Show and Tell: How Billy’s Turtle Can Help You Become a Better Writer

How many times do you hear it?
It goes on all day long
Everyone knows everything
And no one's ever wrong
Until later...

Who can you believe?
It's hard to play it safe
But apart from a few good friends
We don't take anything on faith
Until later...

Show...don't tell...

("Show Don't Tell" from Rush's 1989 album, Presto. Lyrics by
Neil Peart)

Students in Wright State’s developmental composition courses are often asked to write narrative essays. On the surface of it, there doesn’t seem to be much connection between the narrative form – telling a story – and other forms of academic writing. I think this superficial appearance can sometimes leave students feeling that they are doing less than college level work. The truth, however, is a different story.

There are a number of connections between the narrative form and other types of academic writing, but I want to focus on just one element: "show and tell." In class and in their writing center sessions, students often hear their teachers or tutors exhorting them to “show, don’t tell.” In some ways this must be very frustrating.

First, the very way we talk about narratives most commonly is to describe it as “telling a story.” Suddenly, this description gets turned on its head, leaving students to wonder “how can I tell a story if you won’t let me TELL?” A secondary factor in the frustration might exist on a more psychological level. After all, this emphasis on “show and tell” must bring on juvenile flashbacks of second grade when little Billy brought his turtle in for show and tell.

What may not be readily apparent in this emphasis on showing, not telling, is that the concept is critically important to success in just about any academic discipline. I remember in Math classes being asked to show my work, not merely give or “tell” the answer. When scientists report on their experiments, they are asked not just to “tell” their results, but to describe or “show” their methodology as well so that other scientists can assess the validity of the experiment. And in just about any course where writing takes place, one is asked not merely to assert or “tell” a claim, but to back it up or show logic and evidence that supports the claim.

This is a “real world” issue as well. Advertisers often use statistics, testimonials, and demonstrations to show how effective or valuable their products are. With the Presidential primary season in full swing, the candidates are jetting from state to state to tell us why they are the best choices to lead their parties and ultimately the country. They’re doing a lot of telling to be sure, but many of them are pointing to their past achievements as a way of showing us what they will do as President.

Even our slang and clichés bear evidence of the value of showing versus telling. “Actions speak louder than words.” “Seeing is believing.” Even the saying, “Money talks, bullsh** walks” is ultimately expressing the concept that “talk is cheap” and some action, demonstration, or “show” is required to lend credence to what is being said.

Rather surprisingly, “show and tell” turns out to be a valuable adult experience. While we emphasize “show, don’t tell,” the two actually accentuate one another. Accepted teaching methodology encourages us to describe something and then demonstrate it – in other words, to both tell and show. In our academic writing for other courses, we are asked to assert a claim or position and then support it or prove it. Assertion alone is not enough, and proof without the context of the assertion doesn’t make much sense.

So when your tutor or instructor urges you to “show, don’t tell” what they are really saying is that the current draft has too much telling and not enough showing. A narrative may well rely more on showing rather than telling, but that’s what makes it excellent preparation for other types of academic writing you will be doing. We’ve all got an opinion about things, so it’s easy to “tell” – we get a lot of practice at that. We don’t always have well-thought-out reasons for our opinions, therefore, we sometimes need to be reminded to show as well as tell.

So “show and tell” might seem like a juvenile concept, but ultimately, it is a potent combination for making and proving your point. Maybe Billy’s turtle was helping you to become a better writer all along.