Writing: Narrative Writing (B1) - Lesson 2: Describing Characters & Settings Briefly
Tip: Click on many text parts to hear them read aloud! (Requires browser support for speech).
Hello B1 Storytellers! 👋
When you write a story, you want your reader to imagine the people and places in it. Good descriptions of characters (who is in the story) and settings (where and when the story happens) make your story more vivid, interesting, and easier to picture.
Today, we'll learn how to add brief, effective descriptions to your narratives.
In this lesson, you will:
- Learn simple ways to describe characters (appearance, personality).
- Learn simple ways to describe settings (location, time, atmosphere).
- Practice adding brief descriptions to sentences and short story ideas.
Why Describe Characters and Settings?
Adding descriptions to your story helps your reader:
- Visualize: They can "see" the people and places in their mind.
- Understand: Details about characters can explain their actions or feelings. Details about settings can create a mood.
- Connect: Readers feel more involved in the story if they can imagine the world and the people in it.
- Make it Interesting: Descriptions add color and life to your narrative!
Even brief (short) descriptions can make a big difference.
Describing Characters Briefly
When you introduce a character or want to tell more about them, you can briefly describe their:
- Appearance: What they look like (e.g., tall, short, young, old, hair color, clothes).
- Personality/Feelings (Simple): What they are like or how they feel (e.g., kind, brave, happy, nervous, curious).
Use adjectives to do this!
Examples:
The old woman had a gentle smile.
Sareth, a curious boy with bright eyes, looked around the room.
The teacher was patient and kind.
A short phrase or one or two adjectives can be enough to give your reader an idea.
Describing Settings Briefly
The setting is where and when your story takes place. Describing the setting helps the reader feel like they are there.
You can briefly describe:
- Location: (e.g., a small village, a dark forest, a crowded market)
- Time: (e.g., a sunny morning, a cold winter night, late at night)
- Atmosphere/Mood (Simple): What the place feels like (e.g., a quiet and peaceful garden, a noisy street, a mysterious old house).
Examples:
It was a warm, sunny afternoon in the bustling city.
They walked into a dark, empty room.
The little house stood on a green hill overlooking the blue sea.
You can often include these details at the beginning of your story or when a character moves to a new place.
Practice Describing Characters & Settings!
Activity 1: Choose the Best Description
Read the sentence start. Choose the best phrase to complete the description.
Activity 2: Add a Descriptive Detail
Add one adjective to make the sentence more descriptive. Type the whole new sentence.
Activity 3: Write a Brief Description (2 Sentences)
Look at the prompt. Write two simple sentences to describe the character or setting. Try to use at least one adjective in each sentence.
✨ Tips for Brief Descriptions ✨
- Focus on Key Details: You don't need to describe everything. Choose 1-2 important details that help the reader imagine.
- Use Strong Adjectives: Instead of "nice," try "friendly," "beautiful," "exciting," etc.
- Think About Senses (Briefly): What would you see? (colors, size, shape) What might you hear? (loud, quiet) How might it feel? (warm, cold, soft)
- Integrate into Action: Sometimes you can describe as part of an action. (e.g., "The tall boy kicked the red ball.")
- Keep it Brief for B1: One or two sentences for a character or setting description is often enough to add detail without slowing down your story.
Bringing Stories to Life! 🎉
By adding brief descriptions of characters and settings, you make your stories more engaging and help your readers step into the world you create!