Descriptive Writing: How to Get Full Marks (CIE IGCSE English Language)

Section B requires you to write for a specific purpose and in a specific form. It is important that you write in the correct format and use the conventions of this form, as the mark scheme states that you should adapt your tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences. 

This means: 

• The tone (the sound of the narrator’s “voice”) is appropriate and convincing 
• The register (your vocabulary and phrasing) is suitable for the purpose
• The style of the writing (the sentence structure and the overall structure of your writing) is dynamic and engaging

When planning your response, it is a good idea to keep the tone, style and register in mind, as well as the conventions of the form. As with any extended piece of writing, planning is vital. You should spend 10 minutes mind-mapping your ideas before you start writing. Here, we will consider how you can produce an effective piece of descriptive writing in the following sections: 

• How to structure your descriptive writing
• Descriptive writing techniques
• Steps to success

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 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 story progression or interaction. 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 size 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

Descriptive writing should craft a tone of voice in keeping with the mood of the scene. This means 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, the best descriptive writing responses show evidence of careful word choices 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 which 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 bi; 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:

1. Read the two task options carefully:
• Decide which one you can best picture in your mind
2. Spend 10 minutes planning your writing:
• Use a mind-map or a table
• Use the “panoramic, zoom, single line, shift, shift, panoramic” six-step structure
3. Write down some reminders of figurative language or literary techniques to include to add interest and detail:
• It might be helpful to jot down “sound and silence”, “movement and stillness” and “light and dark” to prompt you
4. Write your description, sticking to your plan
5. Try to leave five minutes at the end to re-read your writing carefully, correcting any obvious mistakes you have made