How do I elaborate?

Just add details and stir.

For real. So, where do details come from??? Yes, it's the question that students seem to have the most trouble tackling, and adding. You've read enough of the "and then, and then, and then" to know that they don't completely understand it. Here's how Steve Peha succinctly categorizes those "know 'em when I see em's" so students gets really get the point... elaborated.

1. The 5 W's
2. The five senses
3. Setting
4. Attributes-size, shape, color
5. Feelings

Steve Peha, the owner, writer, and teacher extraordinaire, has this and other easy-to-read, teacher and student friendly strategies in his PDF "The Organizers" with a one-sheeter called "The Writing Strategy Organizer" to help teachers and students do everything from pick a topic, to set the stage, and of course add details. If you can't hyperlink it the address is: http://www.ttms.org/. Click the headline in the green box called "The Organizers".

I would be remiss to not add the reading component to this, so if you have time try "Read Like a Reader; Read Like a Writer" too. Trust me. It's worth the extra click.