Assignment 2: Descriptive Writing (CIE IGCSE English Language)

Assignment 2 of your coursework portfolio is a piece of descriptive writing. To get the highest marks, you are required to develop ideas and images which create a convincing and well-defined picture with varieties of focus.

The following guide is divided into the following sections:

• Overview
• Assignment examples
• How to write to describe
• Top tips

In this assignment you are assessed on your writing skills only, and your piece of writing should be between 500 and 800 words in length. There are 10 marks available for content and structure, and 15 marks available for style and accuracy, as follows:

Remember, in descriptive writing, your aim is to enable the reader to picture what you are describing in their minds. You are not writing a story, but descriptive writing can include thoughts and feelings, a sense of place and atmosphere and changes in perspective and time.

You may be asked to describe a busy place, such as a cafe, a market or a train station, or an important gathering or celebration. Alternatively, you may be asked to describe a moment when time stands still, or a natural event such as a sunrise or sunset. What is important is that your description is not static, and better responses tend to be those based on personal experience.

Descriptive writing is observational writing. This means that the narrator does not interact with their surroundings, or other characters. In fact, no characters are crafted. Descriptive writing is like imagining you are behind the lens of a camera, describing a “snap-shot” of a moment. However, this does not mean that the scene you are describing is static; it is important to note the movements and action you “witness”. 

Below is a suggested step-by-step structure for a piece of descriptive writing, including the techniques to use during each of the six steps:

Remember, you can include action or movement in your description, but this should not involve any interaction with other characters or settings in your piece of writing. It’s also important that any action or movement you include doesn’t move the “plot” along: a description must not include any story progression. Any action should only cover a short period of “real time”, such as the wind blowing a basket over. Something seemingly inconsequential could move in the background, which is especially effective if you contrast this with things that remain still.

Your paragraphs should be appropriately linked, but should vary in terms of length and structure. Variety and accuracy are key; you are bringing a scene to life for your reader, so they should be able to picture it, hear it, even smell it!

Tone

When creating a piece of descriptive writing you should attempt to match your tone of voice with the mood of the scene. This means that your sentences should reflect the atmosphere. For example, if the scene is mysterious and frightening, your sentences should reflect this suspenseful mood. 

In order to craft a tone in keeping with the mood of your description, consider how you can use sentence lengths and types:

• Short sentences reflect tension and unease, e.g. “No sound could be heard.”
• Longer sentences and listing can create a sense of being overwhelmed, or of abundance, e.g. “The market was laden with apples, grapes, oranges, loaves of bread, chunks of cheese and every type of vegetable one could imagine.”

Style and register

The style of your descriptive writing is closely related to the language you use. For example, in a descriptive writing response, the best answers show evidence of careful word choice and the deliberate but judicious use of linguistic techniques.

Descriptive writing helps the reader to visualise the person, place, or situation being described. Your word choice and linguistic techniques should conjure a vivid, sensory impression in the reader’s mind. 

The best way to do this is to: 

• Use vocabulary that is useful to the reader:
• For example, describing something as “brilliant” or “amazing” is not descriptive
• Be specific and ambitious in your choice of adjectives 
• Use sensory language to bring the scene to life:
• Focus not just on what can be seen, but also what can be heard, smelled or felt
• Emphasise key ideas or impressions using language techniques and imagery:
• For example, you could use a simile to create associations about size or colour
• Personification is a useful technique when describing weather or objects 
• Ensure you describe the important details:
• For example, you do not need to describe every inch of a person or scene bit by bit; instead, focus on key features

When considering the detail you should include in your description, it is useful to consider the types of things that bring a scene to life. These things are normally rooted in contrast. For example:

Let’s consider the following example of an opening paragraph of a piece of descriptive writing:

• Your description should be closely observed and focused on imagery:
• Try to make use of more striking and original images, rather than relying on stereotypical ideas and images
• Ensure that all of the words you choose contribute to the overall atmosphere and effect you want to create
• Do not confuse tenses in a paragraph:
• If you use a flashback, ensure you have written it in the past tense
• If you use present tense verbs for effect, then ensure you do this consistently
• Do not use dialogue in a descriptive writing piece:
• Remember that descriptive writing also does not provide background information or develop character interaction
• When describing people, you should focus on their body language or movements
• Zoom in and out of the image you are creating, as if you are behind a camera
• Include some movement to contrast and add interest
• Use sensory language to create a clear mood, but adjust the focus and perspective as your paragraphs develop:
• Descriptive writing should include movement and sound, but the “narrator” should be a silent observer
• Vary your sentence and paragraph lengths to keep the style and tone dynamic
• It is effective to repeat ideas related to colour:
• Consider picking out a key detail in order to do this, such as the colour of houses’ roofs
• Remember, this is not a story:
• You do not need to provide a “happy ending”