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Year 8 · English · Drama: writing scenes · Lesson 1

Descriptive writing

How to write vivid descriptions: the five senses, powerful verbs, figurative language and the zoom-in technique, with model writing.

Whiteboard video lesson: Descriptive writing

19-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Tell description from narrative
  • Use all five senses
  • Choose powerful, precise words
  • Use similes, metaphors and personification
  • Structure description with the zoom technique

The method

  1. Plan your zoom.
  2. Use at least three senses.
  3. Choose powerful verbs and precise words.
  4. Add figurative language.

Key words: descriptive writing, senses, powerful verbs, simile, metaphor, personification, zoom.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

Name the five senses.

  1. Step 1: Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch

Answer: Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch

Question 2

Why use senses other than sight?

  1. Step 1: Makes the scene feel real
  2. Step 2: Most writers only use sight: stand out

Answer: It makes description fuller and more original

Question 3

What is a ‘pyramid of mangoes’? What does it suggest?

  1. Step 1: Metaphor: mangoes piled high
  2. Step 2: Abundance, care, colour

Answer: A metaphor for neatly piled fruit: plenty