Descriptive Writing

Descriptive Writing

The following are assignments for descriptive writing.

Dressing up Students Writing:

Display two or three articles of clothing. Ask students to imagine that they write clothing descriptions for a catalog company. Then guide students to brainstorm a list of adjectives for a selected article of clothing. Model how to use the adjectives to write a brief description. Next, give each student a sheet of story paper. Have him illustrate either a displayed article of clothing or one that he is wearing. Then he writes a brief description of it. Bind students’ completed work into a class catalog to “sell-ebrate” their use of adjectives.

Your Special Place assignment:

Tourism Saskatchewan has asked you to submit a descriptive multi-paragraph composition about a special place you have visited in Saskatchewan. Describe a clear picture of the placed by focusing on one of the following:

- The place throughout its four seasons

OR 

- The place through five sensory details (sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch)

J. Peterman Owner’s Manual assignment:

This delightfully creative catalogue of women’s and men’s clothing and accessories is the perfect idea resource. Begin by sharing several examples of the clothing items with the story text from the catalogue. Then ask students to select one item of their own clothing and create a story about it – the catalogue can be used as a model. The purpose is to make the item so attractive, everyone will want to buy it. You could even gather items from the lost and found and have students work in groups to write the text and draw the pictures. There are lots of options!  You can order a catalog or go on-line to see what they have to offer: 

Writing a Newspaper Article assignment:

Popcorn Reminiscence assignment:

Pop some corn during class. While the corn is popping and the sounds and aroma fill the room, ask students to jot down bits of memories they associate with popping corn. At the end, they can write a story relating to popping corn. Or, perhaps they can write “10 Ways to Improve the Taste and Texture of Pop Corn.” Or how about “Why Does Pop Corn Cost So Much at the Movies?” Or, “The Real Difference Between Air Popped and Oil Popped Corn!”

Sentence Observations assignment:

Sentence observations involve looking at mentor text with students to help them discover how grammar and mechanics works with already published authors.  To get ready for sentence observation mini-lessons, choose interesting, well-crafted sentences from texts that you have read aloud together as a class. Then write the sentence(s) on a piece of chart paper before the lesson. The day of the lesson, call the students to the floor in a meeting area. 

Situation Story starters:

SOIL writing pattern: