ENGL 104 Study Guide - Summer 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Thesis Statement, Vivid Band, Standard-Definition Television
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
ENGL 104
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
DESCRIPTION (Chapter 13of Successful College Writing)
When you describe something, you want to SHOW it, not just tell someone about
it (in other words, they should see the object clearly as if they were there—and
would—as a result—develop a feeling about it as well. Usually when you just
tell soeoe aout soethig, ou ol ipl ho oe should feel aout it.
Here are to eaples of sho ersus tell; ou at to sho:
• There was a pleasant tree in the backyard (tell)
• A spreading elm bathed the backyard with shade (SHOW)
AND
• There was an unpleasant tree in the backyard (tell)
• The overly large elm, planted too close to the house, blocked our view of
the mountain (SHOW)
You also at to apture ood he ou desrie soethig. Let’s sa ou just
ade a A o a test. You ould e alkig do the halla ejoig the sight
of other college students high-fiving and laughing each other while oldies but
goodies the Beatles plaed i the akgroud. No if ou ade a D o that
same test, you would again be—walking down the hallway—annoyed by the
obnoxious frat guys screaming and shouting at each other while severely
outdated music played in the background.
Description presents information in such a way that appeals to one or more of the
five senses----- sight, sound smell, taste, and touch—usually creating and overall
impression or feeling. Writers rely on description to present detailed information
aout people, plaes, ad thigs to grasp ad sustai their readers’’ iterest.
When you write vivid descriptions, you not only make your writing more lively
and interest but also indicate your attitude toward the subject through your
choice of words and details.
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Desriptio uses sesor details: sesor details appeal to oe or ore of the
five senses---sight sound smell taste and touch. By appealing to the senses in
your writing, you too can help your reader experience the object, sensation,
eet, or perso ou ai to desrie. Let’s look together at the eaples i our
book of the five senses (see pages 265-6 in Successful College Writing).
Description Uses Active Verbs and Varied Sentences: Sensory details are often
best presented through active, vivid verbs and varied sentences. Active verbs are
often more effective than adverbs in creating striking and lasting impressions, as
the following example demonstrates (bottom of page 266-7)
Using varied sentences also contributes to the effective expression of sensory
details. Be sure to use different types and patterns of sentences and to very their
legths. Mala’s essa ad his seod paragraph of it provide a good
example of this (see page 266-7)
Description creates a dominant impression: An effective description leaves the
reader with a dominant impression—and overall attitude, mood, or feeling about
the subject. While a dominant impression is stated rather than implied, many
times, however, a writer relies on descriptive language to imply a dominant
impression. To write an effective description, you need to select details carefully,
including only those that contribute to the dominant impression you are trying to
create. (see page 267-8)
Description Uses Connotative Language Effectively: Usually, feelings and attitude
are associated with a word—emotional coloring or shades of meaning. These are
the ord’s ootatios. As ou rite, e areful aout the ootatios of the
words you choose and select only words that strengthen the dominant
impression you are creating. (page 268)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
