look for ways the author uses language to create a picture for you.

MY FAVOURITE TEACHER

My favourite teacher was Mrs. Ruby who had taught me English for two years. She had studied in America and came back to Hong Kong to be an English teacher. She had sparkle eyes and blond hair. She ‘s just a bit taller than I was. She always smiled at us as we saw each other in the hallway at school. She seemed very strict when the first I met her. However, we had a lot of fun during her classes as we had been told the jokes in English. She had skills at teaching, sense of humor, friendly, patient and easygoing.

I had had her classes when I was in grade 10. I got good marks on it since then. She gave us tons of assignments which were for improving our English. She’s very patient and enthusiastic to teach us whenever we had questions in her classes. Moreover, she would stay at school after school finished for hours to solve the problems that we had in her class. She would spend her private time to teach us western penmanship which was using two pencils and tightened them together with rubber bands. Then we could draw a letter with them. It ‘s amazing. I learnt it while I had lunch with her. She would talk about her life also during lunch and I found we had a lot in common. She liked eating Chinese and Japanese. Her favorite band was Westlife as I was. She always listened to pop music and sang karaoke. She said that it would be the way to be easier communicating with her students. She’s always friendly and easygoing.

She encouraged us to do voluntary work after school or at weekends. She was in charge of YMCA and leaded a group of students to do lots different kinds of services. Such as cleaning houses for seniors who lived by themselves; selling stickers for charity; leading blind people to walk in the street regularly and planting bushes for the protesting environment organization. She’s a very helpful person.

EVALUATION: Discuss the elements of descriptive essay as used in the passage

GENERAL EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1.                  Effective English, book 1. Page 193. Test for Continuous Assessment.

2.                  Active and Passive Voice Exercise.

Sentences are given in the active voice. Change them into the passive voice.

1. He teaches English.
2. The child is eating bananas.
3. She is writing a letter.
4. The master punished the servant.
5. He was writing a book.
6. Who wrote this letter?
7. Somebody cooks meal every day.
8. He wore a blue shirt.
9. May God bless you with happiness!
10. They are building a house.

3. Write a descriptive essay on your favourite pet.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1.                  Effective English, book 1. Page 133.Practice.

2.                  Active and Passive Voice Exercise.

Rewrite the following in the passive voice.

a. Who wrote this letter?

b. Somebody cooks meal every day.

c. He wore a blue shirt.

d. May God bless you with happiness!

e. They are building a house.

f. I have finished the job.

g. I sent the report yesterday.

h. She bought a diamond necklace.

i. Somebody had stolen my pen