A problem some students face is “showing” rather than “telling” in papers. For an effective, creative paper, the writer should use illustrative language to make images clear to the reader rather than just stating what they are. That’s the big difference between “showing” and “telling.”
Telling:
Allison enjoys playing computer games.
Showing:
Allison sat down at the computer and logged into a gaming site. She smiled as she pushed the buttons and won game after game.
This is a creative writing tool, but creative writing can come in handy in an academic paper. Imagine how boring it would be if there were no creativity in two to five pages of text! Here are some god examples of “showing” rather than “telling” in an academic way.
Telling:
Alaska’s weather tends to stay below freezing for most of the year.
Showing:
The frosty lands in Alaska are rarely ever defrosted in the course of a year.
While the two examples give the same information, the “showing” example is much more enjoyable to read and adds personality to the paper.
Telling:
Flowers come in a variety of colors.
Showing:
Flowers come in a rainbow of colors.
Even just changing one word can change a "telling" example to a "showing" example. Instead of using a word like "variety," "rainbow" paints a much more vivid picture in a person's mind when it comes to colors.
Feel free to come visit us in the Fullerton College Writing Center with your next writing assignment. We are open Monday through Friday. Our hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please call ahead and make your appointment today! The Fullerton College Writing Center phone number is (714) 992-7153.
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