Tompkins Ch.10 Descriptive Writing

According to Tompkins (2008, p.218), "Descriptive writing techniques are used to paint word pictures and to make their writing more concrete and vivid by noting specific information, choosing words carefully, creating sensory images, crafting comparisons, and adding dialogue". Descriptive writing techniques can be used in all genres, especially poetry and stories.  Anne and Bob (2004) suggests "The six-stage process strategy focuses on effective sentence writing traits while integrating an awareness of morphology and syntax during sentence development". The stepwise structure helps the students learn to task analyze sentence writing, thus making it easier to form sentences.

Kyoungchun Kim says if he uses one of five useful techniques when teaching writing, he’d like to choose comparisons. It’s because metaphors and similes look like poems that children can read with ease. In addition, they can stimulate children’s imagination and understanding to develop. I thinks his idea is reasonable, and in my case, sensory images would more effective since my students are more likely to be interested in visual aids.

Tompkins, G. E. (2008). Teaching Writing: Balancing Process and Product. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Anne, D., & Bob, A. (2004). Improving Descriptive Sentence Writing in Elementary Students. Preventing School Failure, 48, 34-36.