What is a DESCRIPTIVE text and its characteristics

Are you interested in knowing what is a descriptive text and its characteristics? If so, pay attention, because in this lesson from a PROFESSOR we are going to focus on this type of writing, as it is important to know them, since their use is quite common.

Remember the importance of knowing what a descriptive text is, since this way you can differentiate it from other types of writing. And it is also very common Narrative texts, in which various events and experiences are usually recounted, or the argumentative texts, where reasons are provided for the reader to take sides on one side or the other.

But here we are interested in the descriptive text, so we are going to enter into the matter with the exact definition of the type of text we are talking about and what characterizes it. We started!

Index

1. What is a descriptive text and what is its function?
2. Descriptive text characteristics
3. Descriptive text types
4. Descriptive text structure
5. How to make a descriptive text: tips
6. Descriptive text example

Let's answer the question that draws us to this lesson, what is a descriptive text? Understanding a text is an oral or written speech that has its own internal coherence, we define the text of a descriptive type as that in which provides information to the reader or listener so that he can 'fabricate' his own representations mental. That is, it consists of descriptions that serve the interlocutor to get a fairly close and accurate idea of ​​what he is talking about.

Thus, we can say that a descriptive text is one that makes a description of some type of specific element. It can be focused on various phenomena, from a person to a situation, a place, an animal, an object, etc.

Descriptive text usually consists of a fairly clear and diaphanous structure:

• Introduction: this is where the object to be described is identified, be it a person, situation, etc. The reader or listener already has a part of the information to which he has to pay attention.
• Developing: also known as knot, here the described object begins to be described in great depth. More general aspects and other more detailed ones are presented, being able to characterize it in a more or less objective or subjective way.
• Conclution: a kind of summary of the description is made to close the characterization of the object, being, animal, etc.

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Let's see now what characteristics of the descriptive text are necessary to know to better know what this type of writing is like:

• It is very varied, since it is used to describe something physical, such as a person, and also non-physical, such as a situation or a dream.
• The detail, since valuable information has to be transmitted to the receiver so that a clear idea is made.
• You can resort to the use of literary licenses, such as hyperbole, or language tools that help the interlocutor create a clear idea.
• Its fundamental functions are to define, explain and incite.
• Tends towards the objectivity, although this is not a mandatory rule.
• It focuses on fundamental aspects of the element described, such as its mission, its usefulness, its specifications, its function or operation ...
• In content, logic tends to prevail over list features.
• They are usually used technicalities related to the item described.
• They are usually differentiated between technical descriptive texts, which explain the functioning of objects and devices, scientists, focused on procedures and investigations, and social, referring to behaviors and attitudes.
• They are also considered as verbal portraits.
• There is usually an absence of action.
• Adjectives and nouns predominate.
• Comparisons and enumerations are commonly used.
• The presence of copulative verbs.
• Verbs usually appear in the present or in the past, that is, the past.
• Are used juxtaposed and coordinated sentences.

Therefore, this type of text is different from structure of a narrative text in which there are actions and different events happen.

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To finish this lesson, we are going to know the descriptive text typesmost common that we usually find:

• Objective description: it is usually exact and precise, centered on objects or beings, very close to reality, free of the use of opinions and double meanings and focused on the description of physical features through the use of language denotative.
• Subjective description: provides personal aspects of what is described, transmits moods and feelings, describes emotions and often uses metaphorical and symbolic language. It also uses connotative language and makes the message more attractive and interesting.
• Sensory description: it is a type of text that seeks to provoke sensations in the reader or listener, whether they are sensory, auditory, gustatory, olfactory or tactile, through sensory exploration when describing.
• Technical descriptions: these types of descriptive texts are used when you want to offer more technical information about what is being described. For example, if we want to talk about the characteristics of a car, we will talk about the type of engine, the horsepower it has, the fuel, etc. We will make a text with a more technical language to describe the vehicle in question.
• Literary descriptions: these descriptive texts are characterized by appearing within a literary text and, therefore, they can describe the characters, the spaces, the actions of the characters, etc. They are descriptions that help to better understand the work and to better position the story that is told to us.
• Topographic descriptions: this type of description is used to determine what a specific terrain looks like, what vegetation is abundant in the space, the fauna that inhabits it, etc.
• Descriptions of people: these descriptive texts are in charge of explaining what a person is like, both on a physical level (in which case it is known by the name of prosopography), psychological level (known as ethopeia) or a description that includes both the physical and mental aspects and that, then, is known as a portrait. Are used personality adjectives that help us better define the person we want to talk about.

Let's now discover the descriptive text structure so that you can prepare it better and be able to write this type of text correctly. You should know that a descriptive text can be structured in different ways and here we discover the most outstanding ones so that you can choose the one that best suits what you need:

• Linear structure: It is the most traditional structure of these texts in which the elements are arranged in succession. In this way, a kind of portrait of what is being described is achieved so that the image can be displayed simply and directly.
• Recurring structure: In this type of structure, the aim is to show the same elements during the exhibition but some variations are added to highlight the importance or the point of view of the writer. It is an ideal method to effect the reader.
• Circular structure: These descriptive texts begin and end with the same elements, thus creating a circular narrative that highlights the elements.
• Temporary structure: the elements of the text are explained chronologically, starting with those furthest from the present and ending with the closest.
• Structure from the general to the particular (or vice versa): With this structure the author hierarchizes the information in his description and thus shows his concrete vision of what he is presenting.

After having known what a descriptive text is and its characteristics, we are going to conclude the lesson with a series of tips that will help you to write this type of text in an optimal way. To be able to make a good description, you have to take into account everything that we indicate here:

• Learn to observe well before writing. A description is the narration of what we are seeing, therefore, it detects those particular elements that make what you want to describe unique. For example, if you are looking at a landscape, determine everything that makes it special and everything that you want to highlight so that the reader can see the same as you thanks to the words.
• Choose the most important. When we make a descriptive text, sometimes we can sin in introducing too much information that, after all, does not contribute anything. Our advice is that you start by including all the information that you see appropriate and then reread the text and delete everything that is not essential. Stick with only what helps to see what you are describing and to be more concise.
• Neat drafting. This is a descriptive text, that is, it is not an instruction manual or a list. It is a text that has to have coherence and internal logic. Describe well what you see and bet on a reading that is related to each other so that the reader can travel with you thanks to the power of words. You can use literary figures if you want to give your text a more artistic and aesthetic touch.

To finish this lesson on descriptive text, we are going to leave you some examples that will help you see what these texts are like.

Example of a descriptive person text

María was a woman who, although she did not meet the classic beauty prototype, she had something that she hooked on. Maybe it was because of her curly orange hair, or because of her deep black eyes with that special shine... He had a soft voice with which he did not speak: he whispered. And she did it with thin and pale lips that, almost always, she wore painted with dark colors that contrasted with her pale complexion.

Example of a descriptive landscape text

That town was next to a forest. A forest full of pine trees and corners where the typical gnomes of fairy tales seemed to inhabit. When you looked up, you felt dizzy because the trees were so high and so high that they never seemed to end. But the birds helped you return to earth, an incessant song that managed to create a safe, calm and perfect space in which to lose yourself for hours and more hours.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is a descriptive text and its characteristics, we recommend that you enter our category of Writing.

• Carratalá, F. (2013). Descriptive texts.
• Pereira Henríquez, F., & González Hernández, G. (2011). Descriptive analysis of language and communication textbooks. Literature and linguistics, (24), 161-182.