Cory,H_AdvancedWritingNewEd

Unit 1 • Description
1.2 Adjectives and adverbs: too much of a good thing?
As in the example of the glass of wine in 1,0, you can 'paint a picture' by adding
one or more adjectives to a noun. Similarly, you can describe a verb by adding
an adverb or adverbial phrase.
ll e d rank the seine delicately / greedily / n.nh abandon / hi {/ careless 11It1l l1lCr.
However, writing becomes tiresome and predictable unless there is a variety of
structures, and often a more concrete image can be achieved with a precise
noun or verb.
la fl lallish mall ofporcetful, athletic build, u:ith short dark hair (Iml green
eyes
t b (/ j lel Gibso(/ look-(/like
2a She entered my room illtmsiL:ely and aggressil:ely.
21> She iUf:,[Jded 111 '1 room.
Both of the examples are comparisons. In 1b, the man is compared to Mel
Gibson; in 2b, her entry is compared to a military operation. Comparisons are
frequently introduced by the word like or as.
Ile sipped the Icifle like [J debutante.
She gll/ped the sei ne as ifs},e Icas tnJing to droll;" herself
Ile d ti llks as studio usly as a camel.
1.3 Writing practice
This short description was written for a magazine series in which readers
recommend a local cafe or restaurant. It was not published, because it is not at
all interesting. Nor is it informative: it raises a lot of questions (what colour are the
uniforms? what night does the pianist play?) but doesn't answer any. Rewrite it,
keeping the same structure, but informing the reader and making the restaurant,
and your description, sound interesting.
Th Bazaar Restaurant
e . u are taken to the bar area, where one of the
Wh en you go in, yo . f They are very nice and wear
. WIll look a ter you.
waiters or wattress es ] I They take your order from
.f of an unusua co our. .
interesting urn orms . . di hes from different countnes.
the long menu which has exc~t1 n g lll~ ith some other things that are
There is also a blackboard on t e:a d di sh with fish, which [ would
the menu. They do a very ,,00
not on
f he salads are excellent.
recommend, and some 0 t t ble in the well-decorated
are taken to your a
Before long, you . . e bi a ' the tables are round, and the
dining room. This room IS quit he: oft music which adds to the
. d f od You can ear s . .
chairs are rna eo wo . ek the have someone playin g piano . .
atmosphere, and once a we Y le like to dri nk coffee, etc.. in
At the end of the meal, many p e~p f plants and other exotic
the lounge bar, where there are ots 0
decorations. . ' 11 fi d it isn't very expensive for such
When the bill comes you n .
good food, and I'm sure you'll want to go again.
40 • Types of writing