Show, Don�t
Tell
Ryan Thomas
Materials:
Students will need their
writing workshop notebook and will need to take notes in the designated
�Writing Craft� section.
Time:
Approximately 20 minutes
Objectives:
NCTE Standards
�
Students adjust
their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style,
vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for
different purposes.
NCSCS Standards
�
Competency Goal
1:� The learner will use language to
express individual perspectives drawn from personal or related experience.
1.01:� Narrate a fictional or autobiographical
account which:
�
uses remembered feelings and specific details.
Purpose
of Mini-Lesson:
The purpose of this mini-lesson is to make young
adolescent writers aware that they can engage the reader more by using
descriptive words that show what they are trying to tell rather then simply
telling in their writing.� This lesson
should be taught when the teacher begins writing workshop with the class.� It can also be used to aid when students are
having trouble with being descriptive in their writing.� Hopefully, by the end of the lesson, students
will recognize that they are more engaged when reading passages that are
descriptive and have ideas about how to improve their writing to make it
descriptive.
Activity:
The teacher will give students two very short (1-2
pgs) reading passages to read to themselves.�
The passages should have been chosen so that one is very descriptive
with great details, and the other somewhat boring with little description.� The students will then be asked to discuss
with the teacher which passage they liked best and why.� The students should answer that they like the
more descriptive passage.� The teacher
will ask them to pick out particular words that jumped out at them and the
teacher will write them on the board for students to record in their
notebook.� The students and teacher will
then make a general list of descriptive words on the board that the students can
use for a quick reference when writing.�
Once the lesson is over, students should have a list of words that they
can use in their own writing, and have an understanding that writing is more
effective when it is descriptive.
Script:
I am really excited about writing workshop and have
some good ideas about how to make your writing even better than it already
is.� If you would
please take out your writing workshop notebook and turn to the �Writing Craft�
section. (Give students time to get notebooks)
(Distribute reading passages to the class.)� I have given you guys two passages to read to� yourselves.� Please read carefully because we are going to
be using the passages in a moment.� (Give
students time to read)
Okay, which passage did you like best?� (Give students a chance to answer. Students
should have picked the more descriptive passage.)
Why did you pick the passage you picked?� (Give students a chance to answer. Students
should say, I could see what the author was saying, I was more interested,
etc.)
The reason that you probably like the [name of
passage] is because it shows you more than it tells you.� Readers are typically more interested in what
the writer has to say when the writer uses descriptive words that keep the
reader�s attention.� What are some
descriptive words that you see in this passage?�
Please write these words down in your notes as I write them on the
board. (Record on overhead or chalkboard the words that the students are
picking out.� If there are words left
out, add to the list.)
Now we have words that show what you are trying to say
and I want you to use those words in your own writing.� Let�s continue our list beyond the
passage.� What are some descriptive words
that you think everyone might be able to use?�
(List should include colors, sounds, shapes, sizes, etc. �Add to list if necessary.)
Follow
Up:
Make individual suggestions to students writing on how
they can make their writing more descriptive.
Related
Lesson:
*Using adjectives in writing