Stability in Motion

Stability in Motion by Marina Keegan

Descriptive Writing

Biggie expressed his identity through his poetry. Marina Keegan expresses her identity through her prized possession: her 1990 Camry Toyota. In this descriptive essay, Marina describes her car as a representation of her personality and her life. She appeals to all the senses as she describes the sounds, smells, feelings, appearance and texture of the vehicle. This car is a reflection of her values and interests. It is a “moving” portrait of her identity.

We will be using this descriptive essay as a “mentor text” to recognize the “6 Traits of Writing”. You will then write your own descriptive essay about an object that defines you.

What is a descriptive piece of writing?

  1. Descriptive paragraphs include details that appeal to the five senses: sight, taste, touch, smell, and hearing. In a descriptive paragraph, the writer must convey information that appeals to all the senses, in order to give the best possible description to the reader.
  2. It must have a purpose. What is the message you are trying to convey?
  3. It has precise language such as strong nouns. Eg. Tulip instead of flower; mansion instead of home.
  4. Strong verbs (He slammed the book down)
  5. Comparisons and literary devices such as similes (speaks like a queen) and hyperboles (strong as an ox)

To Do:

  1. Read and Discuss
  1. Read the essay and take notice of the sensory words and imagery.
  2. Discuss ideas- What makes this essay engaging and interesting? Why is it a descriptive essay? How does this car reflect her identity?
  1. Writing Analysis (we will do this together)
  1. Review the essay again and circle or mark:
  2. As many times as you see the “rule of 3”
  3. Short, declarative sentences where she has a variety of sentence lengths
  4. Use of semicolons in a list

6 Traits of Writing

  • Ideas—the main message.
  • Organization—the internal structure of the piece.
  • Voice—the personal tone and flavor of the author's message.
  • Word Choice—the vocabulary a writer chooses to convey meaning.
  • Sentence Fluency—the rhythm and flow of the language.
  • Conventions—the mechanical correctness.

Questions for “Stability in Motion”. You are welcome to work with a partner or group to help answer these questions.

Please answer these on a separate document. Be sure to set up your page with your name, date and title. You may copy and paste the questions below OR integrate the question into your answer. Eg. #1. The significance of the title is …..

  1. What is the signficance of the title?
  2. The first paragraph uses figurative language to engage and interest the reader immediately. Keegan personifies the car as a living body.
  3. Why do you think she uses personfication so frequently as a device for this essay?
  4. Keegan concludes her essay with “a circle”. She links the final image to an idea back at the beginning of the story.
  5. What is the image?
  6. Do you think this was an effective way to conclude her essay?
  7. This is a descriptive essay. What features make it so? (see definition of “descriptive writing” above. )
  8. Based on this essay:
  9. how would you describe Marina’s identity? What seems to be important to her? Do you think she is proud of who she is?
  10. How is her identity different than yours? How do you feel about these differences? Do you agree with her choices? Her lifestyle?