Exploring Sensory Details

This lesson covers sensory details, which involve sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. These details help readers experience the scene as if they are present. Examples for each sense are provided, illustrating how to create vivid imagery. Tips for writing include slowing down memory recall and revising for more detail.

What are sensory details?

• Details about the author's background

• Details involving sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste

• Details about the plot of a story

• Details about the setting of a story

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Which of the following is an example of a sight sensory detail?

• The branches creaked under the weight of the ice

• The sweet yet bitter lemonade

• The aqua blue of warm ocean water

• The musky smell of campfire smoke

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Which sensory detail involves sound?

• The gooey chocolate melting on your tongue

• The wind swirled around our beach house whistling loudly

• The soft tufts of fur

• The salty beach air

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What is an example of a smell sensory detail?

• The sickening sweet taste of flat soda

• The cold air prickling my bare arms

• The sweet aroma of baking cornbread

• The television buzzed as it shut off

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which of the following is a touch sensory detail?

• The musky smell of campfire smoke

• The branches creaked under the weight of the ice

• Sticking my toes in the warm and gray nice

• The sweet yet bitter lemonade

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Which sensory detail involves taste?

• The wind swirled around our beach house whistling loudly

• The soft tufts of fur

• The gooey chocolate melting on your tongue

• The salty beach air

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What should you do to write effective sensory details?

• Focus only on visual details

• Avoid using sensory details

• Slow down your memory to capture more details

• Write as quickly as possible

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

What question should you ask yourself to ensure your sensory details are effective?

• Can the reader see it, hear it, feel it, smell it, and taste it the same way I do?

• Is the setting described in detail?

• Are the characters well-developed?

• Is the plot interesting?

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

What should you do during revision to improve sensory details?

• Look for areas that could use more detail

• Change the plot

• Focus only on the dialogue

• Remove all sensory details

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4