Let's write

 A. Describing People

Suppose you were travelling in a bus and were standing face-to-face with a man. Suddenly that man snatches the purse of a co-passenger and jumps off the bus. The police ask you for his description. How would you describe him?

The first thing you talk about is physical appearance. You should describe his height, build, colour of hair, type of hair, length of hair, eyes, face, complexion and facial features, clothes, age, and any other special feature.

If you are asked to describe someone you know, you can also describe his/her behaviour, personality traits, what she/he is like. 

A detailed description can include the person’s profession.

Exercise

Go to a market near your house. Look carefully at the vendors selling vegetables. Write a short description of any one of them in about 60-80 words. Remember, the more observant you are, the better your description will be.

Given below are some words that will help you.

• Height: tall, short, medium height

• Build: thin, fat, stocky, frail, well-built

• Colour of hair: black, grey, white, brownish-red

• Type of hair: bald, straight, curly, spiky, wavy

• Length of hair: long, short, medium length, bald, crew cut

• Eyes: big, close-set, small, beady, yellow, dark brown

• Nose: straight, crooked, hooked, bulbous

• Lips: pursed, thin, thick, dark, rosy

• Face: round, oval, square, heart shaped

• Complexion and Facial features: fair, dark, scars, swarthy, wrinkles, freckles, sunburnt, pale

• Clothes: shabby, smart, tidy; shirt, pant, dhoti, saree, etc.; colour of the clothes

• Age: young, elderly, middle-aged, teenager, in 20s, in 30s, in 40s

• Special feature: mole, lame, blind, wearing spectacles, stammer

• Describing personality: hardworking, cheerful, broadminded, active, curious, secretive, gentle, shrewd, energetic, confident, mean, intelligent, friendly, sensitive

B. Summarising

Writing a good summary shows that that you have understood the text well, and that you can communicate that understanding to others. A summary is a short paragraph/s that presents only the main points. When you summarise, you mention the theme (central idea) and important details of the text. All the unnecessary details are left out.

How to write a summary:

1. Read the text carefully. Give special attention to the beginning, middle and ending.

Focus on the heading or sub-headings (if any). Try and understand the main theme of the text.

2. If the text is very large, divide it into sections, and then read, section-wise.

3. Reread. With a pencil, underline key (important) words and facts/details, or write them on a separate sheet of paper. Cross out unnecessary sentences/details.

4. Once you know the text very well, write down the main idea of each section.

5. You may write a short conclusion (one or two sentences), mentioning the purpose or message of the text/ story.

6. Read what you have written. Check if you have missed out on something important.

Check if the facts (dates, time, etc.), punctuation and grammar are correct.

7. Revise the summary.

Points to remember:

• Write in the present tense.

• Include the name of the author and the title of the text.

• Be brief.

• If you use the author’s words, put them in inverted commas.

• Do not put in any of your own thoughts, feelings or opinions into the summary.


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