Description in Writing

Showing, Not Telling

Multiple Choice

Which one is "showing," not "telling?"

• The game was amazing!

• Her heart began to race, sweat beading on her forehead

• He was very scared when he saw the big dog.

"Her heart began to race, sweat beading on her forehead"

You can tell that's she's nervous or scared, even without saying those words. Now, that's showing!

Multiple Choice

Which is a feature in descriptive writing?

• Compare/Contrast

• Sensory details

• Argument

• Literal Pictures

Sensory Details!

Smell, Taste, Hear, Feel, See, 6th Sense (Whatever that is)

Open Ended

Write down 1 sentence that "shows," not "tells."

Multiple Choice

You need to recognize description! How?

• Asking if you can see what the author is saying.

• Asking if the author is explaining anything.

• Finding language like "fumigate."

• There really isn't any way to figure it out.

Can you see what the author is saying?

If you cannot visualize what they're saying, it's not description (or just really bad description, anyway).

Multiple Choice

Which sentence demonstrates "tone" best?"

• The house was tall.

• The kid was very happy.

• The sky was overcast and grey as he trudged through the rain.

• There was a sky, cloud, and sun.

Technically, "He was very happy" has tone.

The difference is that "happy" is too vague, too general.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not "the best" description?

• He was pleased by the decision, his lips twisting into a smile.

• She hunched over the table, eyes watering in pain.

• The man was tall, his head barely brushing the door frame as he lumbered into the room.

• The ambidextrous monkey iodized the transmorphic flounder fish.

The ambidextrous monkey iodized the transmorphic flounder fish.

Wut?