Descriptions - advancedenglishlln...should deal wíth the different main aspects oí the subject in...
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INTRODUCTION sets the seene appearance/ clothes character CONClUSION sumsupyour feelings Descriptions Writea description oí a favourite member of your family. Describe a town or city anywhere in the world which you particu1arly Jike. :-l:JTO __ ~_ different tenses to fill in the background him much better. There's nothingvery rernarkable about Chris's appearance. He's of average height and ~ huila, and he's got curly; mousy haírand a fair coy{¡pl~xion~As he' s quite short -sighted like me, h~ wears glasses. The cIothes he likes are mostly casual: jeans or shorts and a tee-shirt 1don't think I've ever seen him in a suit! He's a very active person who Joves the outdoor life. He's extremely practical and he can buildor repair almost anyt:hitlg, no lila~er how co~licated it is~€Other~cte~tic he ~ . that he s very outgomg. If you go to ashow with hím and Vary the sentence members of the audience are invited anto the stage, Chris will structure be the first to volunteer. @ie thing 1 appreciate most about ~ however, is bis sense ofhumour. IfI'm depressed, he can always cheer me up with a joke or a funny story. Theysay you can cboose your fríends but not rour relatíons. In Chris's case. 1feel Tm very lucky because he's not only my cousin but also one of my best friends. Notes and useful language . Structure Descriptions need to be structured, like other tyes of writing, so that they have an introduction, a míddle and an end, In the introduction, you should briefly set the scene, perhaps by saying why you have chosen the person orplace you're going to describe. After tbat you should deal wíth the different main aspects oí the subject in separate paragraphs. Use the final paragraph to sum up your feelings about the subject, if possible in a humorous or memorable way. P~zation Some topics give you more opportunity for personal comment tban others. In general, though, índuding yourreactions and feelings and an occasionaltouch of humour wiH make your description more interesting and enjoyable for the reader.
Transcript of Descriptions - advancedenglishlln...should deal wíth the different main aspects oí the subject in...
INTRODUCTIONsets the seene
appearance/clothes
character
CONClUSIONsumsupyourfeelings
DescriptionsWritea description oí a favourite member of your family.Describe a town or city anywhere in the world which you
particu1arly Jike.
:-l:JTO __ ~_ different tenses to fillin the background
him much better.
There's nothingvery rernarkable about Chris's appearance.
He's of average height and ~ huila, and he's got curly;mousy haírand a fair coy{¡pl~xion~As he' s quite short -sighted
like me, h~ wears glasses. The cIothes he likes are mostly
casual: jeans or shorts and a tee-shirt 1don't think I've ever
seen him in a suit!
He's a very active person who Joves the outdoor life. He's
extremely practical and he can buildor repair almost anyt:hitlg,
no lila~er how co~licated it is~€Other~cte~tic he ~ .
that he s very outgomg. If you go to ashow with hím and Vary the sentencemembers of the audience are invited anto the stage, Chris will structure
be the first to volunteer. @ie thing 1 appreciate most about ~
however, is bis sense ofhumour. IfI'm depressed, he can
always cheer me up with a joke or a funny story.
Theysay you can cboose your fríends but not rour relatíons. In
Chris's case. 1 feel Tm very lucky because he's not only my
cousin but also one of my best friends.
Notes and useful language .StructureDescriptions need to be structured, like other tyes ofwriting, so that they have an introduction, a míddle andan end, In the introduction, you should briefly set thescene, perhaps by saying why you have chosen theperson orplace you're going to describe. After tbat youshould deal wíth the different main aspects oí thesubject in separate paragraphs. Use the final paragraphto sum up your feelings about the subject, if possible ina humorous or memorable way.
P~zationSome topics give you more opportunity for personalcomment tban others. In general, though, índudingyourreactions and feelings and an occasionaltouch ofhumour wiH make your description more interesting andenjoyable for the reader.
AppearanceShe looks I seems I appears ... She's got short. curly haír and a fringe. SI!e' s short with a pale complexion.
Notes on descñptive essaysTensesYou may be asked to write a descriplion in !he present, in the past or to make a compañson between the past and thepresent. Think carefuUy about the tenses yoo use: He rieles a bicycIe (present habit) , He's leaming to play the vio/in(happening now) , We've been friends for years (links past and present), It was raining (sets the scene), She frowned whenshe saw me (past action).
Sentence structureOne problem which añses with this kind of writing is that you can find yourself beginning all your sentences in the same way:He looks ... , He's gol ... 1 He wears ....This makes the description rather boring to read, so by to vary the sentence structure: His eyes are ... , The first fhing younolice is ... , Another characteristic is ....
VocabularyDescriptions give you a golden opportunily to show off your vocabulary. Don't waste it! Avoid using a narrow range ofadjectives like biglsmall~ good, nice - think about better, more precise ones.
Describing peoplePossible aspects: your relationship with the person I how you met, their appearance and style of clothing, their character, andyour personal feelings about them.
ClothesShe usually wears jeans.
. ,
Order of adjectivesAge ShapeSizeTemperatureTexture, etc.
Colour Origin Material+ NOUN
A brand-new whíte woollen sweater A new whíte Chinese paper lampshade A huge circular blue p1astic swimming pool
Descñbing places/eventsPossible aspects: your interest in the place I event, your impressions when you ftrst went there. main characteristics, location,atmosphere, sights, sounds, people, surnming ulYcompañson with latervisit.
Locationin the middle, al the top / bottom, on the lefl: rightin the nottn, lo the norti: of ...in tront ot, behind, beyond, ebove, over, be/ow, under
Describing objects.Possible aspects: structure, shape, cotour, material, use.
Shape/t is shaped Iike a cire/e/ lt's circular in shape / /t's star-shaped.straight, curved, horizontal, diagonal, verticel, poi'lted, sloping
Sensory perceptionIt tooks / seems / appears ... + adjectiveIt fee/sI sounds like ... + noun
/t tasles/smeIIsIfeelslsounds ... + adjectiveJt's a pretty paJe Pink c%ur. .
Describing processes/instructionsSequence markers:First ... , NextlAfter that ... /Fina//y ._. WhenIOnce you have (done) that oo_ Before/Afler doinglyou (do) ...
Purpose clausesfor+ - ing folin arder IoIso as lo + infinitive so that + c1ause
Practice1 Describe your ideal house and its location, giving reasons for your choiees.2 Write a descñption of a person who has had an important inffuence on your life.3 Describe a party you've attended recently.4 Describe a favourite meal or dish. What ingredients are needed and how is it prepared?5 Write a description of your bedroom, its fumiture and contents
Important note: In the First Certiffcate exam you must write between 120 and 180 words. The model given on page is longer, in orderto ilIustrate the varioususeful points.
