Look at the following two paragraphs:
The weather is very nice today. The nice sky looks so pretty. Blue skies are high up. Trees look good. The air is clean. It is warm. I feel the sun. There is a good breeze.
AND
I can feel the sun’s rays dance across my skin, warming each cell with its long, dazzling fingers. A ceiling of azure, high, high above, invites me to gaze toward the heavens. Wispy puffs of milky-white moisture streak across the sky, reflecting the sunlight. The palm and oak stretch their arms into the light, swaying in the light springtime breeze. With each breath the fragrance of earth, clean and fresh, fills my head. The delicate heat of the atmosphere wraps around me, embracing me. What a delight!
The weather is very nice today. The nice sky looks so pretty. Blue skies are high up. Trees look good. The air is clean. It is warm. I feel the sun. There is a good breeze.
AND
I can feel the sun’s rays dance across my skin, warming each cell with its long, dazzling fingers. A ceiling of azure, high, high above, invites me to gaze toward the heavens. Wispy puffs of milky-white moisture streak across the sky, reflecting the sunlight. The palm and oak stretch their arms into the light, swaying in the light springtime breeze. With each breath the fragrance of earth, clean and fresh, fills my head. The delicate heat of the atmosphere wraps around me, embracing me. What a delight!
While both paragraphs address the topic, the second one is SHOWING when the first was only TELLING.
Your assignment is to write a SHOW, DON’T TELL for each of the following topics. Your writing must be a minimum of one sheet of notebook paper (front only) and may be no longer than two. Please use your very neatest handwriting. You may type your assignment using Times or Arial font but you may not add clip art or other decorations. Use a 12 pin font. Whether typed or handwritten you must place your heading in the upper right corner.
This assignment will be graded for a completion grade, 100% for turned-in, on time, and on-topic writing, or a 0% for work that is missing or late. In the event of an EXCUSED absence, the assignment will be due on the next day of attendance.
On “Show Don’t Tell Day,” your papers will be collected and checked in. They will be assigned a number randomly, and the heading will be inked-out to protect the writer’s anonymity. Then teams will be given several papers to read, compare, and discuss detailed writing. We will then choose the paper that we think showed the most WITHOUT telling. The writer will receive a certificate (suitable for framing) and a sweet treat!
Due dates for these topics will be posted in class and on this website.
1. The party was fun.
2. That was quite a storm.
3. I was frightened.
4. What a great surprise.
5. The teacher was mean.
6. That meal was delicious.
7. What a rollercoaster ride!
8. The show was fantastic.
9. Boy, am I angry.
10. What a beautiful animal!
11. I was treated like royalty.
12.What a wonderful friend.
13. That was an interesting bus ride.
14. That was a great piece of writing.
Your assignment is to write a SHOW, DON’T TELL for each of the following topics. Your writing must be a minimum of one sheet of notebook paper (front only) and may be no longer than two. Please use your very neatest handwriting. You may type your assignment using Times or Arial font but you may not add clip art or other decorations. Use a 12 pin font. Whether typed or handwritten you must place your heading in the upper right corner.This assignment will be graded for a completion grade, 100% for turned-in, on time, and on-topic writing, or a 0% for work that is missing or late. In the event of an EXCUSED absence, the assignment will be due on the next day of attendance.
On “Show Don’t Tell Day,” your papers will be collected and checked in. They will be assigned a number randomly, and the heading will be inked-out to protect the writer’s anonymity. Then teams will be given several papers to read, compare, and discuss detailed writing. We will then choose the paper that we think showed the most WITHOUT telling. The writer will receive a certificate (suitable for framing) and a sweet treat!
Due dates for these topics will be posted in class and on this website.
1. The party was fun.
2. That was quite a storm.
3. I was frightened.
4. What a great surprise.
5. The teacher was mean.
6. That meal was delicious.
7. What a rollercoaster ride!
8. The show was fantastic.
9. Boy, am I angry.
10. What a beautiful animal!
11. I was treated like royalty.
12.What a wonderful friend.
13. That was an interesting bus ride.
14. That was a great piece of writing.
Topic #1 is due 12/10 for A day and 12/11 for B day
