Writing: Descriptive Writing (Simple) (A2) - Lesson 2: Writing Short Descriptions of a Picture or a Familiar Object

A2 Lesson 2: Writing Short Descriptions of a Picture or a Familiar Object

In our last lesson, we learned many adjectives to describe the world. Today, we will follow a simple, step-by-step method to write a short description¹ of a single picture or a familiar² object³.

This skill helps you organize your ideas to create clear and interesting writing.

A 4-Step Method for Describing Anything

Let's use this method to describe a very familiar fruit in Cambodia: a durian.

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[Picture of a durian fruit]

Step 1: Observe Carefully

Look at the durian. What do you see? It's a fruit. It's big. The shell is green and spiky. The inside is yellow and soft. It has a very strong smell.

Step 2: Brainstorm Adjectives

From our observations, we can list some adjectives: big, green, spiky, hard, yellow, soft, strong, delicious.

Step 3: Write Sentences

Combine your ideas into sentences. Start with a general sentence, then add details.

Step 4: Organize and Check Your Work

Read your sentences together to make sure they are a good paragraph. Check for mistakes.

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Final Description:

This is a durian. It is a big fruit with a hard, spiky shell. The green shell protects the soft, yellow fruit inside. Durian has a very strong smell, but many people think it is delicious.

Use Your Senses!

Good descriptions use more than just sight. Think about:

• Touch: Is it soft, hard, smooth, or rough?
• Smell: Does it have a strong, sweet, or fresh smell?
• Taste: Is it sweet, sour, spicy, or salty?

✍️ Description Checklist

• ✔️ Did I say what the object is in the first sentence?
• ✔️ Did I use 2-4 adjectives to describe its details (color, size, shape, feel)?
• ✔️ Are all my sentences about the same object?
• ✔️ Is my punctuation and capitalization correct?

🧠 Practice Quiz: Brainstorming

Imagine you are describing a fresh coconut you can drink from. Which list of adjectives would be best to use?

1. red, expensive, quiet, small
2. spicy, hot, loud, soft
3. green, hard, round, sweet, refreshing

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Answer: C. These adjectives best describe a coconut (it's green, the shell is hard, it's round, and the water is sweet and refreshing).

📝 Homework: Describe a Familiar Object

It's your turn to be a descriptive writer! Choose one object that you can see right now.

• Your phone
• Your backpack or bag
• A cup of coffee or tea
• The view from your window

Follow the 4-step method in your notebook: Observe, Brainstorm, Write, and Check.

Write a short paragraph of 3-4 sentences describing your object. Try to use at least three different adjectives.

Example Answer for "My Phone":

I have a new smartphone. It is black and has a big, bright screen. It is very useful because I use it for work and to talk to my family. It feels smooth and cool in my hand.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Description: (Noun) - ការពិពណ៌នា - A piece of writing that tells you what something is like. ↩
2. Familiar: (Adjective) - ដែលស្គាល់ - Well known to you; something you know a lot about. ↩
3. Object: (Noun) - វត្ថុ - A thing that you can see or touch that is not alive. ↩
4. Observe: (Verb) - សង្កេត - To watch someone or something carefully in order to learn more about it. ↩
5. Sense: (Noun) - សញ្ញាណ - The natural powers (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) that help you learn about the world.