Narrative Writing

Select a principle below to begin your lesson.

Select a Principle to Learn

Select Your Grade Level

Current selection: Year 5 (Australian curriculum)

Show, Don't Tell

Definition:

Use actions, senses, and dialogue to reveal emotions or events instead of stating them directly.

Tips:

Use show, don't tell deliberately across a full paragraph, not just one sentence.
Add specific details that support your main idea and remove details that do not help.
Check that each choice helps the reader understand your purpose more clearly.
Years 5-6 focus: use strong verbs to show what characters are doing.
Years 5-6 extension: include what characters can see, hear, smell, taste, or feel.

Strategies:

Paragraph Builder

Plan a topic sentence, two supporting details, and one revision that improves show, don't tell.

Specific Detail Check

Replace vague words with clearer nouns, verbs, examples, or reasons that support the main idea.

Years 5-6 Adaptation: Use Your Senses

Think about what your character sees, hears, smells, tastes, and feels in each scene. Add these details to show what's happening. Adjust the complexity and amount of detail for Years 5-6.

Examples:

Before:

Before (Years 5-6, clear paragraph focus): Telling: 'Harry was scared.'

After:

After (Years 5-6, clear paragraph focus): Showing: 'Harry's hands trembled as he gripped his wand, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he faced the towering figure of Voldemort.'

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