Description
Description allows the reader to actually be in the story. It allows the reader to imagine the world of your characters. Good description can also mirror the character's emotional state or the condition of their inner life. Often the landscape that a writer paints in a story will serve a symbolic function. The description may be a brief paragraph at the beginning of the story, or it may develop throughout the piece. Pay close attention to the descriptions in the stories that you read in this course. Ask yourself if there is any connection between the descriptive passages and the action of the story. Think about the memorable detalis of a story that you enjoyed reading. It might be one that you, a classmate, or another writer outside of this course has written. Let's look at a descriptive passage from a story that you remember in the discussion this week. Why do you remember it? What descriptions did the writer use to draw you into the scene? What kinds of adjectives are used?
Small Groups
Share with your small group a page of your latest work that contains a lot of description. Try to find, create, or revise a passage that is completly evocative, a description that involves all of senses. Also, review your work for your portfolio and consult with your group about any final revisions on your work.Assignments:
Discussion: Description;
Due: Fourth Story
- Review your work for your portfolio and consult with your group about any final revisions on your work.
- Turn in your revised Fiction Assignment #4 to the discussion area and comment on the postings of two others.
- Write two descriptive entries in your e-journal this week completely describe a scene without using interpretation or judgement.
- A portfolio discussion will also be held in the chat area on the date given in the calendar.