Writing a Descriptive Paragraph

Level: Intermediate
Time: 60 minutes
Focus: Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar
Skills: Descriptive writing, sentence structure, using adjectives, and organizing ideas

Objectives:

1. Students will be able to write a well-organized descriptive paragraph.
2. Students will use appropriate adjectives and sensory details to enhance their writing.
3. Students will practice using correct sentence structures.

Materials:

• Whiteboard or projector
• Pictures of different scenes (e.g., a beach, park, busy street)
• Sample descriptive paragraph
• Graphic organizer (optional)
• Writing notebooks

Warm-up (10 minutes):

1. Discuss Descriptive Writing:

   • Ask students what it means to describe something. Elicit ideas such as "using adjectives," "talking about details like color, size, smell."
   • Write the five senses on the board (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) and explain that good descriptive writing helps the reader experience these senses.

2. Adjective Brainstorm:

   • Give students a picture of a scene (e.g., a beach) and ask them to brainstorm adjectives that describe the scene (e.g., "sunny," "crowded," "relaxing").
   • Write their responses on the board.

Presentation (15 minutes):

1. Explain Paragraph Structure:

   • Introduce the basic structure of a descriptive paragraph:
     • Topic sentence (introduces the subject)
     • Supporting details (use of adjectives and sensory details to describe)
     • Concluding sentence (wraps up the description)
   • Show a sample paragraph on the board. For example:

     The beach was the perfect place to relax. The bright sun shone down on the soft, white sand, and the cool breeze carried the scent of saltwater. Seagulls flew overhead, their cries blending with the sound of crashing waves. In the distance, I could see children building sandcastles and families splashing in the waves. Everything felt peaceful.

2. Analyze the Sample:

   • Break down the paragraph into its topic sentence, supporting details, and concluding sentence. Discuss how adjectives and sensory language are used.

Guided Practice (15 minutes):

1. Describe Another Picture:
   • Show a different picture (e.g., a busy street).
   • As a class, write a descriptive paragraph about the scene using the same structure. Encourage students to provide adjectives and sensory details.
   • Ask questions like:
     • What does the street look like?
     • What sounds would we hear?
     • How do you feel standing in this scene?
   • Write the paragraph on the board with their input.

Independent Writing (15 minutes):

1. Student Writing:

   • Give each student a new picture and ask them to write their own descriptive paragraph based on the picture.
   • Provide a graphic organizer if needed, where students can plan their topic sentence, details, and conclusion.

2. Peer Review:

   • Once finished, students exchange their writing with a partner. Partners should check:
     • Does the paragraph have a clear topic sentence?
     • Are there descriptive details that appeal to the senses?
     • Is the paragraph easy to follow?

Wrap-up and Feedback (5 minutes):

1. Class Sharing:

   • Ask a few students to share their paragraphs with the class.
   • Provide feedback on their use of adjectives, sentence structure, and overall organization.

2. Homework (Optional):

   • Assign students to write a descriptive paragraph about a place they know well (e.g., their favorite park or room in their house).

Assessment:

• Review students’ paragraphs to assess their ability to:
  1. Use descriptive language effectively.
  2. Organize their writing with a clear topic, details, and conclusion.
  3. Use correct grammar and sentence structure.

This lesson plan helps students develop writing fluency while also focusing on grammar and vocabulary.