Show-Not-Tell is taking a "telling" sentence and turning it into a "showing" piece of writing. Use so much description that the reader sees what you are writing about in his/her mind's eye. SHOW the reader what you want to say; don't just tell the reader. Bring these to class each week.
This is called "prompted writing" and helps you prepare for such tests as the F-CAT Writing Test. In fact, the format below is the type used on the test so that you can become familiar with it. This activity also helps you learn to write for different audiences and to begin to evaluate others' writing.
You are strongly encouraged to turn your good SNTs into pieces. The SNT you do for class can be your first draft. Or you can go through the entire writing process on your SNT before it is due and the SNT you bring to class is your final copy. Either way you get to "kill two birds with one stone." That is, you get to do one assignment, but you get to use it for two grades.
Prompt #1
Writing Situation: Just about everyone, at some time or another, has been in or owned a messy room.
Planning for Writing: Before you begin writing, think about the messiest room you can imagine. What would you see, smell, and touch? List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write a show-not-tell essay that describes the messiest room you can imagine.
Prompt #2
Writing Situation: Most Americans have eaten so many pizzas that we couldn=t even hazard a guess as to how many. Some have been better than others.
Planning for Writing: Before you begin writing, think about the best pizza you=ve ever eaten. How did it look, smell, and taste? List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay that describes the best pizza you have ever had so that the reader actually feels like she or he is eating it with you.
Prompt #3
Writing Situation: Most students would not choose doing homework on the weekend as their favorite activity, but many good students use the weekends to get work done for school.
Planning for Writing: Before you begin writing, think of three reasons why a good student would do schoolwork on the weekend and then give details that would convince a not-so-good student that using the weekend for homework is a good idea. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay that would persuade a not-so-good student to start using some of the weekend for schoolwork.
Prompt #4
Writing Situation: The Heartwood Institute says respect involves patience, open-mindedness, and regard for traditions, differences, age, race, religion, the earth, the self, and others.
Planning for Writing: Before you begin writing, think about your definition of respect. Why is respect important? Think of someone you respect and think about why you respect that person. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay that shows the reader what respect is to you and why you think it is important
Prompt #5
Writing Situation: Many people have dogs as pets, but even the best of dogs can drive their owners crazy when they are small puppies.
Planning for Writing: Before you begin writing, think of all the things a small, untrained puppy can do to drive its owner crazy. What might it do considering it isn=t house-trained? How might it act when you=re trying to sleep? What are some of the things it might chew or tear up? List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay describing the terror of a puppy.
Prompt #6
Writing Situation: Every sport has rules which all the players must follow. In fact most sports have rules which must be followed or the game cannot even be played.
Planning for Writing: Before you begin writing, think of the sport that you know the most about. Now think hard and come up with the three rules which are critical to your game and then explain what they mean and tell why they are needed to play the game successfully. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay that explains the three most critical rules of your sport and tells why they are so important to the game.
Prompt #7
Writing Situation: Winston Churchill said, AThe price of greatness is responsibility.@ Since we want all of you to be great, we want you to be responsible.
Planning for Writing: Before you begin writing, think about why it is important to be a responsible person. Think of what happens when people are not responsible. Think of ways that you show responsibility and ways that you could better show responsible behavior. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay that explains why you think it is important to be responsible and describes both the ways you are already responsible and the ways you will become more responsible.
Prompt #8
Writing Situation: Autumn begins at the end of September. For many people it is a favorite season due to the changes in nature and weather, along with the many special days that occur during this time of year.
Planning for Writing: Before you begin writing, decide whether you like or dislike fall. Now think of the reasons you either do or do not like it. Is it the weather or the way the earth changes? Perhaps you like particular holidays or special days that your family celebrates. How about the decorations you see? Maybe it is the going back to school that you like best. Think of the three main reasons you like or dislike autumn. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay explaining why you either like fall or dislike this time of year.