A descriptive composition about a person should consist of:

a) an introduction where you give some brief information about the person (his/

her name, time or place you met/saw him/her, how you heard about him/her);

b) a main body where you describe physical appearance, personality

characteristics and hobbies/interests/everyday activities in separate

paragraphs; and

c) a conclusion which includes your comments and/or feelings about the

person.

Such descriptions can be found in articles, letters, witness statements, novels, etc.

Points to consider

Each paragraph starts with a topic sentence which introduces the subject of the

paragraph. A variety of linking words should be used to connect ideas.

To describe physical appearance, details should be given as follows: height/build,

age, facial features, hair, clothes, moving from the most general aspects to the

more specific details, e.g. John is a tall, slim man in his mid forties. He has a thin

face, blue eyes and a large nose. His short hair is greying at the temples. He is

usually casually dressed.

To describe character and behaviour you can support your description with

examples, e.g. Sally is very sociable. She loves going to parties and dances. If you

want to mention any negative qualities, use mild language (tends to, seems to, is

rather, can occasionally be, etc.). e.g. Instead of saying Sally is arrogant., it is

better to say Sally tends to be rather arrogant.

Variety in the use of adjectives will make your description more interesting, e.g.

good-natured, well-behaved, gorgeous, etc.

Present tenses can be used to describe someone connected to the present, e.g.

someone you see every day. Past tenses can be used to describe someone

related to the past, e.g. someone who is no longer alive, someone whom you won �t

meet again... etc.

"My Next-door Neighbour"

Mavis has been my neighbour for six years. I first met her when

she knocked on my door and asked for a spade because she hadn �t

yet unpacked hers. She had only moved in two days before.

Physically, Mavis looks younger than most other women in their

late sixties. She is of average height, neither fat nor thin. Her plump

round face is framed by a mass of wavy white hair and her sparkling

blue eyes show her humour and friendliness. She prefers wearing

casual, comfortable clothes. I don �t think I have ever seen her in a

perfectly ironed suit.

As for her personality, Mavis �s most striking characteristic is her

generosity. My house, as well as most of our neighbours �, nearly always

has a vase of flowers from her garden in the living room. Mavis is very

good- natured and always has time for a chat. She is also patient. She

hardly ever gets annoyed about anything, except when children pick

her favourite roses and lilies. However, she tends to be quite stubborn

� once she has made a decision, nothing can change her mind.

Mavis always seems to be busy doing something. She spends a lot

of her time looking after her garden and often participates in local

flower shows. When she is not in her garden she is usually off

somewhere raising money for one charity or another.

All in all, Mavis is the perfect next-door neighbour. Since the day

she moved in, we have grown very close and I am very fond of her,

even if I am woken up by the noise of her lawnmower early in the

morning!