Show-Not-Tells--Fourth Term

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.

NOTE: ORDER OF SNT PROMPTS HAS NOT YET BEEN UPDATED FOR 2006. DOUBLE CHECK HANDOUT GIVEN IN CLASS.

Prompt # 1

Writing Situation: Showing courtesy to each other is an important character trait. It involves consideration, kindness, gratitude, and patience. When we do not show simple courtesies to each other, it can lead to bad feelings and sometimes even violence.
Planning for Writing: Think about how you are treated at school. How do you treat others? What do you most like about the way people treat each other at our school? What do you most dislike about the way people treat each other? Why do we need to be courteous? List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay that would persuade middle school students to show more courtesy to others at school.

Prompt #2

Writing Situation: Every year the debate about schools includes retaining students and making them repeat a grade.
Planning for Writing: Think about the advantages and disadvantages of retaining students in middle school. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now decide whether you believe students should or should not be retained in middle school and then write an essay that would convince your readers to believe as you do.

Prompt # 3

Writing Situation: Doing well in every class in school is important, but teachers, parents, and students probably would never be able to agree on which subject is the most important.
Planning for Writing: Think about the different subjects you study in school. Think about how they impact each other and how they will impact your future once you're out of school, holding down a job, raising a family, etc. List or cluster your ideas
Directions for Writing: Now decide which school subject you think is most important and then write an essay that will convince your readers that the subject you chose is the most important.

Prompt # 4

Writing Situation: The task of the schools is to educate all students. Even though many people are constantly trying to improve education, like most institutions, it could be better.
Planning for Writing: Think about ways that schools could be improved. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay explaining the ways that your school could be better.

Prompt # 5

Writing Situation: "Honesty is the best policy." Most people would agree that honesty is an important character trait. When you interact with other people it is important to be truthful, sincere, and straightforward. It is difficult to form a relationship with someone who lies, cheats, and steals.
Planning for Writing: What makes an honest person? Is it important to you to be an honest person? Why or why not? Think about what honesty is to you and why it is important for you to be an honest person. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay that explains what honesty is to you and why it is important.

Prompt # 6

Writing Situation: Some people say that sixth grade is one of the hardest in all the years of school and often it isn't until years later that people realize how much they learned and grew during that year.
Planning for Writing: Rather than waiting for years, think now about how much you have learned and how much you have grown as a student and person this past year. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay explaining how you learned a lot in sixth grade.

Prompt # 7

Writing Situation: It is normal for students to overlook what they have gained from a teacher, especially if the teacher gives a lot of work and is strict :).
Planning for Writing: Think about what has been good about reading and writing classes this year. Think about how you have grown as a reader and writer. Think about what the teacher has done to make that happen. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write an essay explaining why your reading/writing teacher is a good teacher.

Prompt # 8

Writing Situation: Often when people think or write about their memories of childhood, it includes fun times during summer.
Planning for Writing: Think about what makes summer fun. What do you do? How do you feel? Who is with you? Picture it all in your mind. List or cluster your ideas.
Directions for Writing: Now write a showing (not telling) description of why summer is fun.

Prompt # 9
Writing Situation:
Planning for Writing:
Directions for Writing:

POINTS TO REMEMBER

Your writing should be full of description–show, don't just tell. Paint a picture in your reader's mind with your words.

Remember who your audience is. In this case, it is your classmates.

You can turn a good SNT into a piece of writing. The SNT you do for class can be your first draft. Just read it to a peer and adult, get feedback (remember to write the feedback on your conference record sheet). Revise and write a second draft. Get feedback again. Do minor revisions, if necessary after feedback. Self-edit and then get a parent or Mrs. Jones to edit it and correct any errors you missed. Write a final copy and attach your drafts and conference record sheet. You've done a piece.

Bring your SNT to class every Friday. If you forget, you'll have to write it in class, but you'll only get half credit. If absent, be sure to put it in the make up box.

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