4.7 "Show, Don't Tell" and Free Verse

Show, Don't Tell - Try It!

What are the secrets to "showing" a scene? You learned this in Unit 1!

  • Use specific details.
  • Use strong action verbs. Enhance them with creatively applied adverbs.
  • Use interesting nouns. Describe them with tantalizing adjectives!
  • Use imagery to create a picture.

These details breathe life into your writing and project the reader into the scene and become a part of it.

In your Learning Guide, in Show, Don't Tell Rewrites, you will rewrite three of the following as "showing sentences" so that they become "telling sentences". Choose from:

  • He eats like a horse.
  • A student’s life is hard.
  • The car was old.
  • My room is a mess.
  • The streets were crowded.
  • Camping is a rewarding experience.

Go To Your Learning Guide