Using details to create “images” or “mental pictures” of things SHOW, DON ‘T TELL Using details to create “images” or “mental pictures” of things

Telling Sentences Are short Are general Don’t give the reader a “feeling” about what you are telling him

Showing Sentences Give details Give the reader a clear “picture” Create “images” Appeal to senses Use adjectives, adverbs, metaphors

Example Telling Sentence : “Michael is brave.” How do we know this? We must take the writer’s word for it because we don’t get any information to convince us. Brainstorm Evidence: Sees a girl stranded on a raft in the ocean Swims out to save her Storm is coming Sharks sighted earlier

Showing Statement “When Michael saw a young girl stranded in a raft in the ocean, he immediately swam out to save her, even though a storm was coming, the waves were very high, and sharks had been spotted earlier.” This time, the reader concludes that Michael is brave based on the description he has been given by the writer.

Show, Don’t Tell Activity Read passages from selected books. Write examples of “details” on sticky notes from the passages Stick notes on appropriate sense on “senses” picture

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos Telling Sentence: On his field trip, Joey ate a piece of molasses shoofly pie. Showing Passage: pp. 61-62.

Beastly by Alex Flinn Telling Sentence 1: Kendra tells Kyle that he is beastly. Showing Passage: p. 6 Telling Sentence 2: Kendra was ugly. Showing Passage: p. 20 Telling Sentence 3: I was a beast. Showing Passage: p. 47

Holes by Louis Sachar Telling Sentence 1: Stanley, who is carrying his friend Zero, is tired and thirsty. Showing Passage: p. 170-171 Telling Sentence 2: Stanley finds an onion. Showing Passage: p. 171

Horowitz Horror by Anthony Horowitz Telling Statement: The plumber fixed the bathtub. Showing Passage: pp. 9-10

Burning Up by Caroline Cooney Telling Sentence 1: The kids got caught in a burning building. Showing Passage: pp. 38-39 Telling Sentence 2: Macey and Austin went to the nursing home. Showing Passage: pp. 122-123 Telling Sentence 3: Austin and Macey went for a walk on the beach. Showing Passage: p. 139