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Description
C
ertain situations require papers that are completely descriptive. You may be
asked to describe the setting for a novel or a microscopic specimen. In addition,
almost all papers require some description. For instance, how could a writer talk
about the process by which something is made without describing the steps in the
process? Cause and effect, comparison and contrast, definition, narration, analogy—
almost anything you write may, and likely will, include description.
Description relies on the five senses. The reader should see, hear, taste, smell, and
feel. At the same time, however, good description is synonymous with clarity. It con-
veys information accurately.
This section assumes that you need to develop an entire paper using description. As
you use description to develop parts of other papers, of course, you will employ the
same techniques but perhaps in abbreviated form.
CHARACTERISTICS
A descriptive paper serves only to describe. Usually, however, the paper includes the
following general characteristics
-^ a subject worthy of description,
-^ an emphasis, either direct or indirect, on the five senses,
-^ use of figures of speech, especially to enrich description and spark reader
interest,
-^ a topic or thesis sentence that names the subject to be described and
establishes the attitude toward the subject,
-^ one of three patterns of organization: chronological, spatial, or order of
importance,
-^ a single, consistent tone and mood [see tone and mood in the Glossary],
-^ details that support the tone and mood,
-^ unity within the paragraphs and the paper as a whole,
-^ vocabulary that clarifies,
-^ varied sentence structure, which enhances the general attitude and adds
appropriate emphasis,
-^ an effective conclusion.