Show, Don’t

Tell!
How to add more detail in
your writing
What words help paint a picture in your
mind?
These words Descriptive
are words!
 ● Bounce ● Sickly
● Hurry ● Fishy
● Swoop ● Burnt
● Scramble ● Fruity
Words such ●
●
Sneak
Drag
●
●
Bland
Crisp
as... ●
●
Sway
Prickly
●
●
Snap
Speechless
● Rough ● Swish
● Warm ● Gurgle
● Dull ● Faint
● Sharp ● Crackle
● Fresh ● Stomp
● Spicy ● Thud
 A writing
strategy that
is used to give
Show Don’t Tell descriptions
of character’s
emotions
What are some actions you saw?
The Disappearing Room
https://www.readworks.org/article/The-Disappearing-Room/747f1870-d901-
47ab-a25d-193d311cc9d4#!articleTab:content/
Show, Don’t Tell
‘That morning, Sarah had sprinted for
the train but arrived seconds too late.’
‘Sarah locked her front door, and,
glancing at her watch, saw she was
late for her train. She broke into a
sprint and arrived four minutes later,
out of breath, as the train pulled
away.’
Let’s Edit
“Grace was excited.”

“Trevor was nervous about his test.”

“Monica was feeling sad.”

Let’s Practice
1. Show us that Emily is running through a park without using the word park.

2. Show us that the hot chocolate is hot without using the word hot or hot
chocolate.

3. Show us that Diego is ill without using the word ill, sick, or any of its
synonyms.

4. Show that the sun was bright without using the word bright or any of its
synonyms.
Ms. G’s Show Don’t Tell Writing Example
My favorite place to be is at the beach. Nestling into my beach chair, pushing my
feet into the warm sand, and resting my sunglasses on the bridge of my nose is how I
begin. I lean over and reach into my bag for the latest book I’ve been perusing,
flipping the pages to where I last left off. The hot sun warms my skin and the salty air
is so refreshing as I take this time for myself. The seagulls cry, begging for food from
unsuspecting beachgoers. My mouth curls into a smile when I peek over my book
and watch babies splashing in the ocean waves for the first time. My tongue does a
dance every time I crunch down on my snack, cheesy and crunchy Goldfish. I close
my eyes and let out a sigh. This is my most favorite place to be.
Let’s Practice
1. Show us that the squirrel climbed up a tree without using the word climbed.

2. Show us that the hamburger was yucky without using yucky or any of its
synonyms.

3. Show us that the motorcycle was going fast without using the word fast
or any of its synonyms.

4. Show that the box was heavy without using the word heavy or any of its
synonyms.