MY HOUSE
A picture that can be used
to stimulate the students' idea to write descriptive text
One of the text types
taught for MTs/SMP student is a descriptive text presented in
grade seven. Stanley (1988) mentions that description presents the appearance
of things that occupy space, whether they are objects, people, buildings or
cities. In this kind of text, the students are required to ”list the
characteristics of something and usually deals with the physical appearance of
the described thing (Smalley et. al., 2001). In other words, a particular
person, place or thing is described in details in this composition. The description tells the object as
the way it is without being affected by the writers’ personal opinion. Before
telling what they have caught through their sensory system, a mental activity
is involved. They firstly identify certain imagery or real object which is
located somewhere. Through the words, then they describe the thing they have in
mind. In short, writing a descriptive text is “a way of picturing
images verbally in speech or writing and of arranging those images in some kind
of logical or association pattern” (D’Angelo, 1980).Meanwhile, according to
Corbett (1983) that descriptive text is one of the
expository writing. The description draws a picture, tries to convey the sound,
taste, and smell of things or objects. Tompkins (1994) and Stanley (1988)
defined descriptive text as painting pictures with words. By reading a
descriptive text, readers feel that they see the description just like they see
pictures. Descriptive text has the purpose to describe an object or a person
that the writer is interested in. Thus, in ,writing a descriptive textthe writers should know
well what they want to describe. They describe their ideas and thought vividly
based on what they see, hear, taste, smell, or touch. Anderson & Anderson
(2003) add that descriptive text is different from information reports because
they described a specific subject rather than general group.
In addition, Temple, et al. (1998) states.
“description is discourse that help us visualize. It focuses upon the appearance
or the nature of an object. In description, we see vividly and concretely, we
perceive the object with a kind of fullness for which exposition does not
strive”. In Library of Congress (2008) it is stated that we use descriptive
text to describe a person, place or thing. For example, we might want to
describe what a crab looks like, or how he moves. Be sure to include details
that describe sounds, color, smells, setting and so on. According to Friedman
(2010) descriptive details mean to grab the reader’s attention.
A descriptive text is considered as the
simplest and easiest writing form compared to narrative, recount, or procedure,
particularly for the beginning writers (Ellis et. al., 1989). In addition, it
allows students to share interesting impressions of a person, a place, or an
object surrounding them (Troyka, 1987).
The purpose of writing description is to
describe a person, place, or thing in such vivid detail that the reader can
easily form a precise mental picture of what is being written about, or can
feel that they are part of the experience (KangGuru in the Classroom: Teacher’s
Guide SMA Package, 2005). Stanley (1988) asserts that the aim of description is
to convey to the reader what something looks like. Furthermore, Johnston &
Morrow (1981) states that the purpose of descriptive text is to describe
objects or persons in which the writer is interested. Therefore, the writer
should know well what he wants to describe, starts by observing the objects
carefully to take the significant details and brings clear picture to the
readers and avoid ambiguities.
Wardiman, et. al. (2008)
specify the generic structure of descriptive text into two parts, that is 1)
introduction is the part of paragraph that introduces the character; and 2)
description is the part of paragraph that describes the character. This
indicates that a descriptive text has two elements – an element to identify
phenomenon (identification) and another one (description) to portray parts, qualities, or
characteristics. In terms of significant lexico grammatical features, the text
focuses on specific participants, contains attribute and identifying process,
comprises epithets and classifiers in nominal groups as well as uses simple
present tense (Sutardi & Sukhrian, 2004).
khazanah 1 treasure.
2 treasure. 3 storage area for valuable objects. 4 vocabulary of language.
occupy kkt.
(occupied) 1 menempati, mendiami (a hous, apartment). 2 menduduki (a
country, seat of honor). 3 tinggal dalam (a single room). 4 memakan waktu. 5
mengisi ( o's leisure time). 6 mempergunakan (tim
References
Anderson, M. &
Anderson, K. 2003. Text Types in English 3. South
Yarra: Macmillan.
Corbett, W. 1983. The Little Rhetoric and Handbook with Reading. Bloomington,
Illinois: Scott, Freshman.
D’Angelo, F.J. 1980. Process and Thought in Composition. Second
Edition. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Winthrop Publishers.
Ellis, A., Standal, T.
& Rummel, M.K. 1989. Elementary Language Arts
Instruction. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Friedman, L.S. 2010. Writing the Critical Essay: Euthanasia. Farmington
Hills: Greenhaven Press.
Johnston, K. & Morrow,
K. 1981. Communication in the Classroom. London: Longman
KangGuru in the Classroom.
2005. Teacher’s Guide SMA Package. Bali: IALF
Library of Congress.
2008. Junior Skill Builders: Writing in 15 Minutes a Day. New
York: Learning Express, LLC.
Smalley, R.L., Ruetten,
M.K., & Kozyrev, J.R. 2001. Refining Composition Skills:
Rhetoric and Grammar. Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle
Stanley, L. 1988. Ways to Writing. New York: Macmillan.
Sutardi, A. & Sukhrian,
Y. 2004. Bahasa Inggris Program Paket B Setara SMP. Jakarta:
Direktorat Pendidikan Masyarakat.
Temple, C. Nathan, R.,
Burris, N. & Temple, F. 1998. The Beginning of Writing. Massachusetts:
Allyan and Bacon, Inc.
Tompkins, G.E. 1994. Teaching Writing: Balancing Process and Product. New
York: Macmillan College Company, Inc.
Troyka, L.Q. 1987. Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers. New
York: Prentice-Hall.
Wardiman, et. al.
2008. English in Focus for Grade VII Junior High School. Jakarta:
Pusat Perbukuan Departemen Pendidikan Nasional
appearance kb.
1 rupa. 2 kelihatan, penampilan. 3 pertunjukan. 4 keluar dimuka umum. 5 muncul.
--appearances j. yang kelihatan. from all appearances
kelihatannya, dipandang dari segala segi. to all appearances d
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