Activity 1: Emotional Descriptions
This worksheet is designed to enhance your ability to convey emotions through writing, using feeling verbs effectively.
Each question will prompt you to create a short paragraph centered on a character experiencing a specific emotion.
Your challenge is to vividly describe the character’s emotional state using at least three different feeling verbs. Capture the nuances of their feelings to bring their experiences to life for your readers.

Example:
Prompt: Emily has been saving up for a concert for months, but tickets sold out before she could buy one. Write about the moment Emily’s best friend surprises her with a ticket. Describe Emily’s emotional journey using feeling verbs.
- Tip: Consider verbs like rejoice, beam, or cherish to describe the depth of her joy.
Answer:
Emily’s face was the picture of dismay as she stared at her empty wallet - no concert ticket in sight. But in a heartbeat, her gloom vanished. Her best friend burst in, waving a shiny ticket, and Emily’s heart leapt. She beamed, her smile outshining the brightest star, and she hugged her friend tight, her joy boundless. She treasured this unexpected surprise, feeling luckier than ever.
Question 1: Joy at an Unexpected Surprise
Write about a character who receives an unexpected surprise that brings them immense joy. Describe their emotional journey using feeling verbs.
- Tip: Consider verbs like rejoice, beam, or cherish to describe the depth of their joy.
Question 2: Fear During a Storm
Describe a character who is alone at home during a fearsome storm. Their fear escalates as the storm intensifies. Use feeling verbs to express their growing apprehension.
- Tip: Use verbs such as tremble, dread, or panic to convey the intensity of their fear.
Question 3: Anger Over a Broken Promise
Write about a character who feels betrayed when a close friend breaks a significant promise. Capture their feelings of anger and disappointment using feeling verbs.
- Tip: Consider using verbs like fume, resent, and mourn to express the layers of their emotional response.
Question 4: Sadness from Loss
Describe a character experiencing sadness due to the loss of a cherished object or memory. Illustrate their emotional state with feeling verbs that convey the depth of their sadness.
- Tip: Verbs such as grieve, yearn, or languish can help depict their sense of loss.
Question 5: Excitement for a New Adventure
Write about a character who is on the verge of embarking on an exciting new adventure. Use feeling verbs to describe their anticipation and excitement.
- Tip: Use verbs like anticipate, thrill, and aspire to communicate the vibrancy of their excitement.
Question 6: Curiosity in a Mysterious Place
Write about a character exploring a mysterious, unknown place. Their curiosity is piqued by the secrets it may hold. Use feeling verbs to express their sense of wonder and inquisitiveness.
- Tip: Consider verbs like ponder, marvel, or inspect to convey the character’s intrigued and inquisitive nature.
Question 7: Confusion During a Complicated Situation
Describe a character who finds themselves in the middle of a complicated situation that they struggle to understand. Depict their confusion and efforts to make sense of things using feeling verbs.
- Tip: Use verbs such as baffle, perplex, or fumble to illustrate the character’s muddled thoughts and feelings.
Question 8: Pride after a Personal Achievement
Write about a character who has just achieved a significant personal goal. Their pride swells within them. Use feeling verbs to capture the richness of their triumph and self-satisfaction.
- Tip: Consider using verbs like savor, beam, and exult to express the character’s profound sense of pride.
Question 9: Relief following a Resolution
Describe a character who experiences an intense sense of relief after resolving a long-standing problem or conflict. Use feeling verbs to portray the transition from tension to relaxation.
- Tip: Verbs such as unwind, soothe, or console can help you depict the character’s emotional release.
Question 10: Envy when Comparing to Others
Write about a character who feels envious upon witnessing others’ success or happiness. Convey their complex emotions, including desire and resentment, through the use of feeling verbs.
- Tip: Use verbs like covet, pine, and grudge to communicate the character’s mixed feelings of admiration and jealousy.
