Reasons why we describe...

Importance of Description

We describe in writing because we cannot simply just put a Google or YouTube link in the midst of our papers (well, actually we can, but it defeats the purpose of writing the description); in all honesty, we describe elements so that the reader can fully grasp the characters in the piece so that they care about them. Sometimes, the character description needs to be effective so as to show a transformation in the character.

For example, you could simply write, "Due to the ravages of my father's illness, his personality and physical appearance became worse."

That's it. You could end the entire descriptive sequence there. You've already established that your dad looked worse and behaved worse—the ultimate question is whether or not your reader will care and invest in that character; after all, unless your reader is an intimate familiar, your father will still remain a complete stranger to the reader. The description and detail that we CAN fully see, taste, touch, feel, and hear—imagery from the five basic senses—that's the imagery that allows us to comprehend and care for characters such that there is a later catharsis for them.


Writing: Write: a 250 word (1 pg. or more) "Character Freewrite" (SR) that features a product description in your previously-completed homework, based on the material in your expository writing sample ; (SR) 20 HW points

SAMPLE (LINK 1)
SAMPLE (LINK 2)

OR

2. Produce the Menu Assignment (SR)