際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo

4 aeso writing_show_dont_tell

E
Elena T

The document provides a lesson on showing rather than telling in writing. It explains that showing uses specific details and actions to help readers visualize a scene, while telling states something without examples. An example is given of telling by saying "My mornings are crazy" versus showing through a detailed passage of a morning routine. The strategies for showing include describing actions, using action verbs, similes, metaphors, dialogue, and sensory details. The lesson emphasizes using showing to improve creative writing.

1 of 10
Downloaded 18 times
Writing Mini-Lesson Show, Dont Tell!
Show, Dont Tell! Please shut your eyes while I read this sentence to you: My mornings are crazy. It's hard to get to school on time! What does that picture look like in your mind?
Show, Dont Tell! Please shut your eyes again and listen to this sentence: I wake up to the loud buzz of my alarm clock at 7:00 a.m. I hit the sleep button three times before dragging my sleepy self to the bathroom. I brush my teeth. I take a cold shower, and blow dry my wet hair fast as I can. I try on nearly every outfit in my closet. I run down the stairs, feed my barking dog, and quickly eat my oatmeal breakfast. I toss my books in my backpack, grab my coat and gloves, and finally race out the front door. I arrive at the bus stop just as the bus drives away. Now what picture do you have in your head?
Show, Dont Tell My mornings are crazy. It's hard to get to school on time! TELLING SHOWING I wake up to the loud buzz of my alarm clock at 7:00 a.m. I hit the sleep button three times before dragging my sleepy self to the bathroom. I brush my teeth. I take a cold shower, and blow dry my wet hair fast as I can. I try on nearly every outfit in my closet. I run down the stairs, feed my barking dog, and quickly eat my oatmeal breakfast. I toss my books in my backpack, grab my coat and gloves, and finally race out the front door. I arrive at the bus stop just as the bus drives away.
Show, Dont Tell Strategies writers use to SHOW what is happening include: describing the characters actions. using action verbs. using similes and metaphors. using dialogue. Appealing to some of the five senses to paint a picture of what is happening.
4 aeso writing_show_dont_tell
Guess The Emotion! Bill's jaw was tense, and his fingers were in tight fists. It looked as if steam was about to pour out of his ears. The veins in his neck were nearly popping out of his skin. He stomped his feet out of the room and slammed the door behind him. mad, furious, angry ? Click on the box below to reveal the emotion.
I had to go to the dentist. I was very nervous. I was scared that it was going to hurt. I worried about it all day long! Your Turn
I had to go to the dentist. My stomach was in knots. I felt like I was going to throw up. I was sweating and my hands were shaking. I closed my eyes real tight. I tried not to think about how much it was going to hurt. I could not slow down my heart beat. It was going a mile a minute. I tried to stop biting my nails, but I just hated the idea of having a needle in my mouth. Ouch! Possible Answer
Use your new creative writing skills! Write a diary entry about an event. Follow the directions on page 18 of your textbook Make sure to use your new skills to SHOW what happened at the event, not TELL us what happened. Remember to: describe the characters actions. use action verbs. use similes and metaphors. use dialogue. use the five senses to paint a picture of what is happening.

More Related Content

4 aeso writing_show_dont_tell

  • 2. Show, Dont Tell! Please shut your eyes while I read this sentence to you: My mornings are crazy. It's hard to get to school on time! What does that picture look like in your mind?
  • 3. Show, Dont Tell! Please shut your eyes again and listen to this sentence: I wake up to the loud buzz of my alarm clock at 7:00 a.m. I hit the sleep button three times before dragging my sleepy self to the bathroom. I brush my teeth. I take a cold shower, and blow dry my wet hair fast as I can. I try on nearly every outfit in my closet. I run down the stairs, feed my barking dog, and quickly eat my oatmeal breakfast. I toss my books in my backpack, grab my coat and gloves, and finally race out the front door. I arrive at the bus stop just as the bus drives away. Now what picture do you have in your head?
  • 4. Show, Dont Tell My mornings are crazy. It's hard to get to school on time! TELLING SHOWING I wake up to the loud buzz of my alarm clock at 7:00 a.m. I hit the sleep button three times before dragging my sleepy self to the bathroom. I brush my teeth. I take a cold shower, and blow dry my wet hair fast as I can. I try on nearly every outfit in my closet. I run down the stairs, feed my barking dog, and quickly eat my oatmeal breakfast. I toss my books in my backpack, grab my coat and gloves, and finally race out the front door. I arrive at the bus stop just as the bus drives away.
  • 5. Show, Dont Tell Strategies writers use to SHOW what is happening include: describing the characters actions. using action verbs. using similes and metaphors. using dialogue. Appealing to some of the five senses to paint a picture of what is happening.
  • 7. Guess The Emotion! Bill's jaw was tense, and his fingers were in tight fists. It looked as if steam was about to pour out of his ears. The veins in his neck were nearly popping out of his skin. He stomped his feet out of the room and slammed the door behind him. mad, furious, angry ? Click on the box below to reveal the emotion.
  • 8. I had to go to the dentist. I was very nervous. I was scared that it was going to hurt. I worried about it all day long! Your Turn
  • 9. I had to go to the dentist. My stomach was in knots. I felt like I was going to throw up. I was sweating and my hands were shaking. I closed my eyes real tight. I tried not to think about how much it was going to hurt. I could not slow down my heart beat. It was going a mile a minute. I tried to stop biting my nails, but I just hated the idea of having a needle in my mouth. Ouch! Possible Answer
  • 10. Use your new creative writing skills! Write a diary entry about an event. Follow the directions on page 18 of your textbook Make sure to use your new skills to SHOW what happened at the event, not TELL us what happened. Remember to: describe the characters actions. use action verbs. use similes and metaphors. use dialogue. use the five senses to paint a picture of what is happening.