Describing people

A descriptive essay about a person should consist of:

a) an Introduction in which you give general information about the person, saying when, where and how you first met them;

b) a Main Body in which you describe their physical appearance, personal qualities and hobbies/interest. You start a new paragraph for each topic;

c) a Conclusion in which you write your comments and/or feelings about the person.

** When describing someone you know well or see often(i.e a friend, a neighbour, etc), you sshould use present tenses. When describing someone who is no longer alive, or someone you knew a long time ago and you do not see any more, you should use past tenses.

** Descriptions of people can be found in articles, letters, narratives, etc. The writing style you use depends on the situation and the intended reader. For example, if you are writing an article for a magazine, you should use semi-formal style and a polite, respectful tone.

INTRODUCTION

Paragraph 1

name of the pperson when, where and how you first met him/her

MAIN BODY

Paragraph 2

physical appearance(facial features & clothes)

Paragraph 3

personal qualities and justification(s)/examples

Paragraph 4

hobbies/interests

CONCLUSION

Paragraph 5

Comments & feelings about the person

A Close Friend by Jim White

Jacques has been my close friend for two years. I ffirst met him on a school exchange trip to Calais, France. I asked him the way to the library and we started talking. We’ve been friends ever since.

Jacques is quite good-looking. He’s tall and slim, with olive skin and curly dark hair. Like many French people, he has a great sense of style, so he always looks well-dressed even in casual clothes.

Jacques is very outgoing. He is always friendly and loves to have fun. He’s got a fantastic sense of humour and he always makes me laugh. However, he can be a bit immature at times. For example, when he doesn’t get what he wants, he acts childishly and stamps his feet.

Jacques is very keen on water sports. He likes ssailing and he spends a lot of time on his boat. He enjoys scuba diving, too, and loves exploring life under sea.

All in all, I’m glad to have Hacques as my friend. It’s a pleasure to be with him and I really enhoy his company. I’m sure we’ll always be close friends.

** When you describe someone’s physical appearance you start with the general features (i.e. height, biuld, age) and move on to the more specific ones, such as hair, eyes, nnose etc. You can also add a description of the clothes the person likes to wear. e.g. Laura is a tall, slim woman in her early twenties. She has got red hair, green eyes and freckles. She usually wears smart suits.

** When you describe someone’s personal qualities you should support your description with examples and/or justifications. e.g. Wayne is very shy. For example, he finds it difficult to make new friends. You can also describe someone’s personality through their mannerisms by:

a) referring to the way they speak e.g. He speaks in a soft voice as if he were whispering.

b) describing the gestures they use e.g. She constantly uses her hands when she speaks.

c) mentioning a particular habit they have. e.g. Jason always bites his nails when he is nervous.

Note: When you mention someone’s negative qualities you should use mild language (seems to, can be rather, etc). For example, instead of saying Paul is lazy, it is better to say Paul can be lazy at times.