Describe a person.docVIP

Description of a personWarm-upSonnet 18Shall I compare thee to a summers day? 我可能把你和夏天相比拟?Thou art more lovely and more temperate. 你比夏天更可爱更温和：Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, 狂风会把五月的花苞吹落地,And summers lease hath all too short a date. 夏天也嫌太短促,匆匆而过； Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, 有时太阳照得太热,And often is his gold complexion dimmd; 常常又遮暗他的金色的脸；And every fair from fair sometime declines, 美的事物总不免要凋落,By chance, or natures changing course, untrimmd; 偶然的,或是自然变化而流转. But thy eternal summer shall not fade, 但是你的永恒之夏不会褪色,Nor lose possession of that fair thou owst. 你不会失去你的俊美的仪容；Nor shall Death brag thou wanderst in his shade, 死神不能夸说你在他的阴影里面走着,When in eternal lines to time thou growst. 如果你在这不朽的诗句里获得了永生； So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, 只要人们能呼吸,眼睛能看东西,So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. 此诗就会不朽,使你永久生存下去.注释：1. a summers day 从表面看这是“夏季的一天”,但根据第4行,理解为“夏季的一天”不妥,正确的理解应是“夏天这个季节”.day 一段时间.2. temperate 温和的,既不冷也不热的.3. Rough （风或者天气）暴风雨般的,狂暴的,剧烈的.darling 形容词,受喜爱的,亲爱的.4. lease (合同所规定的）期限.date 持续的一段时间,季节.5. sometime 有时候,时而.hot 副词.the eye of heaven 指太阳.6. his its,指太阳的.complexion 面部,脸.dim 动词,使变得暗淡.7. 该行的正常语序是And every fair sometime declines from fair.fair第1个fair的意思是“美丽的人或者美丽的东西”；第2个fair的意思是“美丽”.sometime 在特定的时候,在某个时候.decline 衰落,衰退.8. 该行的正常语序是untrimmed by chance or natures changing course,以untrimmed为中心词的过去分词短语,修饰第7行中的第2个fair.natures changing couse 自然的变化规律.untrim 夺去美丽.9. fade 衰退,衰败.10. lose possession of 失去对.的占有.fair 同第7行中的第2个fair.owe 拥有,占有.12. line 诗行.14. this 该行中两次出现的this都指“这首诗”.欣赏:大多数莎学家认为,从第18首到第20首十四行诗,是作者赞美好友的超常之美的.这首诗一开始,便用了夏天、五月的花苞和太阳,这些时间空间里最美好的事物,来和好友相比,认为它们都有一定的局限,不及好友.从总的方面相较,好友比夏天更可爱更温和；具体地说,夏季的花-五月的花苞易被狂风吹落,夏日的太阳过分炽热,又常被遮暗.在比较中,进而指出一切美的事物,随着时光的流转、自然的变化,终难避免凋落.你虽胜过鲜花与夏阳,但是你那俊美的仪容仍有销蚀之虞.怎么办呢?诗是永恒的,只有把你写入我的诗中,你才会在这不朽的艺术里得到永生.你那俊美的仪容不会失去,你的永恒之夏也不会褪色.人们只要能呼吸、有感受,就会从诗中赏识到你的美,就连死神也不能夸说,说你在他的阴影里面走着.这首诗善作比拟,且结构严谨而多层次.先以夏与好友相比,继而由夏花、夏阳之局限,带出好友的俊美仪容,这造化之功,同样会随自然而变化而流转；只有诗是不朽的,你也只有在诗里才能获得永生I. What should be described?Principles: Descriptions of people may focus on the various aspects of the people described their physical appearance, style of clothing, their character and personality, their interests and behavior. What you select to describe depends on your topic and purpose.1. Characteristic featuresIt will be impossible (and unnecessary) for your child to include all the descriptive elements listed below. After all, the composition is limited to one little paragraph! But you can certainly expect that paragraph to sparkle with a few additional, well-chosen details. What really matters is this: Regardless of when or how you approach it, improved description will result. And after all, isnt that the point?1) Physical appearanceBuildComplexion Hair styles:Ponytail and pigtail (long, straight, blonde pigtail or ponytail)Wavy, curly,neatly combed (wavy and dyed) (curly and permed) Bobbed hair with a fringe Face ShapeSquare Oval Round Triangular Heart-shapedSkin/Face/Complexion (Complexion is the natural appearance and color of the skin, especially of the face; e.g. Mary has a soft, creamy complexion. Freckled: sprinkled or covered with light brown spots Rosy: pink-cheeked; fair complexion that glows with a hint of pink Ruddy: skin that has a healthy reddish tint; may have the appearance of sunburn Tanned: skin with a healthy golden-brown tint Wrinkled: full of or covered with lines or loose folds of skin; often associated with age Other skin-related adjectives: pale, spotless, silky, smooth, creamy, baby-soft, glowing, paper-thin or translucent (as with a very old person); rough, callused, dryEyesGeneral:Brown-eyed mother, bright-eyed sister, wide-eyed childEye expressions: piercing, mesmerizing, sad, sorrowful, tear-filled, gentle, sympathetic, warm, compassionate, expressive, twinkling, lively, dancing, laughing Eye Shape and Size:Large, small, almond-shaped, round, slanted, squinty, crinkly If you say:She has a big pair of round eyes! Your listener may imagine this! In English, when we describe a persons eyes, we dont say the person has a pair of eyes. Thats understood! Nobody wonders how many eyes a person has! We assume each person has a pair!We just use adjectives (usually positive) to describe the eyes: She has big, beautiful eyes!.OR.He has dark, intense eyes.OR.Her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm.Also, in English we seldom talk about the shape of a persons eyes.When we do, it may mean more than just shape. For example, in English, a person with narrow eyes may be thought of as sneaky or dishonest. A person with round eyes may be thought of as surprised.So it is best just to talk about how a persons eyes twinkle, how beautiful they are and so on. Otherwise, your listener may imagine a very funny person!Mouth/Lips:Thin lips, full lips, pouting lips, pursed lips (puckered up, like when someone is concentrating) Laugh, smile, beam, grin, frown, grimace, scowlHairTexture/Appearance: wavy, curly, straight, spiky, stiff, buzzed, shaved, parted, neatly-combed, tamed, long, short, croppedHair Styles:braids, ponytail, pigtails, bun, twist, bob, ringlets, flip, bangs, buzz layered, feathered, chopped, gelled, spiked, slicked downLots of hair:thick, full, lustrous, bushy, coarse, wiry (stiff)Little hair: thin, scraggly, fine, baby-fine, wispy, limp, flat, balding, bald, bald spot, receding hairline (gradual loss of hair at the front of the head)Treated hair:permed, dyed, bleached, highlighted, weaved Hair colors:black, brunette, brown, chestnut-brown, honey-blond, blond, golden-blond, ash-blond, auburn, red, strawberry-blond, gray, silver, white, salt-and-pepperFacial Hair:Beard, goatee, mustache, sideburns Five oclock shadow: new beard growth, shadowy in appearance, that can be seen late in the day on the jaw, chin, or cheek area (also known as stubble) Adjectives: bearded, unshaven, clean-shaven, trimmed, neatly-trimmedAgeWhen speaking of age, you must also be a bit careful. People dont like to be described as being the wrong age, and sometimes they dont like being described as being the age that they actually are! It is good to choose flattering terms when speaking of age. Here is a list to help you:AGES:Baby = Zero - 3Toddler = 3 - 5Child = Zero - 12Teen or Youth = 12 - 19Young adult = 18 - 27Adult = 27 - 45Middle aged = 45 - 60Mature = 60 - 70 or 75Elderly = 70 +Some age groups overlap because both groups could apply to the same person. Babies and toddlers are also children. An 18-year-old is a teen and a young adult. A 70-year-old may be Mature or Elderly. Be careful when saying someone is elderly. Elderly people are usually considered frail and in poor health. If a person is over 70 but still strong and healthy, it is better to say that person is mature.2) Style of clothingClothingFabric: denim, twill, wool, cotton, tweed, polyester, corduroy, fleece, spandex, leather Bottoms: jeans, cargo pants, flat-front pants, pleated pants, slacks, trousers, overalls, sweatpants, crop pants, capris, skirt, culottes, shorts, board shorts Tops: sport shirt, dress shirt, polo shirt, button-down shirt, tank top, blouse, long-sleeve, short-sleeve, sleeveless, collared, T-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie, pullover, sweater, cardigan Other clothing: dress, uniform, costume, pajamas, bathrobe, robe, vest, jacket, blazer, coat, socks, stockings, gloves, hat, cap, shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, flip-flops, heels, pumps2. PersonalityPersonality: warm, friendly, kind, nice, pleasant, easy-going, generous, sensitive, sensible, strong, sociable, ambitious, determined, thrifty, frank, reliable, confident, emotional, broad-minded, inquiring, even-tempered, rude, cold, mean, arrogant, aggressive, extravagant, nosyAbility: intelligent, bright, clever, smart, gifted, talented, flexible, hard-working, average, simple, slow-witted, stupid, foolish, brainless, cunning, slyAttitude: optimistic, pessimistic, extroverted, introverted, enthusiastic, eager, motivated, down-to-earth, passive, argumentative, ill-mannered, courteous, trustworthy, sincere, jealous, envious, cruel Ways to refelct ones personality:1)Physical appearancel Select prominent features to reflect the subjects personality and unique image.l e.g When describing a villain, people usually talk about the villains deep-set eyes, shifty eyes, and, sometimes sinister smiles.l The way people wear clothes and comb hair is seen as sign of their character.2)Describing the subjects speech and behavior3)Describing the subjects anecdotesExamples:A: When I first met Oma six years ago, she looked about eighty years old, was a few pounds over-weight for her medium frame, and slightly hunched over. She wore a flowered house dress, a closely washed white apron, and old, frayed leather shoes. Oma was deaf in one ear from a neglected childhood ear infection, and half of her face drooped from stroke. She shuffled her feet and held on to furniture with swollen, scarred hands as she walked.B: For a journalist, interviewing Mother Teresa about herself was a task. Not that she fended off such encounters; she just wouldnt say much about herself. Instead, shed speak of miracles, large and small, that materialized, thanks to God, when they were needed most.“Its His work, not mine,” she told me at the home for the destitute and dying after winning the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. “God is our banker, He always provides.” She recalled a day at the home when “we found we had nothing, not a single piece of bread to give our people.”“You know what happened? For some mysterious reason, all the schools suddenly closed that day and their bread was sent to us,” she said. “Now who else but God could have done that?”C: She was a middle-aged woman, short and slightly heavy, with jet-black hair and solemn blue eyes that were bloodshot and glassy. She always looked distant, as if her mind were inanother place and time, and her face lonely and sad.People wondering why she was in her present state soon learned that her quandary started a year ago when her house caught fire and her old man and kids got killed.She came to my coffee shop twice a week. She would sit at the counter with melancholy on her face and drink her coffee and smoke cigars.3. Peculiarities and idiosyncrasiesPeculiarities should be included, for they are usually impress the reader deeply and give life to the person he described.II. How to describe a person?1. Dominant impressionIt means an overall attitude, mood or feeling about sb/sth you describe. It will become the thesis of the paper and guide your selection of details.Topic sentence:show the writers atttitude or impression of the person.Example:This is a nice looking African - American man.He has short, black hair, sparkling brown eyes and a broad, friendly smile. He is wearing a dark suit and tie. He appears to be fit and trim. He looks like an intelligent, competent man. BeautifulSmileWhenMr.Goodenoughsmiles,hisfacewilldisplaya rangeofexpressions,fromstolidgrintofoolishmirth,hismouthopeningwideandwidetillitreacheshisears,andtilltheearsarelostinthecapaciousmouth.Perhaps,Mr.Goodenoughisunabletosmile,or,perhaps,ableto,heisunabletoexpresshimselfbysmiling.SuchisMr.Goodenoughsmile,andsuchisMr.Goodenoughhimself,asugly,frigidandingratiatingashissmile,rigidinwardsandoutwards.2. Detail selection Describe clearly. To make a description of a person clear to the reader, the writer must include a sufficient number of details that are specific. (See Sample A) Select only appropriate details. You dont have to describe every single detail about the person. You should select only those details that present a dominant impression. A common plan for arranging details presents the subjects most outstanding characteristics first and then fills in the lesser information. (See Sample B) Make your descriptions vivid. (See sample C)Task 1 Read to learn about writingSample ARemember that you cant write good descriptions without being specific. The following is a typical example of the descriptive essay, in which the writer Loe Dobbs uses specific details to create a portrait of his father who has affected his life greatly.“Terrific Work”I grew up in Childress, Texas, a town of nearly 8,000, where Dad had a farm-machinery business. I hauled hay, picked potatoes and did other chores, but my father always insisted that schoolwork come first. He may not have had much formal education Dad left school in the eighth grade but he possessed a world of knowledge. He was a voracious reader who was smarter about current affairs than anyone I knew. At the dinner table he pushed me to think and to defend my opinions. These discussions sparked in me an intense curiosity about the world and taught me the importance of attaining the best education I could. It also helped that Dad believed praise was a more powerful motivator than criticism. When I brought home a good report card, he would say, “Terrific work!” and that was enough to inspire me to bring home an even better one next time. This approach proved successful, and when it came time for me to go to college, I was lucky enough to be accepted by Harvard. Honesty was supremely important to Dad. He stressed that an honest life is an honorable life. I always remember him telling me, “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” My father has been gone thirty years now, but he still lives on in me and my children. I tried to raise them as he raised me, and I have wished countless times that he could see us now. (Adapted from Readers Digest)Sample B Read the essay below and notice how the writer uses appropriate details to present an unforgettable professor to the readers.My Favorite ProfessorIn my more ambitious academic days, I was majoring in both mathematics and journalism. I was not a typical math major; my classes did not come easily to me despite my professors most brave efforts. While my peers tended to tackle their homework without too much sweat, I struggled to keep pace. Dr. Rudy Horne taught my differential equations course, which dealt with material I considered quite challenging.I still remember the first day of class. Dr. Horne had the rare ability to make difficult maths seem simple. Of course, I still failed to keep up, so I attended his open office hours every week to catch up on material that I could not digest in class. Dr. Hornes office hours were his strongest point. At first, I was concerned that he would not be pleased with how much extra help I was seeking. I was worried for no reason. Not only would he go through any homework problem with which I struggled, but he made sure I knew that he wanted me to be there. After the work on differential equations (微分方程) was finished, we would sit and chat about Carolina sports, the dynamics of the classroom and even his friends upcoming wedding. Needless to say, Dr. Horne became a friend in that mathematical part of my life where I needed the most support.I had a difficult time telling certain people about my decision to focus solely on journalism. Months after my decision, I still had not told Dr. Horne. I did not want to disappoint him since he had spent so much of his time helping me. I eventually ran into him at a movie theater on Franklin Street. We went out for coffee after the film to catch up with each other. When I told him about my decision and the reasons behind it, he could not have been more supportive. I realized then that even though he was an experienced mathematician who had been dragged into my mathematical struggles, he really wanted what was best for me. That, to me, is the definition of a friend.Expessions:catch up with/on: acquire information about sth. belatedly 事后了解对某事的情况drag into: make sb. take part in an activity against his will 硬拉某人参加Sample CTo create a good descriptive essay about a person, you should try to make your description lively. The following is an essay written by Katharine Brush, first published on March 16, 1946, in The New Yorker. As you read it, note how the writer vividly presents the portraits of the couple who fail to communicate well with each other. Discuss the questions after the essay.Birthday PartyThey were a couple in their late thirties, and they looked unmistakably married. They sat on the banquette opposite us in a little narrow restaurant, having dinner. The man had a round, self-satisfied face, with glasses on it; the woman was fadingly pretty, in a big hat. There was nothing conspicuous (惹人注目的) about them, nothing particularly noticeable, until the end of their meal, when it suddenly became obvious that this was an Occasion in fact, the husbands birthday, and the wife had planned a little surprise for him.It arrived, in the form of a small but glossy birthday cake, with one pink candle burning in the center. The headwaiter brought it in and placed it before the husband, and meanwhile the violin-and-piano orchestra played “Happy Birthday to You” and the wife beamed with shy pride over her little surprise, and such few people as there were in the restaurant tried to help out with a pattering of applause. It became clear at once that help was needed, because the husband was not pleased. Instead he was hotly embarrassed, and indignant at his wife for embarrassing him.You looked at him and you saw this and you thought, “Oh, now, dont be like that!” But he was like that, and as soon as the little cake had been deposited on the table, and the orchestra had fini