Sense and Descriptive Essay
English 9A, Unit 2
Descriptive Portfolio
Your second portfolio will be a descriptive essay about your favorite location. You will not be focused on building characters or telling a story in this paper - Your paper will purely describe. Remember that your descriptions should use imagery and sensory details, meaning that it should appeal to the five senses. While reading your paper, I should be able to picture your location.
Your favorite room of your house
Your favorite location in nature
An event you have attended that was particularly fun, such as:
A school field trip
A youth retreat
A summer camp
A tourist destination
Think about the following questions to help you brainstorm ideas for your description:
- What places in nature, such as the ocean or mountains, do you especially enjoy visiting? Think about places you have visited with friends or family.
- What unusual plants or animals in nature would lend themselves to being described in an interesting way?
- What is an object or place that you see often without really thinking much about it—for instance, your backyard? Try observing it more closely.
Observe and Record Details (Prewriting)
A descriptive essay is most effective if it is packed with details that vividly portray the object or place being described. Set aside some time to observe your subject closely and write down the details you notice using the Sensory Chart Prewriting Activity Sheet (attached). Record sensory details (sights, sounds, scents, flavors, and textures) that you can include in your descriptive essay.
As you record sensory details, it helps to pretend that your reader has never seen the object or scene you are describing. Even if some details seem obvious, write them down! Remember that your reader can’t see what you’re seeing, so you want to record as much detail as possible in order to paint a mental picture of your object/scene for your reader
When you record what you see,
Descriptive Portfolio
Your second portfolio will be a descriptive essay about your favorite location. You will not be focused on building characters or telling a story in this paper - Your paper will purely describe. Remember that your descriptions should use imagery and sensory details, meaning that it should appeal to the five senses. While reading your paper, I should be able to picture your location.
Your favorite room of your house
Your favorite location in nature
An event you have attended that was particularly fun, such as:
A school field trip
A youth retreat
A summer camp
A tourist destination
Think about the following questions to help you brainstorm ideas for your description:
- What places in nature, such as the ocean or mountains, do you especially enjoy visiting? Think about places you have visited with friends or family.
- What unusual plants or animals in nature would lend themselves to being described in an interesting way?
- What is an object or place that you see often without really thinking much about it—for instance, your backyard? Try observing it more closely.
Observe and Record Details (Prewriting)
A descriptive essay is most effective if it is packed with details that vividly portray the object or place being described. Set aside some time to observe your subject closely and write down the details you notice using the Sensory Chart Prewriting Activity Sheet (attached). Record sensory details (sights, sounds, scents, flavors, and textures) that you can include in your descriptive essay.
As you record sensory details, it helps to pretend that your reader has never seen the object or scene you are describing. Even if some details seem obvious, write them down! Remember that your reader can’t see what you’re seeing, so you want to record as much detail as possible in order to paint a mental picture of your object/scene for your reader
When you record what you see,