! Creating an Overall
Impression
horrifying, fearful, light-hearted, sad, nostalgic
convey one overall effect
overview the scene
summarize the content of the paragraph
beginning or end?
! Getting Oriented
spatial order
near-to-far, left to right, top to bottom
connecting words, sentences, or ideasi.e. before, then, next, under, in front of, to the right of
3.3 Describing an Imaginary Place
! Creating Your Own Imaginary Place
brainstorm, freewrite, or cluster
key words to assist: beyond, inside, before, and after
key question to assist: What would it be like to live there?
(use a different point of view)
examples: fantasy lands behind a wall
under the sea glacial caves
and ancient castle a laboratory
! Exploring Your Imaginary Place
see things in greater detail
key questions: What are the inhabitants like?
What do I see, hear, smell, taste, feel (touch?)
What does it resemble?
! Determining the Mood of Your Place
make your description more effective
may already suggest a mood
heighten that mood or create one
most efficient details are those that appeal to the senses
loneliness utter silence, dusty furniture, ticking clock
excitement fast pace, lively music, bright colors
warmth, safety glowing lights, crackling fire, steaming kettle, soft bed
! Organizing the Details of Your Pace
arrange the relevant details into a draft
key questions: What is the best method of organization?
Which feature is most important in the scene?
How does this feature relate to the details?