Show – Not Tell Painting Pictures with Words

Definition: Good writers show the reader what is happening, rather than just telling what is going on. Showing the reader what is happening is much more descriptive and interesting than simply making a statement without any details or description.

Example #1: Telling: Julie is a bully. How is she a bully? What does she do that makes her a bully?

Revised Sentence: Showing: Julie intentionally stuck out her leg as Timmy walked by. As Timmy tripped, Julie laughed in his face. “Gotcha again, Timmy boy!” she jeered.

Explanation: By describing what Julie does and how she acts, lets the reader see how she is a bully. Note: you don’t have to even use the word “bully”

Example #2: The house needed repair. What would a house have to look like to you, for you to say it needs repair? How bad or how little does the damage done to the house have to be?

Revised Sentence: Showing: With shutters flapping in the wind, the house looked as if no one had lived there in years. The paint was peeling, a window was boarded up, and several shingles were missing off the roof.

Explanation: By describing the house the reader can already tell that the house needs repair. The writer of the revised sentence did not even have to mention that the house was in need of repair because they gave clear examples.

Practice: Directions: In groups, rewrite the assigned telling sentence to make it a show sentence by giving it more interesting details and examples.