SHOW+NOT+TELL+US!

===Showing not Telling in Writing: A picture is worth a thousand words. You have probably heard this expression before and writing a "picture in words" is what writing is all about! The more detailed you are in your writing, the better your audience will understand what you are trying to say.===

** Writing the Body of an Article ** After playing the introductory note, the writer now __plays the melody using a combination of four piano keys: exposition, narration, quotation, and description__. Each key represents one or more paragraphs and can be played in any order. If the notes vary, then the composition will sound more pleasing to your audience.

1) **Narration and Description**

An excellent way to build your body paragraphs is to combine narration and description. //Narratives// vary the flow of nonfiction and create appeal to the reader. Many people enjoy reading narratives and find that information conveyed in this way is easier to remember. //Description// is usually woven into narration. It may be used to add the sensory images (color, detail, sound, smell, etc.) to the piece. Writers may use phrases, sentences, or entire passages in the body of an essay or article.

2) **Quotations**

Quotations add authority and a conversational tone to the work. The phrasing and cadence of a quote creates a change in the rhythm of a piece of writing, adding variety and a feeling of presence. Look at the difference between the use of quotes by //People// magazine and //National Geographic. People// uses quotes continuously, but //NG// focuses on ideas and injects quotes for emphasis and variety. In a research article, quotes highlight clarification by an authority.

3) **Exposition**

Exposition (or writing that explains) develops topics around the following patterns:


 * Details and examples--
 * Evidence and reasons--
 * Comparisons and contrast--
 * Cause and effect--
 * Narration--tell a story
 * Enumeration--first......second....

Check the resources below for more specifics on how your can show the ideas more than "tell" about them.

1) View video: []

2) Review the techniques on how to SHOW NOT TELL: