Show Not Tell

He clenched his fist.

• sad

• angry

• confused

• relaxed

Which of the following sentences best shows your meaning instead of just telling it?

• She is always happy.

• Whenever I see her, she has a spring in her step and a smile on her face.

• She is the happiest person I know.

• She makes me really happy because she is always happy.

Which of the following sentences best shows your meaning instead of just telling it?

• Cleaning is boring, and I don't want to do it.

• I dreamed my desk was clean, but dreams are not reality.

• Will you clean my desk for me?

• I don't want to clean today.

Which of the following sentences best shows your meaning instead of just telling it?

• His shoes smell really terrible.

• I can't stand the smell of his shoes.

• Everyone said his shoes smelled bad.

• His shoes could be used as a lethal weapon.

Which of the following sentences best shows your meaning instead of just telling it?

• I really enjoyed the concert.

• It is my favorite band, I loved seeing them live.

• The concert was so good, and everyone seemed to be having a great time.

• The roar of the audience shook the stadium as they sang along to the lyrics.

"Rogan jumped back suddenly and gasped." This is an example of...

• Sensory Details

• Show-not-tell

Show-not-tell is...

• using adjectives and descriptive words to paint a detailed picture for the readers

• a way to explain and talk about our own experiences

• using action to provide description instead of stating an emotion or experience

• a writing strategy for informational texts

This is an example of...

• Sensory Details

• Show-not-tell

Which of the following is the best example of Show-not-Tell?

• Cindy looked excited as she walked into the room with a bright smile.

• Allie's eyes narrowed as Danny explained his plan.

• Karl was terrified as we approached the edge of the canyon.

Which of the following sentences best shows your meaning instead of just telling it?

• A) The sun was hot.

• B) The sun beat down relentlessly, causing sweat to trickle down my back.

• C) It was a sunny day.

• D) The sun was shining brightly.