Show, Not Tell!

Which of the following is the most appealing to you?

• Arthur is angry.

• Arthur 's face was red with anger.

• Arthur is upset :(

• Arthur's face was fuming red and he stomped his foot angrily on the ground when the teacher scolded him.

The phrase 'show, not tell' can best be rephrased as:

• "Write long sentences, not short ones."

• "Use many adjectives and adverbs, but few nouns and verbs."

• "Write descriptively, not directly."

• "Hint at the truth, but don't explain it."

Which of the following are connected with 'show, not tell'?

• Formal & Informal

• Descriptive Language

• Imagery

• Tone & Register

Descriptive language usually includes:

• Sensory information

• Confusing details

• Alliteration and rhyme

• Run-on sentences

Sensory information usually appeals to which of your senses?

• Smell

• Touch

• Taste

• Sound

• Sight

When might you want to "tell," and not "show?" Choose the best answer.

• When you're writing a movie review

• When you're writing a poem

• When you're writing a complaint letter

• When you're writing a travel journal

"Rita was happy when she received an A on her history paper." How can you best re-write this sentence in a descriptive way?

• "Rita smiled when she got an A on her history paper."

• "All the kids in class were jealous of Rita — and their mood grew angrier when they saw her smile after acing another assignment."

• "When Rita got her paper back from her teacher, she was happy to see that she'd gotten an A."

• "When Rita saw the bright red ‘A' at the top of her paper, her heart leapt with joy."

Sarah pulled her collar up, tightened her scarf and shoved her hands deep into her pockets.

• Sarah is angry.

• Sarah is cold.

• Sarah is confused.

• Sarah is tired.

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When posing for the photo, John he had to bend his knees to fit into the picture.

• John is lazy.

• John is tired.

• John is tall.

• John cares a lot about this picture.

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Suzie felt for the bench with a white cane.

• Suzie is blind.

• Suzie likes canes.

• Suzie wants to sit down.

• Suzie likes benches.