Writing Deadly Descriptive Paragraphs

Is there someone stuck in this tree?

Details, details, details.

Look closely at the picture of a tree above. On a separate sheet of paper list as many details about this tree's appearance as you can.

example detail: gray/brown tree trunk

If you want to try a different picture of a tree click on one of the links below and complete the activity above using one of these pictures.

http://www.arborsmith.com/images/ladder_tree1.jpg

http://www.woodmagic.vt.edu/Images/activities/BigTree2.jpg

http://www.eikongraphia.com/wordpress/wp-content/Banyan%20Tree.jpg

Created with CAST's UDL Book Builder
CAST would like to thank Texthelp Inc. for use of the SpeechStream toolbar

How does this tree look to you? Does it have a smell? How does the bark feel? Where is it growing? If you can't tell from the picture use your imagination!

A good list of details will include vivid verbs and specific nouns and adjectives. Remember instead of walk use toddle or stumble. Instead of tired use exhausted. Be specific!

Find a classmate and compare the details you listed. Were they the same? Were they different? Choose two of your partner's details that you really like and share them with the whole class at the appropriate time.

Select this then click anywhere in the book to start reading text Speak the current selection Stops speech playback Double-click a word in the book and click this icon to translate the word into Spanish