Descriptive Paragraph

Descriptive Paragraph

Descriptive paragraph is paragraph which expresses or describes place, thing and person in such vivid detail that the readers can easily visualize the described place, thing and person, or can feel that they involve in the experience.

Some descriptive paragraphs may be technical, for instance, describing about things or place such as car or classroom; on the other hand, it may describe an event or a place and include more figurative language (simile, metaphor etc.) or describe felling or emotion. Therefore, before writing a descriptive paragraph, it is important to consider the purpose and the audience.

 

Generic Structure

Descriptive paragraph is intended to describe place, person, and thing so that the reader will be able to visualize the descriptions. Writing descriptive paragraph, generally, you have to regard as the following generic structure of descriptive paragraph:  

1.  Identification

Identification is a part in which you identify or write the recognition; moreover, it can be a general statement about place, person, or thing that you want to describe

       2.  Descriptions

Descriptions are vivid detail of place, person, or thing that you want to describe so that the reader can easily imagine or picture the descriptions, or they can feel that they involve in the experience. 

        3.  Conclusion

The last part of descriptive paragraph is optional (i.e. it may be included or not). In this part, you conclude the paragraph or restate the identification or general statement.

 

Characteristics of a Good Descriptive Paragraph

Descriptive paragraph should also pocess the following characteristics:

- Using imaginative language

- Using specific and concrete vocabulary

- Involving the reader enough so he/she can actually visualize or picture the things, person or people being described.

- Using appropriate transitional phrases so that the paragraph will be well organized and structured.

- Considering the purpose and audience of the paragraph.

Example :

Slash

Slash is one of my favourite guitar players. Even though his skill is not good enough, his style in playing guitar amazes me. He is tall; moreover, he has white skin with a hairy skull and his name tattooed on his right upper arm. Besides, he has special characteristic that differentiates him with other guitarists. For example, his long black curly hair covered by magician hat and tight skin pants always accompany him when he rocks his fans with ‘Les Paul Gibson’. Instead of these, he also uses some accessories such as rings, silver bangles, skull necklace, and a gold ‘nose ring’ jabbed on the right nostril. To summarize, Slash is very stylish rock guitarist in his period