Factual description is the vivid description of a person, place, thing or an event in a systematic manner. The description must consist of facts and not theories or individual opinions. The main purpose of writing a factual description is to describe the topic’s features without giving our personal opinion. The aim is to provide a vibrant experience to the reader using descriptive language, primarily through the use of adjectives to appeal to the five senses of touch, sight, smell, sound and taste.

FORMAT of factual description

                                                                          Heading

Content in one paragraph (100- 150 words)

Tips for writing a factual description

1. Give a suitable heading
2. Use appropriate tense
3. Provide your ideas in a detailed and systematic manner
4. Avoid giving your personal opinion
5. Write in semi-formal language

Types of Factual description

1. Place
2. Person
3. Events
4. Situation

Tips for writing factual description of a – Place

While writing a factual description regarding a place, you must keep the following points in mind-

1. Location – along with spatial aspects
2. Features –  how it looks like
3. Historical reference – when and why it was built
4. Geographical facts
5. Dimensions – shapes and size
6. Facilities available
7. Write in present tense

Words for describing a place:

Bustling, crowded, spacious,  famous, fantastic, pleasing, pleasant, enticing, fascinating, huge, popular, picturesque, breathtaking, interesting, spectacular, stunning,  superb, grand, glittering, magnificent, elegant, eye-catching, polluted, dirty,  delightful, structure, ancient, cosmopolitan, modern, historical, rambling,  contemporary, unique,  high-rise, palace, tower, towering, spacious mansion, cabin, bungalow, foundation, erection, construction, brick-built, brownstone, red-stone,  granite, marble, carpeted, alley,  shanty, estate, edifice, architectural, site, plot, walls, ceiling, terrace, lawn, yard, patio, orchard, garden,  greenhouse, back yard, field, court yard,  border, grave, cemetery, mortuary, tomb, location, space, zone, corner, terrain, mountainous, hilly, plateau, circular, triangular, square shaped, oval.

Sample questions – factual description of a place

Q1. Write a factual description of your school.

Q.2. Write a factual description of a multiplex in your locality.

Q. Write a factual description of a historical monument that you visited in the recent past.

    The Taj Mahal – A Dream in Stones

The Taj Mahal is the jewel of Mughal art in India. Standing on the banks of Yamuna, the Taj is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture and is renowned for its enchanting aesthetic beauty. It is located in Agra (U.P) and was built from 1631 to 1653 enclosing an area of 17 hectares. Emperor Shah Jahan built it in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The ivory white mausoleum with its exquisite pietra-dura inlays carvings on its base is a feast for eyes.  The country’s tourism highly depends on the Taj Mahal. About 6 million visitors visit the monument every year, especially during the dawn and at evening when the reflection of the splendid monument on the surrounding water-body creates a mesmerizing sight for its viewers.

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 Tips for writing factual description of an – Event

1. What was the event?
2. When did the event occur?
3. Where was the venue?
4. What was the sequence of the programme?
5. Information about the chief guests/ judges and participants
6. Name of the organization or the people arranging the event
7. Results of the event if it is a contest
8. Write in past tense as the event has already taken place

Sample questions – factual description of an event.

Q. 1. Write a factual description on the Annual Day celebration in your School.

Q .2. Write a factual description on T-20 match held in your city.

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Sample answer of factual description of an – Event

Q. Write a factual description on an English extempore held at your School.

                                                                    English Extempore

  The English extempore held at Delhi Public School, Asansol on 28^th July, 2022 saw popular participation by students of standard IX – XII. It was held at the Multi-purpose hall at 11:00 am. Numerous participants queued backstage awaiting their turn. The extempore was organised in a methodical manner, where participants were called onstage and asked to choose a chit. Whichever topic they chose was to be their theme for the extempore. The topics mainly involved environmental and societal issues. Each participant got five minutes to prepare and then had to come back onstage to speak on the topic. The competition was tough as each candidate were quick in preparing and fine tuning their thoughts on their subjects and were able to deftly manoeuvre  any situation that cropped up onstage. The event was filled with excitement and was a memorable one for the students.

   Tips for writing factual description of a –Person

1. Physical attributes – looks/ height/ weight/preference of clothing
2. Relation to the writer if any
3. Intellectual abilities and emotional qualities
4. Personality – way of talking/ walking
5. Other’s perception about him /her
6. Any other special trait observed – citing incidents/examples
7. Write in past tense only if the person is no longer alive

In factual description of a person, you must first give the details of the physical features. Then provide personality or character traits of the person. If inputs are provided, you need to expand the points in your own language and put in extra details if you want.

Words to describe physical qualities:

Height – tall, short, medium, average, moderate,

Facial features – round, thin, chubby, square, oval, diamond, pear, oblong, angular, bearded, unshaven,

Eye colour – green, black, blue, brown, hazel, amber, gray

Skin colour – wheatish, dark, fair, tan, olive

Built – gigantic, petite, tiny, lofty, stout, lean, stocky

Appearance and clothes- elegant, well- tailored, formal, neat, tidy, casual, informal, sloppy, untidy

Words to describe personality

Adventurous, humorous, considerate, kind, generous, trustworthy, enthusiastic, industrious, lazy, ambitious, diligent, thoughtful, courageous, brave, coward, affectionate, sincere, reliable,  compassionate, versatile, optimistic, shy,  charming, clever, loyal, attractive, polite, dominating , bossy, submissive, intelligent, brilliant, grumpy, beautiful, cheerful, gregarious, aggressive, cheerful.

Sample questions – factual description of a person.

Q1. Write the description of your ‘best friend’ using the following hints:

Name – address- family- personality- qualities- hobbies- behaviour towards others- how you feel about him.

Q2. Given below is some information about the guard of your school. Write a factual description about the guard of your school based on the given information.
5’5”- wheatish complexion – black hair-Gurkha- 40 yrs old- high school passed- married- 3 children- alert, caring- expert flute player.

Q3. Write the description of your grandmother within 150 words.

Sample Answer – factual description of People

Q. Write the factual description of Albert Einstein using the given hints.

Hints: Born: 14^th March, 1879, Ulm, Germany – migrated to USA in1933 after Nazi takeover of Germany – won Noble prize for theory of relativity- warned Roosevelt about destructive power of atom bomb- deeply shaken after bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki- advocated for world government – true world citizen.

                                                      Einstein the Renowned Visionary

Einstein, one of the most famous scientists of the world was born in Ulm, Germany on 14^th March, 1879. He is best known for his intellect and contributions in the field of science. He was awarded with the Noble prize for his research on the theory of relativity. Most people know him as he looked in his advanced age with his walrus moustache and frizzy hair. He migrated to USA in 1933 as he faced threat to his life as a Jew under the Nazi regime in Germany. While in U.S. he warned President Roosevelt about the terrible destructive power of the atom bomb. He was deeply shaken, when the U.S. bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki leaving a trail of destruction. He as a visionary advocated for World government and campaigned for world peace and democracy. He was well ahead of his time and a true world citizen.

Tips for writing factual description of a -Situation

1. What happened?
2. When did it happen?
3. How was your experience
4. Write the happenings in a chronological manner
5. Write in past tense as it was an experience

Q. Yesterday it rained heavily and your area was waterlogged. Your school van could not reach your home and your parents were out of the house for some urgent work. Write a description of the incidents which took place in this situation.

                                                             Raining Troubles

It had rained incessantly yester night. Today, at 7:30 in the morning, my school van failed to show up in front of my house. It was drizzling steadily without any sign of stopping. All the roads were waterlogged and there was water, water everywhere as far as eyes could see. My parents were out of station and unreachable over phone. So, I was worried about missing school and with that my chances of getting the 100 % attendance award. I decided to brave it on my bike through the waterlogged roads, and succeeded in reaching school on time, albeit in soaking socks and trousers. Very few students were present and we enjoyed our close knit classes with our teachers. The sky had cleared by the time of dispersal and I reached home safely as the water had dried up and vehicles could move freely once more.

Q. Write a descriptive paragraph about your experience of reaching late for an examination.

                                                    Examination Experiences

It was 29^th February, when I got up ten minutes late after a late night of studying for exams. I hurried out to catch my school bus. As I feared I had missed my school bus. I took an e-rickshaw and told the driver to go as fast as possible. The driver tried to speed when suddenly, a schoolboy trying to cross the road came in front of the vehicle. The e-rickshaw skidded as the driver pulled the brake hard. We were shocked but relived to see that the boy was unhurt. I told the driver to go slow as I felt shaken. I reached the exam hall late and narrated the incident to the invigilator. My exam went well, but I realised that ‘haste makes waste’ and that preparation for exam must include discipline along with studies.