Language Arts: Descriptive Writing: Show Dont Tell Worksheet

Question 1

Rewrite this telling sentence so it shows the feeling: Mia was nervous before the speech.

Accepted Answer

One possible answer is: Mia gripped her note cards so tightly that the edges bent, and her voice shook as she stepped toward the microphone.

Question 2

Rewrite this telling sentence so it shows the scene: The room was messy.

Accepted Answer

One possible answer is: Clothes spilled off the chair, books lay open across the floor, and empty cups crowded the desk.

Question 3

Rewrite this telling sentence so it shows the emotion: Carlos was excited about the game.

Accepted Answer

One possible answer is: Carlos bounced on his toes, grinned at his teammates, and kept checking the clock until the game began.

Question 4

Read the sentence: The soup was hot. Rewrite it to show that the soup was hot without using the word hot.

Accepted Answer

One possible answer is: Steam curled up from the bowl, and Jenna pulled back after the first spoonful burned the tip of her tongue.

Question 5

Rewrite this telling sentence so it shows the weather: It was a cold morning.

Accepted Answer

One possible answer is: Frost coated the sidewalk, and Sam shoved his hands deep into his pockets as his breath drifted in white clouds.

Question 6

Which sentence is a better example of show dont tell? A: Leah was sad. B: Leah stared at the empty seat beside her and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

Sentence B is a better example because it uses actions and details to help the reader infer that Leah is sad instead of stating the feeling directly.

Question 7

Rewrite this telling sentence so it shows the character trait: Mr. Chen was kind.

Accepted Answer

One possible answer is: Mr. Chen stayed after class to help Jamal with his assignment and slipped an extra snack into his backpack for later.

Question 8

Add one sensory detail to make this sentence show more clearly: The beach was beautiful.

Accepted Answer

One possible answer is: The beach glowed with golden light, waves hissed against the shore, and the salty breeze lifted Maya's hair.

Question 9

Rewrite this telling sentence so it shows the action: Devon was in a hurry.

Accepted Answer

One possible answer is: Devon snatched his backpack off the table, nearly tripped over his untied shoe, and raced out the door without finishing his toast.

Question 10

Write one original showing sentence for this telling idea: The dog was tired.

Accepted Answer

One possible answer is: The dog dropped onto the rug with a heavy sigh and barely lifted its head when the doorbell rang.

Language Arts: Descriptive Writing: Show Dont Tell

Language Arts: Descriptive Writing: Show Dont Tell

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