ENG 002 – Writing portfolio 1 – Descriptive Paragraph 1 | Page
Descriptive paragraph – Writing portfolio 1
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A descriptive paragraph is a paragraph that describes a person, place, or thing. A thing can be either concrete (such as when you describe the taste of chicken kabsa or your last vacation) or abstract (such as your anger or happiness). A good descriptive paragraph helps readers form a vivid image in his or her mind. Remember that in a descriptive paragraph, you show, don’t tell!
To help us write a good descriptive paragraph, it is a good idea to list words or ideas about the person, place, or thing we would like to describe based on our five senses – sight, touch, smell, sound, taste.
Example:
Describe your classroom.
What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? What does it feel to sit in the classroom? Show, don’t tell.
There is something special in my classroom today (topic sentence). The chairs are all in the back of the room, leaving a big empty space in the middle (sight). The teacher’s desk is full of delicious food (sight). I can smell the warm gahwa mixing in the air with the spicy aroma of grilled kebab(smell). The walls are now filled with baby’s room decoration (sight). My heart skips a beat (feeling). Only Maryam is there sitting in one corner of the room (sight). I asked, “What’s this? Where’s everybody?” Suddenly, my favorite childhood lullaby plays from the classroom speaker (sound) and everybody swarms in from the door saying “Congratulations on baby Ahmad, Miss!”. Boy is that a nice little surprise.
Exercise:
Write a topic sentence for the following topics and use three of the five-senses description to help
your readers imagine in his or her mind:
1. Topic: My Review of the Latest iPhone X/Samsung Galaxy
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Topic sentence: The new iPhone is attractive to me for many reasons
Sight: ……………………………………………………………………………………
Touch: …………………………………………………………………………………….
Smell:.……………………………………………………………………………………..
Sound: ……………………………………………………………………………………
Taste: ………………………………………………………………………………………
PRE-WRITING
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In this portfolio, you are going to write a descriptive paragraph.
Pick a topic you want to describe in more detail.
· Use topic from the exercise or write about any other person, place, thing you want to describe.
· Write a good topic sentence with clear controlling idea. Build up your 4-5 supporting sentences using the five-senses description strategy. At the end, don’t forget to add a concluding sentence.
· Use simple present or simple past tense consistently.
· Use at least two words from Unit 1 vocabulary.
Alternative multimodal writing project:
· Think about a person, a place, or a thing (such as a famous person, a famous place, a car, a new technology, or a fashion item) that you admire. Collect pictures or short video clips of that person, place, or thing. Create a video montage of those pictures and/or videos by adding a descriptive text either in the form of written caption or voice narration. Upload it on YouTube or send the link to the video file via Google Classroom.
When you write a paragraph, make sure that you:
· Use complete sentences (with clear subject and verb in every sentence)
Capitalize the first letter of every sentence
· Use final punctuation at the end of every sentence (e.g. period, question or exclamation mark)
· Indent your paragraph
First Draft
Topic : ____________________________________________________________________
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Post Writing: Check the quality of your writing by using the table below. If you tick “No”, revise your sentence(s).
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Yes
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No
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Self-Assessment
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Does the topic sentence have a controlling idea?
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Do I have at least three supporting sentences?
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Do my supporting sentences have relevant details?
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Do I have a concluding sentence that summarizes my paragraph?
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Do I use signal words to help tie my sentences together?
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Do I write in with consistent tense? (simple present)
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Do I write in complete sentences?
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Does every subject and verb agree?
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Does every sentence begin with a capital letter?
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Does every sentence have a final punctuation (period, question/exclamation mark)?
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Do I indent my paragraph?
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Final Draft
Topic : ____________________________________________________________________
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Descriptive Paragraph Rubric:
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Criteria
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Mark
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Content & Ideas
There is one clear, well-focused topic.
Main idea stands out and is supported by enough specific details.
Sensory details are interesting and “paint a picture” for the reader.
The concluding statement is clear and repeats key words from the topic sentence.
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/3
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Organization
Paragraph has topic sentence, body, and concluding sentence.
Details are in a clear, effective order: chronological (time), spatial (location), or order of importance.
The use of transitions makes the paragraph easy to read.
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/2
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Word Choice (Proof of description)
A variety of high frequency vocabulary is used appropriately.
Descriptive words are used to describe the topic and reach the five senses.
The setting is clear.
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/3
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Grammar
Sentences are complete, with clear subject and verb.
Verb tenses are used correctly and consistently.
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/3
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Mechanics
Spelling and punctuation are used correctly throughout the entire paragraph.
Paragraph is indented.
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/2
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Process
All stages in the writing process (planning, editing & writing) are properly followed and accomplished.
Submission deadlines of first and final drafts are met.
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/2
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TOTAL
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/15
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