Which statement best characterizes a descriptive passage?

Which statement best characterizes a descriptive passage?

• A. A descriptive passage primarily discusses a claim supported by evidence.
• B. A descriptive passage provides a step-by-step argument for a position.
• C. A descriptive passage mainly describes scenes or processes.
• D. A descriptive passage relies primarily on statistics.

Answer: (C)

Descriptive writing centers on painting a picture with words, using vivid details to show what something looks, sounds, smells, or feels like. The main goal is to convey scenes or processes so the reader can visualize or experience them, not to argue a point or prove something with evidence. That’s why describing scenes or processes is the best fit. The other approaches describe arguing a position with evidence, or laying out a step-by-step argument, or leaning on statistics. Those focus on making a claim and supporting it with reasoning or data, which is not what descriptive writing emphasizes.

Descriptive writing centers on painting a picture with words, using vivid details to show what something looks, sounds, smells, or feels like. The main goal is to convey scenes or processes so the reader can visualize or experience them, not to argue a point or prove something with evidence. That’s why describing scenes or processes is the best fit.

The other approaches describe arguing a position with evidence, or laying out a step-by-step argument, or leaning on statistics. Those focus on making a claim and supporting it with reasoning or data, which is not what descriptive writing emphasizes.