Writing with Imagery

Using Sensory Details to Create Images in Writing.

What is Imagery?

Creating a picture in the reader’s mind by making the reader see, hear, taste, smell, or touch what is being described.

Sensory Details

Sensory details appeal to the reader’s five senses:

o Touch- How does something feel when you touch it? What is the texture like? Smooth? Rough? Soft? Sticky? Flaky? Gooey?

Sensory Details

o Taste- How does something taste? Does it taste bitter? Sweet? Salty? Like heaven? Like garbage?

o See- What does something look like?

Color? Size? Shape? Does it remind you of anything else?

Sensory Details

o Smell- What does something smell like? Does it have a strong or weak smell? Is it a good smell or bad smell?

o Hear- What does something sound like? Is it a pleasant or unpleasant sound?

The Challenge

You will each receive a peppermint candy. You will each receive a piece of paper. On the slip of paper, you will find one of the five senses. Do not talk about your sense or eat your peppermint until you are told to do so. Keep your wrapper because you might need it!

The Challenge

Your challenge is to use sensory details to create a mental picture of this peppermint. You will describe your peppermint according to the sense you received. You will then use your description as the first sentence of a short narrative (one or two paragraphs). You will later read your narrative aloud in class.

The Challenge Examples: Touch- Describe how it feels in your mouth

and/or in your fingers. Taste- Describe how it tastes. See- Describe the color, pattern, shape, texture,

etc. Smell- Describe how it smells. Hear- Describe how the wrapper sounds or the

sound of sucking/biting on the peppermint.

Ms. Ratliff’s Examples

Hear- Each unraveling twist of the cellophane wrapper brought a cringe to the mother’s face.

This creates the image of a noisy wrapper.

See- A kaleidoscope of red and white filled the mother’s purse.

This creates the image of the colors of a peppermint.

Adding Imagery to WritingA kaleidoscope of red and white

filled the mother’s purse. Katy’s mother never left home without a purse full of peppermints. The child begged her mother for a peppermint. The mother agreed, but gave her a oh-so-familiar look that said, “Be quiet when you open it.” Katy soon forgot her location--church--and she ripped open the candy. Each unraveling twist of the cellophane wrapper brought a cringe to the mother’s face.

Task

Remember: • Imagery should contain sensory details. • It should generate interest for your

narrative.• It should be the first sentence; however,

you can also end your narrative in different example of imagery.

ANY QUESTIONS???