Mystery Short Stories
Resources on the Web:
http://teenwriting.about.com/cs/shortstoryPre-Writing Activities
SettingWriting/Revising
Character Development
Brainstorming for Plot Ideas
Resources to use in class
1. Short stories
to use in class (under 20 minutes)
Miller, Marvin and Roper, Bob (illustrator). Who Dunnit?: How to Be a
Detective in Ten Easy Lessons
*currently out of print, but used copies are available on amazon.com
2. http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mystery/index.htm
A site by Joan Lowery Nixon which offers tips to help students in writing
a mystery. Teachers at our school have used it to create a web-quest
in order to guide students in the writing process. The site offers
an example mystery, writing tips, challenges, revising techniques,
and a certificate of completion all related to writing a mystery!
3.
Mystery novel for class
Raskin, Ellen. The Westing Game. Puffin
Books 1992.
ISBN# 0 14 03.4991 X
Student samples: These samples are still being polished by these seventh graders, but you can still get some great ideas on how to be creative with your mysteries. Streach your mind to think of a new mystery plot!
Student sample 1: This piece was written by Adaw Ward, a seventh grader at Radcliff Middle School (2002-2003). His mystery involves a CIA agent and his quest to find a murderer.
Student sample 2:
This piece was written by Jay Burrows, a seventh grader at Radcilff Middle
School (2002-2003). His mystery offers a comic relief to the typical
murder mystery by allowing you to join him in his search of the criminal
who stole the cookie from the cookie jar.
Student sample 3:
This mystery was written my Marcus Folres, a seventh grader at Radciff
Middle School (2002-2003). Marcus hopes to one day create this mystery
into a book of his own for publication. Enjoy reading as you help solve
the case of the submarine that was bombed and sunk. Who did it? See
if you can put the pieces together.