Chapter 8: Showing and Telling Description, Narration, and Example Using description, narration, and example will breathe life into your story or essay. Description techniques help you show your reader what you see, hear, smell, touch, or taste. Narrative techniques help you concisely tell a reader a story that makes a point. Examples provide specific illustrations and instances in many types of writing. Description, narration, and example are the foundation for many other types of essay writing.