1. Painting pictures with words!
Word Choice
Painting pictures with words!

2. Definition
Good writing contains strong, power words, including specific nouns and verbs. Power words help paint a picture for the reader.
Word choice is about the use of rich, colorful, precise language that communicates not just in a functional way, but also in a way that moves and enlightens the reader.

3. Painting Pictures with Words
Word choice helps the reader see what the writer saw.
Word choice uses “Show” sentences not “Tell” sentences.

4. Use Strong Nouns Vague Noun Strong Noun Tree Southern Oak Chair
Dog
Road
Strong Noun
Southern Oak
Varnished, cedar rocking chair
Bull-Terrier
Red clay trail

5. Use Strong Verbs Weak verbs Ran Walk Look Strong verbs Dashed Stroll
glance

6. The house needed repair
Show - Not Tell
Tell sentence
The house needed repair
Show sentence
The paint was peeling from the walls, and the shingles hung on one nail. A window was broken and the screen door had a rip in it.

7. More Show – Not Tell A Sound of Thunder – by Ray Bradbury
The tyrant lizard raised itself. Its armored flesh glittered like a thousand green coins. The coins, crusted with slime, steamed. In the slime tiny insects wriggled, so that the entire body seemed to twitch and undulate, even while the monster itself did not move. It exhaled. The stink of raw flesh blew down the wilderness.