EXPLAIN IN YOUR OWN WORDS
BUT…
Say it as if you were...
6th year
WRITING
WORKSHOP
Mystery and Suspense
KEY ELEMENTS OF A STORY
CHARACTE
PLOT SETTING
RS
Events or actions that drive both the physical location ppl, animals, or personified
your story — it describes the and point in time in which objects driving your story. It can
“what” of your tale.It includes: your plot takes place. have many characters or just
exposition, rising action, What best serves your one main character. Whether
climax, falling action, and main themes? good or evil, you need your
resolution reader to invest and care about
their journey.
POINT OF
CONFLICT CLIMAX
VIEW
big problem of the story. What describes the lens through
the primary turning point and
is your main character trying which the story is being
what your story has been
to overcome?character vs self, told.Most common: 1st and
building towards. What are
character vs character, 3rd person
your main characters going to
character vs nature, and
do? Will they succeed or fail?
character vs society.
Think about those elements…
What makes a
MYSTERY/CRI
ME story
engaging?
Write 9 words you think will appear and let’s see
what Agatha thinks…
What makes a
MYSTERY/CRIME story
engaging?
SETTING
What kind of settings did she use?
How dOes a remote island differ from a
for example, school?
Which other places will be a good
setting for her?
CHARACTERS
What traits make for an intriguing
suspect? What did she use as comic
relief? How did she create tension
among the characters?
DETECTIVE AND CLUES
What qualities make a good detective?
Did she prefer traditional detectives or
unconventional? What are the benefits
of choosing them? What about your
preferences?
What types of clues did Agatha include?
Could you notice them?
BB
Draw a doodle on your notebook. Finish your
classmate’s doodle in one song.
SUSPENSEFUL WRITING: TRUE OR FALSE
1. Revealing info strategically
2. Resolving conflicts quickly
3. Using cliffhangers
4. Minimizing descriptive detail
What makes a 5. Evocative descriptions
MYSTERY/CRIME story 6. Predictable characters
engaging?
Let’s watch
What makes a
MYSTERY/CRIME story
engaging?
Group work: transform this mundane
setting, character and event using
suspenseful
Setting: A small strategies
coffee shop on a rainy afternoon. The barista is busy
making drinks, and a few customers sit at tables, reading or working
on laptops.
Think about details: how many ppl; sounds, light
Characters: Emily, a young woman engrossed in her book, and Mark,
a man sitting at a corner table, scrolling through his phone.
Think about: the characters behaviour, are they conscious about
each other’s presence?
Event: Emily spills a little coffee on her book but quickly wipes it away
with a napkin
Group work: transform this mundane
setting, character and event using
Setting: Ansuspenseful strategies
old library with rows of dusty books and a few patrons
quietly reading.
Think about details: how many ppl; sounds, light
Characters:Sarah, a middle-aged librarian, and John, a young man
looking for a book
Think about: the characters’ behaviour,how does he look/asks for
the book/ why does he need it/ how does she react?
Event: John asks Sarah for a book
Some samples from previous years
HIS FAVORITE PATIENT (got a 9)
THE FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR (got a 7)
2nd class
WRITING
WORKSHOP
Characters
Which crimes have they
committed?
Rank these characters from least
to most evil. Provide reasons!
What kind of relationship Are they completely
do they have with their evil/morally complex?
adversaries?
What are their
methods and
techniques?
What is their
motivation?
DISCUSS
Are they involved in
What are their crimes intentionally or
psychological traits? by accident?
Do they have potential for
redemption or change?
BB
Go to https://quickdraw.withgoogle.com/
Your main character
Criminal, detective, victim, involved in
a mystery?
Get in groups and brainstorm…:
1. What your character goes through
2. What your character needs
3. Your character’s personality traits
4. Your character’s life, routine and backstory
7. Your character’s quirks and interests
Draw your character or look for images that match
their vibe. Show your classmates
COMPLETE
EVIDENCE
RECAPPING
Mention:
Two sentences about your main character
One strategy from last class to write them
One question for a classmate
You may use: passive voice, emphatic structures, inversion, conditionals,
vocabulary, etc.
3rd class
WRITING
WORKSHOP
CHARACTER POLISHING AND
THE CRIME
REMEMBER…
THE MAIN CHARACTER AND
CRIME ARE KEY ELEMENTS FOR
THE STORY
SO…
THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
LEADING UP TO AND FOLLOWING
THE CRIME SHOULD REVOLVE
AROUND YOUR MAIN CHARACTER
CHARACTER’S GOALS
Character
CHARACTER’S
polishing FEELINGS
CHARACTER’S
FLAWS
CHARACTER’S CHARACTER’S
MOTIVATION BACKGROUND
THIS SHOULD SERVE AS A SUMMARY OF
THE STORY…
Main character
Why does he/she (what type of What is the benefit
want what he/she criminal?) of getting what he
wants? wants?
What does he/she
want?
Does sb help Who is his
him/her? opponent?
How and when
does he/she do so?
CRIME
How many words can you write in 2 minutes? The
longest list wins!!!!!!
How much do you know?
https://wordwall.net/resource/407
7701
TESTIMO
WEAPON NIES
You already know who
and why
Now consider
ALIBI
CRIME
SCENE
CLUES TIMELINE
SUSPECT
S
ACCOMPLIC
ES
WRITE AN
OUTLINE OF THE
CRIME
SHARE IT WITH ONE
CLASSMATE AND
EXCHANGE IDEAS
FOR NEXT CLASS YOU SHOULD
FULLY DEVELOPED…
1.SETTING
2.MAIN CHARACTERS
3.CRIME
4th class
WRITING
WORKSHOP
PLOT
Now, we are ready to consider…
What events will lead to the crime?
How will the characters get involved?
How will the investigation unfold?
Let’s go deeper… We can play a little
with:
The purpose of this hook is to intrigue the reader and entice them to
continue reading. But, not only does the hook need to gain the reader’s
interest, it needs to serve the needs of the plot, too.A well-used hook
should:
1. Introduce the main character
2. Provide a glimpse into their daily life
3. Illustrate them confronting a problem or conflict, unveiling their
character
This dynamic presentation sets the story in motion by showcasing the
main character in action dealing with a challenge, even if it's minor.
For
example,...
"Gunshots echoed through the night.
In a dimly lit room, a bloodstained
figure staggered towards the door. The
crime scene was set, and Detective
Martinez…” “The city slept, unaware of the
clandestine meeting happening
beneath its surface. In a secret
underground casino, a crime boss
orchestrated…”
“"A single envelope arrived at
Detective Turner's desk. Inside, a
cryptic message and a key hinted at a
crime about to unfold…”
“Twenty years ago, a notorious crime
went unsolved. Now, Detective
Anderson revisits the cold case when
a similar pattern emerges”
And then?
"The Inciting Incident: Catalyst for Action
This pivotal moment propels the story forward, disrupting the main
character's world and initiating lasting change. You can craft an inciting
incident using:
● The Deliberate Choice – Here, the main character makes a decision
or a choice that sets the rest of the events of the story in motion.
● The Coincidence – The merging of time, place, and characters.
Think ‘right person in the right place at the right time.’ You could, of
course, substitute ‘wrong’ for ‘right’ here!
From here on out, a sequence of events unfolds leading us into and
through the climax.
Think And about
then? the
previous “hooks”, can
"The Inciting Incident: Catalyst for Action
This pivotal moment propels the story forward, disrupting the main
you think of a
character's world and initiating lasting change. Youcan craft an inciting
incident using:
deliberate choice or a
● The Deliberate Choice – Here, the main character makes a decision
or a choice that sets all in motion the rest of the events of the story.
coincidence
person in the right place at thethat
● The Coincidence – The merging of time, place, and characters.
Think ‘right right time.’ You could, of
course, substitute ‘wrong’ for ‘right’ here!
From here on propers the
out, a sequence of events story
unfolds leading us into and
forward?????
through the climax.
Some other literary devices to play
with your plot
Flashbacks Symbols
Flashforward
Non-chronological
Irony
recounts
LET’S WORK!
Outline the: EXPOSITION, CONFLICT, RISING
ACTION, CLIMAX, FALLING ACTION AND
RESOLUTION
Choose where to use: irony,
flashforwards, flashbacks,symbols,
coincidences, deliberate choices
Also remember:slide 11 “How to
What serves you to turn up the volume
to suspense?
make your writing suspenseful”
SEE YOU
NEXT
CLASS
5th class
WRITING
WORKSHOP
Linguistic resources
What do you think about
these quotes?
LINGUISTIC RESOURCES
Now that you have a general idea of all the stages needed in
a story, it’s time to focus on the linguistic resources that you
will need to write your crime story.
1. Sentence variation and length.
2. Narrative tenses and specific verbs (mind maps of
common action words)
3. Powerful adjectives
SENTENCE VARIATION
Since first and last words are the key places for emphasis in a
sentence, think about opening your sentences with a different
part of speech (instead of starting with S + V +...) especially
verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and prepositions.
● If you want to emphasize action, place a form of the verb first.
○ Example: Chasing puppies is fun.
● If you want to emphasize the nature of the action, begin with an
adverb.
○ Example: Loudly barking dogs annoy me.
● If you want to emphasize a descriptive element, put the adjective
first.
○ Example: Fluffy puppies feel soft.
● If you want to emphasize location or orientation, place the
preposition first.
○ Example: Underneath the dog’s collar you’ll see a tick.
SENTENCE VARIATION
● The detective followed a trail of blood in the dark alley. The door
shut. (focus on the action)
● The thief carefully planned the heist for weeks. The thief executed
the job on a silent night (focus on the nature of the action)
● An eerie old elm tree lurks in my backyard. It spooks my little
brother. (focus on location)
● The motel is dingy. It smells putrid. (focus on description)
● He drove slowly down the street in his hybrid vehicle. He passed by
kids on tricycles. (focus on action)
Joining sentences
Join complete sentences, clauses, and phrases with
conjunctions:
and, but, or, nor, yet, for, so
Example: He spent the evening studying for chemistry. He had a
chemistry test. He couldn't finish the essay for literature.
Revision: He spent the evening studying chemistry
for he had a test, but he couldn't finish the essay
for literature.
Joining sentences
Link two related sentences through subordination.
after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even
though, if, if only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until,
when, where, whereas, wherever, whether, which, while
Example: The campus parking problem is getting worse. The
university is not building any new garages.
Revision: The campus parking problem is getting
worse because the university is not building any
new garages.
SPEAKING
CHALLENGE
1. CHOOSE ONE OF YOUR CHARACTERS
2. CHANNEL YOUR INNER ACTOR/ACTRESS
3. DISCUSS INCARNATING YOUR CHARACTER
1. Football is better than Rugby.
Remember that you are 2. People should be allowed to go
debating from your
character’s shoes, not your
barefoot anywhere they want.
own 3. It would be better to be able to fly
than to be able to turn invisible.
4. People shouldn’t have to go to school
or work on their birthdays.
5. It’s better to be the superhero than
the sidekick.
Short revision: NARRATIVE TENSES
Narrative tenses are verb tenses that are used to talk about the
past. You can often find them in stories, textbooks, spoken
accounts and in descriptions of past events. In pairs, can you
give an example for each of them?
Past simple Past events in chronological order
Actions in progress in the past (or longer actions
Past continuous
interrupted by shorter actions in past simple)
The “earlier past”, actions that happened
Past Perfect simple
before the main events
Longer continuous actions (action/dynamic
Past Perfect verbs) that happened before the main events
continuous and continued up to that point
NARRATIVE TENSES
Past simple Regular verbs -ED; Irregular verbs (broke, ate)
Didn’t; Did
Past continuous Verb to be was/were + V-ing
Past Perfect simple
Had + V past participle (broken,
eaten)
Past Perfect Had + been + V past participle
continuous
Narrative tenses- Fill in the gaps
1. I told Mary not to drive becauseHad
shebeen drinking
___________________ (drink) all
night. Was watching
2. Why did you changed the channel? I ___________________ (watch)
Was getting went
that
movie.
3. When I _____________________ (get) out of the shower, the lights
Hadn’t changed
___________ (go) off.
4. When I saw Clara, I realised that she _______________ (change) much
hit
in all those years.
5. After he entered the Had taken
room somebody _______________ (hit) him in the
head. Had been trying heard
6. He admitted that he _________________ (take) all the money from the
box. Had been crying
7. The burglar ____________________ (try) to open the safe when he
______________ (hear) the owner come in.
Work
work
work
Revise your story
CHANGE:
● At least 3 sentences to
emphasise different places
● Join or break up sentence to
vary length
● Check tenses
● Follow the rule: show not tell
6th class
WRITING
WORKSHOP
Linguistic resources: powerful
adj
Powerful adjectives:
Follow your instincts
What is an adjective?
It’s a describing word that can either come before a
Noun or come after a form of the verb to be.
The pupils did some remarkable work;
The pupil’s work was remarkable
Can you spot the powerful adjective in these
sentences?
The The menacing earthquake shook the ground.
Running past collapsing buildings, the people were terrified.
The calm charity worker tried to point the anxious villagers toward a
place of safety.
Which more powerful words could replace
the adj?
Thousands of miles away, a good island lay in the
middle of the Mediterranean Sea.
Exquisite
Breathtakin
Splendid
g
Marvello
Superb
us
Glorious
Magnific
ent
Which more powerful words could replace
the adj?
As the film reached its dramatic conclusion, the
crowd were shocked
Stunned
Astonished
Taken
Staggered
aback
flabbergast
Astounded
ed
shaken
Which more powerful words could replace
the adj?
The happy lotto winner jumped for joy at her
multi-million pound win
Ecstatic
Elated
Overjoyed
Delighted
Euphoric
triumphant
jubilant
IMPROVE THE PASSAGE
Taking a big gulp of air, the tired climber dug his ice tool
into the hard surface of the mountain. His hands and feet
were cold, and he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able
to make it. Would this dangerous cliff face really defeat
him?
BIG TIRED HARD COLD DANGEROUS
Great Weary Solid Perished Treacherous
Considerable Exhausted Unyielding Icy Perilous
substantial fatigued rigid frozen hazardous
BB
Ninja
Powerful adjectives:
FOUR GROUPS: What adjectives may appear in a
mystery/crime story for…?
Just some options… which ones are new to you?
PLACES CHARACTERS FEELINGS ACTIONS
● Gloomy ● Shrewd ● Dread ● Skulk
● Desolate ● Sly ● Tension ● Conspire
● Shadowy ● Resilient ● Suspicion ● Prowl
● Dilapidate ● Evasive ● Anxiety ● Infiltrate
d ● Determine ● Paranoia ● Lurk
● Abandone d ● Grief ● Menace
d ● Vigilant
● Isolated
Add powerful adjectives and compare
with a partner
At the end of their __________________performance, the
gymnastics team were ___________________. After months of
___________________ practice, had they managed to do
enough to impress the ___________________ judges? They
held a___________________ pose as the audience gave
them a round of applause.
USEFUL LINKS:
For synonyms https://www.thesaurus.com/
For collocations (adverbs, verbs, adjectives, etc)
https://ozdic.com/collocation/tree
Add powerful adjectives and compare
with a partner
The _______ house stood at the end of a winding, narrow
road, surrounded by tall, _______ trees that whispered
secrets in the wind. Its _______ gray façade hinted at a
mysterious past, and the creaking wooden door seemed to
guard _______ stories within. As you entered, the dimly lit
foyer welcomed you with a faint aroma of _______ books
and aged wood. USEFUL LINKS:
For synonyms https://www.thesaurus.com/
For collocations (adverbs, verbs, adjectives, etc)
https://ozdic.com/collocation/tree
Challenge: create one sentence using one of these
powerful adjectives
● Enigmatic: Mysterious, puzzling, difficult to understand or
interpret.
● Surreptitious: Secretive, stealthy, done in a way to avoid
notice.
● Insidious: Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with
harmful effects; treacherous.
● Inscrutable: Impossible to understand or interpret;
mysterious.
● Pernicious: Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or
subtle way.
● Clandestine: Kept secret or done secretly, often because it is
illicit.
● Foreboding: Implying that something bad is going to happen;
a sense of impending doom.
Revise your story
CHANGE:
● At least 5 adjectives (or add
them)
● Remember that it should
sound natural, do not overdo
it
