Classical

Composition
James A. Selby

Description Stage
Discovering the Skills of Writing

Student Book
 Contents

Teaching Guidelines 5
Grading Sheet 8
Definition of Terms 11
Introduction to the Description Stage 12

Lessons
Lesson 1: Paraphrase of Aphthonius’ Description 14
Lesson 2: Description of Place: A Familiar Place 20
Lesson 3: Description of Place: Dream Home 24
Lesson 4: Description of Time: Breaking Day 28
Lesson 5: Description of Time: A Season 32
Lesson 6: Description of Person: A Particular Person 36
Lesson 7: Description of Person: A Type of Person 40
Lesson 8: Description of a Thing: A Particular Event 44
Lesson 9: Description of Place and Time: One’s School in Winter 50

appendix
Figures of Description With Examples 57
Methods of Variation by Figures of Speech 62
Aphthonius’ Introduction to Description 70
Sentence Variation Exercise 72

Contents 3
 Lesson 2: Description of Place:
A Familiar Place
1. Introduction
This paragraph introduces the subject in 75-95 words.

Head of Purpose
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Head of Development
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Comparison
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Thesis
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2. What Surrounds It
This paragraph tells what surrounds the subject in 240-275 words.

Head of Purpose/Topic Sentence

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Develop with Description

Consider: water (rivers, lakes, ponds, oceans, waterfalls, etc.), geography (mountains, hills, plains, valleys, canyons, etc.),
man-made structure, plants, animals, atmosphere, wind. With all these consider: sights (shape, size, color, adornments),
smell, touch, texture, taste, and sounds.

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Transition/Conclusion Sentence
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3. What It Contains
This paragraph tells what the subject contains, in 240-275 words.

Head of Purpose/Topic Sentence

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Description of Place: A Familiar Place 21

Develop with Description
Consider: water (rivers, lakes, ponds, oceans, waterfalls, etc.), geography (mountains, hills, plains, valleys, canyons, etc.),
man-made structure, plants, animals, atmosphere, wind. With all these consider: sights (shape, size, color, adornments),
smell, touch, texture, taste, and sounds.

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Transition/Conclusion Sentence
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4. Leaving the Subject

This paragraph describes leaving the subject in 30-40 words.

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22 Lesson 2
 5. Epilogue
This paragraph praises the subject and gives an apology for anything left undescribed, in 30-50 words.

Praise
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Apology
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Final Draft
The Final Draft is a new context for practice in which to use and imitate proper writing mechanics and knowledge. Proofread
your answers above and correct errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. On a separate sheet of paper, combine all the
corrected answers into a final draft.

Add these figures:

• Dialogismus

• Chronographia

• Metaphor

• Dendrographia
• Periphrasis

Description of Place: A Familiar Place 23