Sense WritingSense WritingExploring descriptive writing

through the five senses

Mrs. HillMrs. HillClear Lake Middle SchoolClear Lake Middle School88thth Grade Language Arts Grade Language Arts

Show…Don’t TellShow…Don’t Tell**Choose one of the following topic

sentences**Write a descriptive paragraph about

that particular topic**5-7 compound/complex sentences**Be sure to use various wording**ALWAYS pay attention to the

corrections discussed in class

Sentences to choose from:1. There were many interesting costumes at the party.

2. Spring will soon be here.3. The students were having fun.

4. She was exhausted.

Show…Don’t TellShow…Don’t Tell

Sense of SightSense of Sight

Sight words describe appearance, shapes, movements, and colors. In each

sentence below, choose the word that creates the most specific picture for the

reader:

Sense of SightSense of Sight1. Two squirrels (jumped, leaped) from branch to

branch.2. The thief was seen (loitering, walking) in the alley.3. The colt’s glossy coat gleamed (amber, brown) in

the sun.4. We all (ran, scrambled) to be first at the bus stop.5. Sara’s (freckled, spotted) face grew ashen in fear.6. The (chubby, portly) two-year-old clapped his

hands in delight.7. The exhausted woman (plodded, walked) into the

classroom.8. The (dotted, dappled) fawn trailed after its mother.

Sense of SightSense of SightAdd additional words to each category:

Red—brick, crimson, cranberry

Blue—sapphire, teal, royalYellow—gold, custardWhite—enamel, chalk

Black—tar, midnight, pitchPurple—violet, indigo,

bruiseGray—ashen, dull, slate,

metalBrown—amber, tan, beige

Green—emerald

Appearance—singed, hollow, chipped, cracked, frayed, rough, large, meek

(weak)Movement (fast)—hustle,

scramble, scurry, scramMovement (slow)—walk,

shuffle, plod, crawl, waddle, loiter

Shapes—octagon, oval, squiggly, pentagon,

hexagon, circular, cluster, acute, obtuse, portly,

chubby, sharp, shrunken

Sense of SightSense of SightHomework assignment:*Using the ideas we have been discussing about

writing (length and structure), write a paragraph about the following:

Describe a sunset.Example topic sentence: The

orange glow of the sun melted into the puffy clouds.

Sense of Sight: Sense of Sight: SunsetSunset

I watch as the crimson, orange globe dives closer and closer to the flowing green lake. Finally, I see it touch down and begin to sink farther below the trees, hills, slopes, rocks, dirt, and grass into unknown territory. It is making a desperate struggle by shooting beams of yellow, orange, and red light into the baby blue sky. I see it traveling farther down, wishing I could help the innocent globe, but I'm useless. Then, all of a sudden, it disappears below the emerald horizon, and everything goes black.

Sense of Sight: Sense of Sight: SunsetSunset

The red and orange sun began sinking its way back into the depths of space. The tints of red, orange, and pink that flooded the sky was a masterpiece. Although the sun was setting, the sky's colors turned even more rich and full. The last glimmer off the azure sea looks like a thousand diamonds dancing on blue silk. The sun’s last few rays came dancing down, and I saw the green flash. Although the sun has set, I continue to watch its painting flow across the heavens. The suns farewell is the most beautiful goodbye there is.

Sense of Sense of HearingHearing

Choose the word that creates the most vivid sound

for the reader to hear.

Sense of Sense of HearingHearing

1. Sam (bellows, sounds) like a bull when he is angry.

2. We heard the hens (peep, cackle) in alarm.3. The squeaking chalk (grated, scraped) on

my ears.4. Jane’s (whining, piercing) voice rose above

the crowd.5. Jim (jingled, clanged) the coins in his

pocket.6. Raindrops (thumped, pattered) on the

cottage roof.

Sense of HearingSense of HearingAdd additional words to each category:

LoudHowlRip

BangShattered/crack

MarchBoomThrashgallop

Grindingyelp

whooshBellowRoarpop

SoftGroan

WhimperTap

GaspHumPeepecho

crunchmurmurScuttleSqueakPatterTingChirp

Whisper (psst)

SpeechWhimper

RoarSlur

BellowRasp

Mumbleyell/yelpFirm/bold

BreathSqueakScreamWhining

questioning

Sense of Sense of HearingHearing

Write a phrase for each of the following. Make your reader

HEAR the sound in their mind.Example: a chairThe chair scraped and scratched its way across the floor.

1. A movie theatre (before the movie begins)2. School dismissal3. A traffic jam

Sense of Sense of HearingHearing

Homework assignment:*Using the ideas we have been discussing about

writing (length and structure), write a paragraph about the following:

Imagine that you were surfing when a storm blew in. The

waves crashed in around you as you tried desperately to get

back to shore. You couldn't see anything. All you could hear

was the roar of the waves. Describe the sounds.

Sense of Sense of Touch/FeelTouch/Feel

Choose the touch word that best creates a vivid picture.

1. Sam’s frostbitten finger’s felt (cold, numb).2. Lisa felt (stabs, prickles) of fear as she entered

the cave.3. Jim refused to touch the (wet, slimy) seaweed.4. A (bad, stabbing) pain shot through Joe’s finger.5. The old man’s face was (tough, leathery) from

the sun.

Sense of Sense of Touch/FeelTouch/Feel

Add additional words:coolscaldingstickydamp

slipperywaxy

rubberycrispslick

steamygrainyfrostypricklybittersinged

finedull

scaleshocked

warmsatinyfurryhot

leatherysoft

sandysilky

smoothcoarseshaggyrough

wrinkledrigid

parchedmelted

Sense of Sense of Touch/FeelTouch/Feel

Homework assignment:*Using the ideas we have been discussing

about writing (length and structure), write a paragraph about one of the following:

1. Walking along a beach or road on a hot day

2. Trudging through snow in January3. Walking in the rain on a warm

spring day

Sense of Taste Sense of Taste and Smelland Smell

Write answers to the following questions:1. What tastes do you like? Dislike?2. Write a phrase describing the taste of

your favorite food.3. What is your favorite smell?4. What does your room smell like?5. What are some classrooms in the school

that have distinct smells?6. Can you think of a memory associated

with a smell?

Sense of Taste Sense of Taste and Smelland Smell

Add additional words to each category:Tastebutteryfruitystaletart

creamytangydull

Smellperfumed

earthysulphurous

skunkymusky

mothballssweatyherbal

musty (old)cinnamon

sweet

Sense of Taste Sense of Taste and Smelland Smell

Choose the word that creates the most vivid picture.

1. An (acrid, horrible) smell remained long after the fire.

2. The rotting fish had a (putrid, unbearable) odor.

3. The air smells (wonderful, clean) after a summer thunderstorm.

4. Old coats can smell (bad, musty).

Sense of Taste Sense of Taste and Smelland Smell

Homework assignment:*Using the ideas we have been discussing

about writing (length and structure), write a paragraph about following:

You are lying in bed on Saturday morning when you awaken

to the aroma of coffee percolating and bacon frying along with other foods.

Describe the smells of breakfast cooking.   

Sense of Taste Sense of Taste and Smelland Smell

Spend a few minutes “tasting” or “smelling” the following objects. Then write a sentence that describes it vividly. For example: The wet couch smelled of mothballs.

a lemon dropa piece of toasta pencila firetoothpaste

Sense of SmellSense of SmellWrite a paragraph describing one of the scenes below (incorporate any/all senses). When finished, write an acrostic poem describing that same scene (use phrases). Try to capture the distinctive odorodor of the scene you choose to describe.

Doctor’s office (DOCTOR)Doctor’s office (DOCTOR)

Bakery (BAKERY)Bakery (BAKERY)

Flower shop (FLOWER)Flower shop (FLOWER)

Sense DocumentSense DocumentParagraphs/Assignments to be typed on Paragraphs/Assignments to be typed on

Sense Document:Sense Document:

Be sure to highlight or underline all sense Be sure to highlight or underline all sense wordswords

**Sense of Sight: Sunset**Sense of Sight: Sunset

**Sense of Hearing: Waves**Sense of Hearing: Waves

**Sense of Hearing: Writing Cycle**Sense of Hearing: Writing Cycle

**Sense of Touch/Feel: (choice of topic from **Sense of Touch/Feel: (choice of topic from list)list)

**Sense of Taste and Smell: Breakfast**Sense of Taste and Smell: Breakfast

**Sense of Smell: (choice of topic from list)**Sense of Smell: (choice of topic from list)

**Sense of Smell: Acrostic Poem**Sense of Smell: Acrostic Poem

Final Sense Final Sense WritingWriting

Refer to the link on this Refer to the link on this page entitledpage entitled

Final Sense WritingFinal Sense Writing

Extra Credit (10 Extra Credit (10 points)points)

Write two to three paragraphs creating a scenecreating a scene. Appeal to ALL of theALL of the sensessenses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Make sure you include each sense at least twice (underline your sense words). Your reader should feel as though they are right in your setting. Due on the same date as your final sense writing (by the end of the school day)—only a FINAL DRAFT is needed!

A supermarketA supermarketA day at the beach or poolA day at the beach or pool

An accidentAn accidentEating at a restaurantEating at a restaurant