Show v.s. Tell

Which sentence has the most detail?

• He was cold.

• Jonathan was shivering in the brutal cold as he waited for his dog to finish going to the bathroom.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

This question shows, not tells. The dog barked.

• True

• False

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Which of these two sentences shows, not tells?

• The child cried and wailed after she dropped her ice cream done outside the ice cream shop.

• The child dropped their ice cream.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

Which question shows, not tells?

• The cat yawned.

• The brown and yellow cat yawned tiredly after eating his whole bowl of food.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

This question tells, not shows. The dog slipped.

• False

• True

Which sentence shows, not tells?

• The little boy slipped on the ice and got a bruise on his arm.

• He fell.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

He fell on ice. Does this sentence show or tell?

• Shows

• Tells

This sentence shows, not tells. She jumped.

• Yes, it shows.

• No, it tells.

Which has more detail?

• She played in snow.

• The little, rambunctious little girl played in the soft, white, snow.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

This sentence shows, not tells. Mia, the already sugared-up little girl, ate the delicious and delightful cookies after dinner.

• True

• False

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5