OBJECTIVE:
Writing a descriptive paragraph on a compelling photograph is a fun way to capture the sensory experience of the photo. It is also a great way to practice choosing the most vivid nouns and verbs and develop how to organize the sensory details through paragraph structure.

This will allow you to think creatively about descriptive sentences to engage the viewer of the photograph and help them see the photograph in a new way.

Definition of Descriptive Writing:
An expression in vivid language that suspends an object or place in time and evokes sight, sound, smell, texture, and taste or at least three of these five senses.

We will learn how to write intriguing descriptions of places or objects by using pic-lits.com.

MODEL PIC-LIT:

Notice how the writer titled the paragraph “A Perfect Whole.” This is the dominant impression of the piece; it is the idea the writer hopes to convey in the paragraph. Also, notice that there are three senses developed: sight, smell, sound. Moving from least important to most important sensory detail provides organization to this short paragraph. All descriptive sentences contribute to the idea that this temperate rain forest is a “perfect whole.” Also, notice the double spacing so viewers can still see the photo.

GUIDED PRACTICE WRITING PROMPT:

1. Go to piclits.com
2. Sign in with your e-mail and password
3. Select a picture from the gallery of pictures
4. In FREESTYLE mode, write a description of place or object on a photograph that has a special significance to you. This description must evoke a dominant impression in the reader. Write the dominant impression as the title of the piece. Be sure to employ three of the five senses in your description and organize from least important sensory detail to most important.