Showing vs Telling Presented by Ms Stein Showing

Showing vs. Telling Presented by: Ms. Stein

Showing vs. Telling n Telling: a general fact which isn’t particularly engaging, memorable, or convincing n Showing: specific details that distinguish making the description more unique, specific, and convincing n **Strong ideas in a paper include more showing than telling!

Ways to “Show” 1. Use Dialogue. n n It is fast paced. It involves the reader while advancing characterization and plot.

Example n Telling We rang bells for the salvation army. n Showing Ding. “Thank you and Happy. Holidays, ” chimes in Sara. Ding. “ Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, ” I retort next.

Ways to “Show” 2. Use all the senses. n n Don’t just rely on visual imagery. Use sounds, shapes, smells, and textures.

Example n Telling: I felt horrible. n Showing: Salty tears finally found their way down my cheek carving pathways for their friends to follow. A deep enormous hate bubbled up inside my stomach and forced its way up. I could feel it in my chest when I tried to breathe. It was a stabbing that twisted my insides and made me sick.

Ways to “Show” 3. Use Picture Nouns and Action Verbs. n n Use specific, concrete nouns. Use specific action verbs. Avoid linking verbs.

Example n Telling: I was nervous. n Showing: As I brushed my fingers across the metallic surface, goosebumps erupted from the surface of my skin like mini explosions were taking place in my veins. I grasped the know and in one swift motion opened the door, entrenched inside, and closed it with a gentle click behind me.

Ways to “Show” 4. Use Figurative Language n n Add similes and metaphors to create stronger ideas. Try personification if fitting.

Example n Telling: I was tired. n Showing: Soon after, wave after wave of tiredness crushed my body trying to beat it into a submissive sleep, but my eyes refused to shut.

Ways to “Show” 5. Speak from a particular point of view. n Writing through a particular person’s eye will reveal information through their fictional world.

Example n Telling: I was bleeding. n Showing: I begin to realize how bad my injury is. As I slowly raise my left hand to my wound, my white palm becomes engulfed in red, wrapped like a present. Dipping my hand into the shallow waters along side us, I keep bringing my hand back up to my head, trying to remove some of the blood now flowing in a red river down my neck to the pond forming on my life jacket and the pink Marquette soccer camp T-shirt beneath it.

n The dog scared me. The rotweiller's low growl exploded into a heart-stopping bark. I catapulted backward, banging the chair over on my way toward the door. As useless as my defense was, I kept my right foot poised for the kick.