Descriptive Text

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT

What Is Descriptive Text?

Descriptive text is a kind of text with a purpose to give information. The context of this kind of text is the description of particular thing, animal, person, or others, for instance: our pets or a person we know well.  

The Social Function of Descriptive Text is to describe a particular person, place, or thing.

Generic Structure

There are two main parts of descriptive text:

1. Identification: It identifies things, persons or objects that is going to be described. It is the part of the paragraph that introduces the character.
2. Description: It describes the parts, qualities, and characteristics of the object.

 The Language Feature

Descriptive often uses 'be' and 'have'. Tense which is often used is Simple Present Tense. However, sometimes it uses Past tense if the thing to be described doesn't exist anymore.

Significant Grammatical Features:

1.      Focus on specific participants (e.g. My Mother)

2.      Use of Simple Present Tense

3.      Use of Simple Past Tense if Extinct.

4.      Use of descriptive adjectives (e.g. strong legs)

5.     Use of detailed Noun Phrase to give information (e.g. a very beautiful lady)

6.      Use of action verbs 'Material Processes' It runs fast

7.      Use of adverbials to give additional information about behaviour (at tree house)

8.      Use of Figurative language (e.g. Ahmad is as white as chalk)

Example of Descriptive Text

Borobudur Temple

Borobudur is Hindu - Budhist temple. It was build in the ninth century under Sailendra dynasty of ancient Mataram kingdom. Borobudur is located in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia.

Borobudur is well-known all over the world. Its construction is influenced by the Gupta architecture of India. The temple is constructed on a hill 46 m high and consist of eight step like stone terrace. The first five terrace are square and surrounded by walls adorned with Budhist sculpture in bas-relief. The upper three are circular. Each of them is with a circle of bell shape-stupa. The entire adifice is crowned by a large stupa at the centre at the centre of the top circle. The way to the summit extends through some 4.8 km of passage and star ways. The design of 

Borobudur which symbolizes the structure of universe  influences temples at Angkor,Cambodia.

Borobudur temple which is rededicated as an Indonesian monument in 1983 is a valuable treasure for Indonesian people.

Watch this video  :-)

Text Analysis

Identification; identifying the phenomenon to be described in general; Borobudur temple.

Description; describing the Borobudur temple in parts; eight terraces of Borobudur temple and its characteristics.

Language Feature

§  Using adjective and classifiers; valuable

§  Using simple present tense; Borobudur is well-known,The temple is constructed, etc.

Now, would you please describe one of tourism object in your town.! :-)

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