Showing, Not Telling

Showing, Not Telling writing is when we SHOW our readers an idea rather than TELL them an idea.

Telling: I was mad.

Showing: My fists curled into two tight rocks. I could feel my face turning blood-red. My teeth clenched together, trapping all the words I wished I could say aloud.

Telling: My teacher is mean.

Showing: My teacher rips our papers in half if we don't use our best handwriting. She called my mom and told her I was an idiot! She slapped a student across the face with a ruler because he sneezed. She gives us F's before she even reads our papers.