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Descriptive: Reflect to Write

Writing Practice

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Complete your revision by reading this together with our 2023 Issue 4/5 print issue or as a standalone guide.

REFLECT TO WRITE

Descriptive essays require evaluation. For example, questions such as "describe your favourite place" or "describe your closest friend" require you to consider and weigh your options in order to choose your "favourite" or "closest". Take some time to think about the value of your subject of choice — what makes it significant, enjoyable, memorable, etc. This will enable you to write descriptions that are more directed towards answering the question. 

  • Aimless Descriptions

    The evaluation is generic and does not show that you are addressing the question.

  • Directed Descriptions

    You clearly justify your topic of choice in response to the question. One way to do so is to provide a context to your descriptions. What is the surrounding circumstance or environment?

Describe your favourite phone app for your daily commute.

Choice: My favourite phone app is Spotify.

  • Aimless Descriptions

    With Spotify, I can listen to the rock music of the 90s, enjoy the soothing sound of ocean waves and even pretend to be in a sad music video with Olivia Rodrigo’s songs. 

  • Directed Descriptions

    Travelling to school every day on the bus, I hear the same electronic beeps from the EZ-Link reader and the dreary hum of the bus engine. With Spotify, the ride becomes more vibrant and varied. I can listen to the rock music of the 90s, enjoy the soothing sound of ocean waves and even pretend to be in a sad music video with Olivia Rodrigo’s songs.

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