Outcomes:
Students will be able to differentiate between "showing" and "telling" in writing.
Students will be able to add details in order to improve descriptive passages.
Time: 30 minutes
Resources: white board/markers
Presentation:
Ask students: Which of the following endings is better? Why?
A. I had finally finished the long race across the Sahara desert.
B. As I crossed the finish line, a surge of excitement went through my body. I knelt down and kissed the ground. Finally, after weeks of trudging through endless sand dunes, it was over.
Allow students to discuss the two endings. The second ending is better because it gives the reader a vivid picture of what happened. The first ending only tells. When writing, we want the reader to be able to see, taste, smell, hear and sense things just as we are. It is important to use details that invoke imagery.
Write the following sentence on the board: Today the weather was nice.
Ask students: How could we add more details to this sentence? We don't know what the weather was like at all. Was it sunny, raining, cloudy, or what?
Ask students orally to think of ways to better describe the nice weather, jot down ideas on the board.
Activity:
Inform students that they must add more details to the following sentences so that they are more descriptive. Write the first sentence on the board and ask students to each write their own "showing" sentence(s) rather than just telling. Walk around while students are working to make sure they understand how to show rather than just tell. When students have finished, allow them to share their answers. Then give them the second sentence and repeat the process. If students are having trouble understanding, give them the sample answers so that they can see how to add details. Remind students that even though they are adding details they must try to make the same main point. Continue with the third and fourth sentences.
1. The Rockers are the best band ever.
Sample Answer: The Rockers have sold more records than any other band in history. They have been on the cover of all of the famous magazines and have millions of fans.
Students will be able to differentiate between "showing" and "telling" in writing.
Students will be able to add details in order to improve descriptive passages.
Time: 30 minutes
Resources: white board/markers
Presentation:
Ask students: Which of the following endings is better? Why?
A. I had finally finished the long race across the Sahara desert.
B. As I crossed the finish line, a surge of excitement went through my body. I knelt down and kissed the ground. Finally, after weeks of trudging through endless sand dunes, it was over.
Allow students to discuss the two endings. The second ending is better because it gives the reader a vivid picture of what happened. The first ending only tells. When writing, we want the reader to be able to see, taste, smell, hear and sense things just as we are. It is important to use details that invoke imagery.
Write the following sentence on the board: Today the weather was nice.
Ask students: How could we add more details to this sentence? We don't know what the weather was like at all. Was it sunny, raining, cloudy, or what?
Ask students orally to think of ways to better describe the nice weather, jot down ideas on the board.
Activity:
Inform students that they must add more details to the following sentences so that they are more descriptive. Write the first sentence on the board and ask students to each write their own "showing" sentence(s) rather than just telling. Walk around while students are working to make sure they understand how to show rather than just tell. When students have finished, allow them to share their answers. Then give them the second sentence and repeat the process. If students are having trouble understanding, give them the sample answers so that they can see how to add details. Remind students that even though they are adding details they must try to make the same main point. Continue with the third and fourth sentences.
1. The Rockers are the best band ever.
Sample Answer: The Rockers have sold more records than any other band in history. They have been on the cover of all of the famous magazines and have millions of fans.
- Easy to follow lesson plan
- Interactive writing activity
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