Descriptive Text (Definition, Social Function, Generic Structure, & Language Features)

Summary

This educational video focuses on teaching students how to write descriptive texts in English. The lesson explains the social function of descriptive texts, which aim to describe people, animals, or objects in detail. Key concepts include the generic structure—introduction and description—and the use of simple present tense, adjectives, and action verbs. Examples like describing a close friend are provided to illustrate how descriptive language works. The video also includes comprehension and higher-order thinking questions to engage students and help them deepen their understanding of the topic.

Takeaways

• 😀 Descriptive text is a type of text that describes a specific person, animal, or object.
• 😀 The structure of a descriptive text includes two main parts: identification and description.
• 😀 The identification section introduces the person, place, animal, or object being described.
• 😀 The description section provides detailed information about the features of the identified object, such as its shape, color, or size.
• 😀 Descriptive texts often use simple present tense to express facts about the subject.
• 😀 Action verbs are used in descriptive texts to convey activities or states related to the subject.
• 😀 Adjectives are crucial in descriptive texts, as they provide qualities and characteristics of the person or object being described.
• 😀 Example: 'My friend' is a descriptive text about a person, showing characteristics like being helpful, having a slim figure, and providing good advice.
• 😀 Descriptive texts may also contain direct answers to questions about the subject’s appearance, personality, or traits.
• 😀 In higher-order thinking questions, one might ask about the writer's intention, which in this case is to describe their close friend.
• 😀 The video introduces descriptive language features, including specific participants, use of present tense, adjectives, and action verbs for clearer descriptions.

Q & A

What is a descriptive text?

A descriptive text is a type of text that provides detailed descriptions of a specific subject, such as a person, animal, or object, to give the reader a clear mental image of the subject.

What is the social function of descriptive text?

The social function of descriptive text is to describe a particular person, place, animal, or object in detail, allowing the reader to understand its characteristics and features.

What are the two main parts of the generic structure of a descriptive text?

The two main parts of the generic structure of a descriptive text are the 'Identification' and the 'Description'. The 'Identification' introduces the subject, while the 'Description' provides detailed characteristics of the subject.

What does 'Identification' refer to in a descriptive text?

In a descriptive text, 'Identification' refers to the section where the subject (such as a person, animal, or object) is introduced or identified to the reader.

What is included in the 'Description' part of a descriptive text?

The 'Description' part of a descriptive text includes detailed information about the subject, such as its physical features, characteristics, qualities, and any other relevant details.

Why is simple present tense used in descriptive texts?

Simple present tense is used in descriptive texts because the text typically describes facts, qualities, or characteristics that are true in the present or universally applicable.

What are some common language features of descriptive texts?

Common language features of descriptive texts include the use of specific nouns (to identify the subject), simple present tense (to describe facts), adjectives (to describe qualities), and action verbs (to describe activities or actions related to the subject).

Can you give an example of how adjectives are used in descriptive texts?

In descriptive texts, adjectives are used to describe qualities of the subject. For example, 'Olive is beautiful, helpful, and slim.' Here, 'beautiful', 'helpful', and 'slim' are adjectives describing Olive.

What is the purpose of the descriptive text example about 'Olive'?

The purpose of the descriptive text example about 'Olive' is to demonstrate how descriptive texts can describe a person's qualities and characteristics in detail. It shows how the 'Identification' and 'Description' parts are structured in practice.

What does the example text about 'Olive' tell us about her personality?

The example text about 'Olive' describes her as helpful, intelligent, and a good student who always gets good grades. It also mentions that she is slim and has fair skin, highlighting both her physical and personality traits.