Using Rich Language

Worksheet Description

The “Show Don’t Tell” worksheet is a writing exercise designed to guide students in enhancing their storytelling abilities. It presents straightforward sentences that state facts, such as “Kim forgot her lunch,” and prompts students to rewrite these facts into sentences that ‘show’ the situation. The aim is for students to use descriptive language to illustrate the scenes, allowing readers to infer what is happening through context rather than being directly told. This exercise is presented in a clear and focused way, with space provided for students to write their more descriptive sentences.

This worksheet is teaching students the narrative technique of “showing” rather than “telling” to make their writing more engaging and vivid. Students learn to replace flat, expository statements with rich, descriptive language that paints a picture in the reader’s mind. The exercise encourages the development of observational skills and creativity, as students must consider the details that effectively ‘show’ an event or emotion. Ultimately, the worksheet guides students toward a more nuanced and immersive approach to writing, which is a fundamental skill for effective storytelling.