Description英文写作课件

1、Description英文写作ContentsDefinition of descriptionTypes of descriptionWays to develop a description essayDescription of a placeDescription of an objectDescription of a personAssignmentDescriptionDescription is the type of writing that helps the reader to see what someone/some place/something is like.

2、Or we may say description is painting a picture in words of a person, place, object, or scene. A description essay is generally developed through sensory details, or the impressions of ones senses-sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch,etc.Leave out the irrelevant ones and keep those which help to

3、bring out the dominant characteristic or outstanding quality of the person or thing described. (sample 1)Example of Adopting Sight- A Friendly ClownOn one corner of my dresser sits a smiling toy clown on a tiny unicycle-a gift I received last Christmas from a close friend. The clowns short yellow ha

4、ir, made of yarn(纱线）, covers its ears but is parted above the eyes. The blue eyes are outlined in black with thin, dark lashes flowing from the brows. It has cherry-red cheeks, nose, and lips, and its broad grin disappears into the wide, white ruffle（花边） around its neck. The clown wears a fluffy（蓬松的

5、）, two-tone（两种颜色的） nylon costume. The left side of the outfit is light blue, and the right side is red. The two colors merge in a dark line that runs down the center of the small outfit. Surrounding its ankles and disguising its long black shoes are big pink bows. The white spokes（车轮的辐条） on the whee

6、ls of the unicycle gather in the center and expand to the black tire so that the wheel somewhat resembles the inner half of a grapefruit. The clown and unicycle together stand about a foot high. As a cherished gift from my good friend Tran, this colorful figure greets me with a smile every time I en

7、ter my room.Types of descriptionObjective description-record details without making any personal comment.Subjective description-the writer is free to interpret details for the reader/ audience.Note: Few descriptions outside of science writing, however, are completely objective.Ways to develop a desc

8、ription essayThrough the impressions of ones senses-sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touchUsing spatial order: describing the physical layout of the place(leftright, bottom top, clockwise/counterclockwise, insideoutside)Using chronological orderUse specific wordsDecide on the dominant impressionGen

9、eral and Specific Words for Good DescriptionSpecific words help to make writing clear, exact, vivid, and striking, for they are more informative and expressive than general words. Compare:a good mankind, honest, just, generous, sympathetic, warm-hearted, selfless, brave, honorablegood foodtasty, del

10、icious, nourishing, rich, wholesome, fresh, appetizing, abundant Housemansion, villa（别墅）, chateau（庄园）, cottage, bungalow（平房）, cabin, hut, shack, shanty, barn(仓房）General and Specific Words for Good DescriptionPracticeEg. Laugh :smile, grin, chortle, guffaw, sneer, titter, giggleCry: sob, weep, blubbe

11、r, snivel, howl, bawl, wail, moan, Animal:Flower : Wind :RainTree :Walk:Angry:Look at:General and Specific Words for Good DescriptionGeneral: It is often windy and dusty here in spring.Specific: In spring there is often a very strong northwest wind. It carries so much fine dust with it that sometime

12、s the sun becomes obscure. There is no escape from the fine dust; it gets into your eyes, your ears, your nostrils, and your hair. It goes through the cracks of closed windows and covers your desks and chairs.General and Specific Words for Good DescriptionGeneral: The room was a mess. Specific: As I

13、 walked into the room I could barely find a clean place to step. There were clothes all over the floor, along with papers, books, and possibly what looked like an old, moldy sandwich. The stench was unbearable.General and Specific Words for Good DescriptionGeneral :I love the smell of sunshine. Spec

14、ific: ?Your turnCritical Reading on Description of an ObjectRead the following three descriptive paragraphs about the sunshine and give your comments.1. I Like the Smells of Sun Very MuchI like the smells of sun. It is sweet, which tastes like an ice-cream. It has changeable color, which turns the p

15、lain ground become bright and full. It has soft sunshine, which let my body feel warm and comfortable. It has a quiet language, which makes a gentle whisper through my body and tells me what are the secrets of the sun. It has a wonderful power, which reflects the pure and the beautiful things in the

16、 world, brightens all the dark things up, and encourages me to overcome all the difficulties in my life. I like the smells of sun very much. By studentComment on Smells of the Sun by StudentComment: The description is very imaginative but too abstract. Try to add more concrete examples to show why y

17、ou like the smell of sun.2. Smells of the SunI love the sun. I love the suns rays, light and warmth, especially the suns smells. When the sun comes again after the rain, I can inhale the humid air made by the suns heat. In a sunny garden, the scent of the grass and of plants that carry the smells of

18、 the sun waft along in the breeze. I like sunning my bedclothes if it is a nice warm, sunshiny day, then the bedclothes gain an aroma of the sun after their sunbath. I ask my son, “Can you smell the sun in your bedclothes?” He picks up a corner of his bedclothes, then bends his head close to them an

19、d breathes in deeply. He answers, “What a wonderful smell of the sun.” I enjoy the smells of the sun. - By Xe JiaoComment on Smells of the Sun by Xe JiaoComment: Xe Jiao writes of the suns smells in a short paragraph. She illustrates for us the power of concrete imagery, dialogue, and descriptive wo

20、rds.3. Free TranquilizerVancouvers summer sunshine makes me lazy. I indulge myself under the shade of the maple trees during the summer in Central Park in order to bask in Vancouvers sunshine. Especially when the wind waves the leaves and the sunlight slides through, it feels like velvet patting my

21、body or like a furry cat rubbing me. I like to sit on the bench, which is on the southern shore of the lake. One day, an old Labrador dog sat beside me. Although there were many adults jogging, children giggling, and squirrels chasing around, the old Labrador was as solid as a rock; he closed his ey

22、es and ears and made his daydream without a pause. (To be continued)Free TranquilizerSometimes, when the sunlight stung his nose, he shifted his body one inch to avoid it, and when the flies buzzed around his head, he twitched his muscle or his ear to dispel the greedy flies who shared his sunlight.

23、 After absorbing enough energy, he trudged away contentedly. I love to sip this free tranquilizer during the summer in Vancouver. (-Anonymous writer)Comment: An excellent descriptive paragraph about the delights to be found at Central Park in Burnaby. Dominant Impression for Good Description Decide

24、on a dominant impression-an overall attitude, mood or feeling about the place you are describing(the hustle and bustle of a market place, a haunted castle, a breathtaking scenery spot)What Is the Dominant Impression in the Following Photos?What Is the Dominant Impression in the Following Photos?Desc

25、ribing a placeDescribing a PlacePlaces may be described for their own sake, as in essays on visits to famous scenic places, but also for the purpose of revealing the personality and character of a person, or creating a feeling or mood.Eg. A clean and tidy room might show that the occupant is an orde

26、rly person.Eg. The howling of a chilly wind, the falling of autumn leaves, a house standing in solitude on a barren mountain, all help to build up a somber mood and increase the feeling of depression.Practice: What is the dominant impression of this place? This room was chill, because it seldom had

27、a fire; it was silent, because remote from the nursery and kitchen; solemn, because it was known to be so seldom entered.The house-maid alone came here on Saturdays, to wipe from the mirrors and the furniture a weeks quiet dust:and Mrs. Reed herself, at far intervals, visited it to review the conten

28、ts of a certain secret drawer in the wardrobe, where were stored divers parchments(羊皮纸古文稿）, her jewel-casket, and a miniature（微型人像画） of her deceased husband. (By Charlotte Bronte)Practice: What is the dominant impression of this place?Possible Key: This description gives the reader a gloomy and life

29、less impression and makes one feel chilly and frightened. This place appears to be ghost-haunted. Read P150 on textbook Practice(in class)Write a one-sentence dominant impression of the following places.Your local supermarket on SaturdayA reading-room in your university in the eveningAn examination

30、roomPlayground Describing an objectTips on how to describe an objectState briefly how you got the object, if this is important.Provide some basic factual information about it(its size, shape, texture, color, ect.)Point out its useful features(uses, functions, etc.)Focus on a particular, probably the

31、 most important characteristic of the objectState in what way the object is important to youReading on the SubjectRead The Pickle Jar (5mins)Answer the following questions:Why doesnt the writer open his essay with a description of the pickle jars shape?What method of organization does he chiefly use

32、?When was the pickle jar removed from the parents room and why was it put back?In what way did the pickle jar become a symbol? A symbol of what?Describing a personDescription of a PersonIn describing a person, the writer should not merely give details of his appearance. He should try to reveal the p

33、ersons character, thoughts, and feelings, which may be shown in what the person does and says, or in how he behaves to others.It is important to grasp the characteristic features that distinguish him from all other people.Those features that he shares with others can be omitted.Peculiarities and idi

34、osyncrasies of a person, if any, should be included in the description, for they usually impress the reader deeply and give life to the person described.Show the person in action-showing a person(indirect description)Use anecdotesWays to Describe a PersonDescribe his/her appearance Describe his/her

35、languageDescribe his/her behaviorDescribe his/her mannerDescribe his/her psychology Etc.Words Describing a PersonAdjectives to describe a personModest/Decorous端庄稳重的/Self-effacing谦让的/Easy-going/Quiet/Demure娴静的/Unassuming平易近人的/Soft-spoken/Compatible能谦容的/Amiable 亲切的/Without air /Affable 和蔼的/Good-humore

36、d 脾气好的/Obliging 照顾周到的/Considerate考虑周到的/Cordial /Gregarious 合群的/Impartial 公正的Ardent/enthusiastic/zealous 热情的/Erudite 博学的/Versatile /Diligent /Thrifty/frugal 节约的Optimistic 乐观的Open and above board 正大光明/Calm, cool and collected 镇静沉着/Introverted/ExtrovertedPhysical Appearance 描述身材常用的形容词有:tall,small,short

37、,of medium height描述体型的有:fat, thin, slim, big, small, of medium build, strong, obese等. 描述相貌的有:beautiful, pretty, good-looking, charming, sweet, handsome, funny, ugly, peculiar, rough, ill-looking, homelyPhysical Appearance体格（build）: fat; thin; slim; skinny; overweight; slight; well-build身高 （height） :

38、medium height;average height; below average; tall; short; tallish; middle-sized;of medium height; 1.78 meters脸型（face）: round; thin; long; square A. She has a very pleasant smile and she always has a twinkle in her eye. B. She was young,with a fair,calm face that showed a certain strength.Physical Ap

39、pearance头发（hair）: (1) 发型（hair style）: straight; curly; pigtails; crew cut平头; baldHer hair is brown and curly. (2) 发色(hair color): jet-black 乌黑的; fair 金色的; blonde 淡黄色的; golden 金黄色的; dyed 染色的; brunette 浅黑色的; mousey 灰褐色的; chestnut 栗色的. She is a beautiful girl with fair hair. The middle-aged man already

40、 has double chins and receding hairline. Physical Appearance五官:(1) 眼睛（eye）: deep-set; sunken 凹陷的; bulging/protruding 凸出的; eyelashes; eyebrows. A. His eyes are deep-set because he has worked till midnight for a long time. 他的眼睛深陷，因为他这段时间经常工作到深夜。B. He had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. P

41、hysical Appearance(2) 鼻子(nose): long; straight; big; small; flat; hooked. A. He was born a hooked nose. B. His nose is very big, so he doesnt like it. (3) 嘴部(mouth): tooth; even; uneven; chinA. When he laughs, we see his even teeth. B. She has a double chin. Physical Appearance服饰（dress）: smart 潇洒的;

42、scruffy 邋遢的； well-dressed 衣着华丽的; casual 随便的; conservative 不显眼的; elegant 优雅的; fashionable 时髦的; suave 文雅的; untidy 不整洁的. A. He looks casual just wearing a tweed suit. 他穿了一件花格子衬衫，看上去很随便。B. She always dress very elegant and tidy. 她总是穿着优雅整洁。 LanguageWell-educatedEducatedNot well-educatedIlliterateExample

43、for “not well-educated”One day I found Tony at our meeting place behind the garage. I want to be prentice, he said. Mr. Craw, he said, I like a buy a house. Behavior快乐A.He is very happy and sweet. B.They didnt know what to do with themselves for joy. C.He jumped for fun. D.Her face brightened up. 满意

44、 A.The result is satisfactory. B.It is difficult to please everybody. C.There is always a smile of contentment on her face. D.She belongs to those who are very difficult to satisfy. E.Seeing their task finished gives them a sense of satisfaction. Behavior惊讶 A.Im surprised to find you here. B.Its not

45、hing to be surprised about. C.To my surprise, he didnt come yesterday. D.She looked at me in amazement. E.Her appearance fairly took my breath away. F.Everyone looked at her in astonishment. 悲伤 A.He looks so sad. B.He is no stranger to sorrow. C.His sad story makes her feel pity. D.His wifes disease

46、 took away his appetite. E.The news depresses her. Behavior愤怒 A.She was burning with anger. B.He easily loses his temper. C.He was in a rage. D.She was red with anger. Speak/ say/ talk/ tell /chat/ gossip A.Can you child speak yet? B.He said he wanted to go to town. C.I want to talk to you about an

47、urgent matter. D.Tell me what happened. E.They dropped in for a chat last night. F.You shouldnt listen to gossip. Model 1: A talkative personHe is so talkative that whenever he chooses you as his listener, whether you are willing or not, you cant escape from him without helplessly giving up 2 or 3 hours