Description: The Art of Engaging the Reader

There's a huge difference between the following two sentences:

• I have a big dog.
• My dog, Bear, is a hairy brown beast weighing over 100 pounds, whose right ear rarely stands at attention.

The first sentence just leaves too much to the reader's imagination, while the second sentence provides a better picture. That's the essence of descriptive writing: using enough detail to help the reader form a picture inside his or her mind.

Here's your task: Describe what you ate for dinner tonight (remember to give sufficient details to help the reader visualize clearly).

Here's my example: Tonight my husband and I ate a simple dinner of meat and potatoes. The meat simmered for eight hours in a mouthwatering mixture of beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and a special blend of herbs and spices. The meat had cooked so slowly in the crock pot and was so tender that it fell apart as I attempted to place portions on our plates. I also served baked potatoes, split and steaming hot. I doused the potatoes with low fat margarine, a dash of salt and pepper, and a tablespoon of shredded cheddar cheese. This simple fare was satisfying indeed.

Your turn! You have until Tuesday 2/1, midnight to post your description.

Now that you're warmed up...

As I am sure I mentioned sometime in class, perfecting your writing is a thinking activity as much as it is practicing the mechanical skills you are learning. Page 417 from Grassroots with Readings lists the following as a writing assignment:

       "Which of your possessions are crucial to your happiness? What things do you own now that you could live without?  What possessions do you lack that you believe will make you happier?"

Answer all 3 questions in complete sentences. Check back to see my answer; I need to do some thinking myself. I don't want to jot down just anything.  Remember to use first name and last initial or first initial and last name. No full names, please -- and no aliases. Posting must be done by midnight of January 25th.

Welcome!

Welcome to our writing blog. Here's your first assignment: Be on the look out for a sentence that really grabs your attention. Quote the sentence and cite the source. Write one sentence that clearly explains the power of the sentence you have quoted.  

Here's an example:  "A good writer tells the truth by telling lies" (The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy, p. 161).  I love this sentence because that is the aim of all writing -- to tell the truth, even if that truth is good for only me.

Now it's your turn!  Select "Post a Comment" and add your assignment. Use the "Preview" button to make sure your assignment is complete before you select "Post Comment". Be sure to complete your assignment by 12 midnight on January 18, 2011.