Writing a description of an object: a playful challenge

Describing an object is often a topic set at high-level   English language exams. It is normally one part of a composite task.

Descriptions are a real challenge and not only for the student but for the teacher as well. Not everyone has an eye for detail or is gifted enough to bring an object alive through the accurate use of language.

When you describe something, you have to know the appropriate terms and you can’t resort to generalities as they do not contribute to the task by any means.

Besides, you need to “deconstruct” the object described so as to handle its different parts while not losing sight of the whole. Last but not least, you have to prioritise the parts you describe on the basis of an underlying principle: larger parts-smaller parts, interior-exterior, upper-lower, right-left and vice versa. The list is indicative but far from comprehensive.

The ugly question that arises is whether we need to develop the skill at all. I dare say that it is well worth cultivating as the description of anything leads to a better understanding and raises questions which would have not otherwise been posed. It leads to a more profound and thorough knowledge of anything, and it is of utmost importance in science too.

There are some ways of leading up to full-scale descriptions. Perhaps “game” is not the right word; consequently, I will call the activity a “challenge”. 

The teacher or different groups of students think of, research and write a description of an object without naming it. The other groups have to guess the actual object. The description should be structured as a series of “detachable” or “interchangeable” chunks of meaning so that the information can be revealed step by step – or should I say chunk by chunk – and not necessarily in a linear way but selectively depending on how difficult or easy the group may wish to make the task for the others.

The activity is appropriate for any level of English.

Here are some examples at different levels:

TOOTHBRUSH: a stick of hard plastic with a head of bristle at its end used as a tool of oral hygiene – teeth and tongue

RING: band of a precious metal often set with gemstones (diamond, ruby, emerald etc) worn round a finger offered as a vow of love or worn as a pledge of allegiance

CONCH SHELL: It is an elongated spiral with two ends: one pointed and another tubular. Close to the tubular end is a small cavity. There are five whorls on its surface of an off-white and vanilla colour.

If you hold it to your ear, you are supposed to hear the sound of the ocean.

Here is a graphic way of what I mean by detachable chunks of meaning: