Descriptive Adjectives

2009 Lara Butler

ELA6W2c: Includes sensory details and concrete language to develop plot, setting, and character (e.g., vivid verbs, descriptive adjectives, and varied sentence structures).

Descriptive Writing Descriptive Writing Can Create a Can Create a

PicturePicture Below is an excerpt from the story, Cloudy With a Chance of

Meatballs by Judy Barrett. Read the paragraph and then follow the directions.

“The menu varied. By the time they woke up in the morning, breakfast was coming down. After a shower of juice, clouds of egg moved in followed by pieces of toast. Butter and jelly sprinkled down for the toast. And most of the time it rained milk afterwards.”

Re-read the paragraph and draw what you hear based on the description given. Do not draw what you think the picture should look like, but draw it according to how it is being described.

2009 Lara Butler

What are What are Adjectives?Adjectives?

Adjectives are parts of speech that describe nouns by answering one of these 3 questions: What kind? (size, shape, color, etc.)

Which one?

How many?

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What kind?What kind?

Dan decided that the fuzzy green bread would make an unappetizing sandwich.

What kind of bread? Fuzzy green

What kind of sandwich? Unappetizing

.

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Which one?Which one?

The most unhealthy item from our school cafeteria is the steak sub.

Which one? Most unhealthy

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How Many?How Many?

Seven hungry space aliens slithered into the diner and ordered two dozen vanilla milkshakes.

How many space aliens? Seven

How many vanilla milkshakes? Two dozen

2009 Lara Butler

Let’s Find the Let’s Find the Adjectives!Adjectives!

The purple finch laid three small eggs in her nest in the tall maple tree.

The purple finch laid three small eggs in her nest in the tall maple tree.

The new coach really liked the green carpeting with the gold and white team logos.

The new coach really liked the green carpeting with the gold and white team logos.

A huge oak desk and bookcase filled the small office.

A huge oak desk and bookcase filled the small office.

2009 Lara Butler

Describe CharactersDescribe Characters

Adjectives can be used to describe characters in your story and how those characters……. Look Feel Sound

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Describe the Describe the SettingSetting

When you provide specific details about a place, you paint a picture that helps readers imagine exactly what you are describing.

On a sticky July afternoon, I sit at a splintered, wobbly picnic table in Jasper Park.

2009 Lara Butler

Similes and Similes and MetaphorsMetaphors

Writers can also use similes and metaphors to compare two unlike objects.

Sometimes using a simile will help with the description.

Amy wore a dress that was as dark as night. She could hardly be seen walking down the aisle, and she slipped into her seat as quiet as a mouse.

2009 Lara Butler

Using Adjectives Using Adjectives and Sensory Wordsand Sensory Words

On a sheet of paper, write as many descriptive adjectives as you can for the following categories…..

2009 Lara Butler

Using Adjectives Using Adjectives and Sensory Wordsand Sensory Words

Lookbig

crowded

messy

bright

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Using Adjectives Using Adjectives and Sensory Wordsand Sensory Words

Feelhot

hard

soft

cold

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Using Adjectives Using Adjectives and Sensory Wordsand Sensory Words

Smellpleasant

spicy

sweet

pungent

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Using Adjectives Using Adjectives and Sensory Wordsand Sensory Words

Hearnoisy

chattering

muffled

quiet

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Using Adjectives Using Adjectives and Sensory Wordsand Sensory Words

Tastehot

crisp

mushy

creamy

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Resources To UseResources To Use

In your binder, you have a list of 200 breathtaking adjectives!

2009 Lara Butler

ClosingClosing

What are adjectives?

How can descriptive adjectives be added to our writing to make it more descriptive?

How can writers use descriptive adjectives in their writing to engage the reader?

2009 Lara Butler