Imagery Using Sensory Detail

❑ Explain the types of imagery
❑ Express ideas using multiple

descriptive writing techniques
(imagery, sensory language, specific
detail and mood ) into a single piece of
writing
❑ Evoke emotional and intellectual
responses through artistic and
imaginative writing
Analysis: Questions
•Which of the five human

senses is your most
treasured sense?
•How could we view the
world and our life without
our senses?
PASSAGE READING
Analysis: Questions
• What is the difference between the

two passages?
• What are the sensory details used in
the second passage?
• Why are the five senses important in
writing our experiences?
There Are Five Types Of Imagery:
1.Visual: appeals
to or represents
the sense of sight
2.Tactile/
Kinesthetic:
appeals to or
represents the
sense of touch.
3. Auditory: appeals to
or represents the sense
of sound/ hearing
4.Gustatory:
appeals to or
represents the
sense of taste
5. Olfactory:
appeals to or
represents the
sense of smell
Imagery
Using Sensory Detail

What is imagery?
Imagery is language that describes

something that can be seen, heard,
touched, tasted, or smelled (the 5
senses).
Imagery is when the writer has used such
good description in their writing that the
reader can “imagine” the scene being
described.
Imagery is descriptive
writing
When you are writing, you want to make

it descriptive and paint an original picture.
You want to describe something in an
original and unique way.
Remember you want those reading your
writing to be able to imagine what you are
describing!
Remember:
Be original
Be creative
Stretch your imagination
For example, instead of this:
• The
Thehot,
sunyellow
cut itself
sunon a
 Try this: went
sharp
behind
peak the
and bled
mountain
into the valley.—John
and covered
the
Steinbeck
valley in red.
Sight
The sun’s beams

shimmered and
danced on the
ocean’s gentle
waves.
Smell
The fragrance of
the roses drifted
through the
room like elusive
ghosts.
Sound
Although they could

not see outside the
cabin, they could hear
the eerie tapping,
tapping, tapping, of
his knife upon their
door.
Taste
The
cheesecake’s
exquisite flavor
traveled from his
tongue to his
spine.
Touch
The icy breeze

gently brushed
against the hair
on her neck, and
goose-bumps
shortly followed.
What did you notice about
those examples?
They contained other types of figurative
language.
Imagery also contains descriptive
diction too.
Remember to consider connotation
when choosing diction.
So keep in mind…
Imagery is a type of figurative language
that can contain any or all of the 5
senses but also uses specific diction and
other figurative language such as:
personification repetition
onomatopoeia metaphor etc.
alliteration simile
Remember
Imagery is about description.

Sensory details are used in any great story,
literary and other forms of writing.
When sensory details are used, your readers
can personally experience whatever you're
trying to describe, reminding them of their
own experiences, giving your writing a
universal feel.
Remember
A universal quality is conveyed

when the writer is able to
personally connect with the
readers.
Without sensory details, stories
would fail to come to life.
Let’s take another look!
The sun’s The fragrance

beams of the roses
shimmered and drifted through
danced on the the room like
ocean’s gentle elusive ghosts.
waves. simile
personification
Although they The
could not see
cheesecake’s
outside the cabin,
they could hear exquisite flavor
the eerie tapping, traveled from
tapping, tapping, his tongue to
of his knife upon
his spine.
their door.
repetition personification
The icy breeze Hopefully you also
notice all the good
gently brushed diction:
against the hair Shimmered
on her neck, and Fragrance
goose-bumps Elusive
shortly followed. Eerie
Exquisite
personification
Icy
Imagery in a Single
Sentence
While poems and songs can paint a

vivid picture, imagery can be found in
just a single sentence as well.
Consider the following imagery
examples:
Imagery in a Single Sentence
1. The dark green paint crept

like a snake slowly down my
leg and ruined my brand new
blue jeans.
2. The lake was left shivering
by the touch of morning wind.
Imagery in a Single Sentence
3. Though I was on the sheer face of a
mountain, the feeling of swinging
through the air was euphoric, almost
like flying without wings
4. Her blue eyes were as bright as the
Sun, blue as the sky, but soft as silk.
5. The giant tree was ablaze with the
orange, red, and yellow leaves that were
beginning to make their descent to the
ground.
What kind of examples of
sensory details are these?
The birds sang sweetly.

The tinkling of broken glass.
She shrieked with joy.
As stinky as a dirty diaper.

He reminded her of her
grandfather, a scent of
peppermint and tobacco.
The sour leftover impression of

vomit.
As salty as a potato chip.
Thick, not-too-sweet chocolate,
with a hint of orange.
The bitterness of getting her mouth
washed out with soap.
The bright green leaf glistened in

the sunlight.
The students at El Cajon Valley
High School shined in the hall with
their bright red and blue school
colors!
She caressed the cool, smooth

cover of the laptop.
The lotion gave her baby-soft skin.
He was tied tightly, and the rough
bark gouged his back.
It was as soft as rabbit’s fur.
The biscuit was as hard as a rock.
Creating Sensory Imagery
Close your eyes and imagine a common

setting, like a beach or a forest
• Brainstorm sensory details for each of

the five senses (e.g., what they see, hear,
smell, touch, and maybe even taste.)
Directions`: Rewrite the following “sense-
less” sentences using sensory details. Be creative!
Use your imagination!
1. The pizza was delicious.

2. The fans enjoyed the game.
3. It was raining outside today.
4. I ate the nachos.
5. The students clapped during the
movie.
6. These are my very old tennis shoes.

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❑ Explain the types of imagery

❑ Express ideas using multiple

•Which of the five human

• What is the difference between the

Using Sensory Detail

Imagery is language that describes

When you are writing, you want to make

The sun’s beams

Although they could

The icy breeze

Imagery is about description.

A universal quality is conveyed

The sun’s The fragrance

While poems and songs can paint a

1. The dark green paint crept

The birds sang sweetly.

As stinky as a dirty diaper.

The sour leftover impression of

The bright green leaf glistened in

She caressed the cool, smooth

Close your eyes and imagine a common

• Brainstorm sensory details for each of

1. The pizza was delicious.

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