6Describing: Media and Popular

Culture

22

Learning Outcomes

• Identify real world applications for writing a description.

• Understand the steps for writing a description.

• Interpret images and descriptive readings about media and popular culture.

• Analyze the rhetorical star for description.

• Apply the steps for writing a description.

33Real World Applications (LO 6.1)

• School– Describe what

you observe in a lab.

– Journaling about an activity

– Describe a subject’s traits

• Daily Life– Describing a new home or business– Describing an insurance

claim

• Career– Describing a patients symptoms– Descriptions of menu items– Descriptions of criminals, crimes, and

sentences.

44Steps for Writing Description (LO 6.2)

• Create a dominant impression.

• Use an objective or subjective approach.

• Appeal to the senses.

• Include similes and metaphors

• Organize your description logically

• End with something memorable

55The Rhetorical Star (LO 10.4)

Subject• Choose a subject you can observe or

know well.

• Write about things that catch your

interest.• Pick something interesting, exciting, unique,

or unusual.

66The Rhetorical Star (contd.)

Purpose• Consider what you want to accomplish

with your description.

• Determine the dominant impression

you are trying to create.

• Keep your purpose in mind at all times.

77The Rhetorical Star (contd.)

Audience• Know your readers.

• Determine your readers’ interest about

the subject.

• Select the details that would be most appealing to your specific audience.

88The Rhetorical Star (contd.)

Strategy• Determine if other writing

strategies are needed. Description is commonly a supporting strategy.

• Consider what additional information may be necessary. Have you appealed to a variety of the reader’s senses?

99The Rhetorical Star (contd.)

Design• Decide upon the needed

length to describe your subject keeping your audience in mind.

• Determine if graphics or other design elements are needed.

• If visuals are included make sure they don’t overshadow your words.

1010Applying the Writing Process (LO 10.5)

Discovering• View a variety or readings, images, and

other media.• Go somewhere scenic.• Focus on sensory details.• Make a sketch, describe a scene to

someone, or do a free-write.

1111Applying the Writing Process (contd.)

Planning• Create a list of adjectives you would

like to use.• Decide upon the order which you wish to

present your details.• Use a cluster diagram, an outline, or a

graphic organizer.

1212Applying the Writing Process (contd.)

Composing• Write a first draft.

• Don’t focus on grammar or punctuation.

• Keep the steps for descriptive writing in mind.

• Focus on concrete sensory detail.

Getting Feedback• Have a peer read your rough draft.

• Utilize the peer review questions if possible.

• Get a second opinion, if possible.

1313Applying the Writing Process (contd.)

Revising• Make sure your description is full of specific sensory detail.

• Make sure you have created a clear dominant impression.

• Avoid vague language.

Editing• Read your essay again.

• Check for grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.

• Watch out for sentence fragments.

1414Applying the Writing Process (contd.)

Proofreading• Read your essay at least one more time.

• Look for typographical errors.

• Make final corrections, again watching out for sentence fragments.