Mystery Stories!

Hello Everyone!

So, start thinking about your MYSTERIES you need to write. Today, we did a crazy writing exercise, using story cubes dice (which you can find at Granville Island Toys if you liked them), and a group-writing technique to construct short mysteries.

Here are the documents you need to do the MYSTERY WRITING project: Mystery Words, Mystery Elements Writing Guide, Mystery Graphic Organizer, Super Sleuth Peer Editing Sheet, and Mystery Writing Rubric. 

Your stories should be approximately 4 pages (12pt font (Comic Sans/Times New Roman or Arial), typed, double spaced using 1.5 spacing option) and need to have (a):

  • Beginning: Start with a HOOK, introduce interesting characters and setting. Try to come up with a name for your characters that would appeal to everyone, not just you. Remember this story is a mystery. It can have funny elements, but the story needs to make sense and not be silly.
  • Middle: Talk about the CRIME, the SUSPECTS, the CLUES, and key ACTION as the characters try to solve the mystery. You will need a DISTRACTION, some WITNESSES, and a RED HERRING.
  • End: Solve the crime. Who did it? What was their motive (why did they do it)? What is the reward for solving the crime OR how do the characters end their story?
  • CSI Details: Use the labs we have done so far during the unit. How will fingerprints, a crime scene, dental records, fibres, bones, etc. be used as clues and evidence?
  • DESCRIPTIVE Language: Use our brainstorm lists in the classroom to add adjectives to your stories to make them more interesting. Describe the character, setting, and clues with exciting words. How will you set the mood? This is a mystery, not a funny story, so what kinds of words would you hear? Use a thesaurus actively to look for synonyms.
  • DIALOGUE: Your story must have some dialogue. I would like to see 10 sentences in quotes in the story. Remember how to indicate dialogue.
  • INDENTS: Remember to indent paragraphs (except for the first one) and to start a new line when a new speaker starts speaking!
  • EDITING: Make sure you edit your work. Use a dictionary for spelling and/or spell check. Have a peer look over your work using the mystery peer checker worksheet from Ms. D.

Stories will be due Friday, February 24th. Time will be given for planning and writing in class, so not much will need to be done at home. For those who need the extra time, though, if you do take it home (which means Ms. D has written story writing for agenda on the board), then please do not receive help from Mom and Dad beyond spelling and/or editing questions. The ideas need to be your own, and I should visually see you doing the majority of the work at school, so I can help you with your writing process. Thank you.