Sensory Detail
It is important to remember that human beings learn about the world through using the
five senses. They are our primary source of knowledge about the world. Therefore,
writing which incorporates vivid, sensory detail is more likely to engage and affect the
reader. The following writing sample uses sensory detail to create concrete images.
Because the most effective way to incorporate sensory detail is to use all five senses in
harmony, this sample provides an effective example of how sight, sound, smell, touch,
and taste work together to strengthen writing. Each of the views highlights exactly how
each sense is involved in improving the paragraph's imagery.
Example Text: Paragraph Without Sensory Detail
Grandmother Workman reached over and grabbed her grandson’s arm. He was nervous
because the staircase was so steep, but she leaned against him and they began to climb.
Comment: These are the beginning sentences of a paragraph that describes a boy helping
an elderly woman up a flight of stairs. The scene seems simple enough, but it leaves the
reader with many unanswered questions. Without the inclusion of sensory detail, the
writing seems vague and non-specific. How might the author use descriptive detail to
make the scene more vivid?
Sensory Detail
It is important to remember that human beings learn about the world through using the
five senses. They are our primary source of knowledge about the world. Therefore,
writing which incorporates vivid, sensory detail is more likely to engage and affect the
reader. The following writing sample uses sensory detail to create concrete images.
Because the most effective way to incorporate sensory detail is to use all five senses in
harmony, this sample provides an effective example of how sight, sound, smell, touch,
and taste work together to strengthen writing. Each of the views highlights exactly how
each sense is involved in improving the paragraph's imagery.
Example Text: Paragraph Without Sensory Detail
Grandmother Workman reached over and grabbed her grandson’s arm. He was nervous
because the staircase was so steep, but she leaned against him and they began to climb.
Comment: These are the beginning sentences of a paragraph that describes a boy helping
an elderly woman up a flight of stairs. The scene seems simple enough, but it leaves the
reader with many unanswered questions. Without the inclusion of sensory detail, the
writing seems vague and non-specific. How might the author use descriptive detail to
make the scene more vivid?
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