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

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

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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

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