Who is the main character in this story?

What is the character’s goal? What is he or she trying to accomplish?

What problems does the character face while trying to reach that goal?

What happened? How did the story end?

Someone

WantedButSo

How to Write a Summary

Requirements for the Detective Notebook

Handbook CoverInclude the following:1. First and last name2. Title of book3. Author of book4. Copyright date5. Illustrate or decorate cover using specific symbols from the mystery you read

ForewordYour foreword should show that you have a comprehensive understanding about the plot of the self-selected mystery you read. •The first paragraph summarizes the mystery without giving

away the solution.•In the second paragraph you will dedicate your detective

notebook to a particular person; explain why you have chosen that person

Mystery Genre

Table of Contents

Foreword

Kind of Mystery

Sleuth’s Character Traits

Crime Scene

“Wanted” Poster

Story Map

Persuasive Letter

Elements of a Mystery

Timeline

Letter to the Chief

Wanted Poster

Kind of MysteryWhat kind of mystery (hard-boiled, police procedural, locked room, puzzle, or cozy) is your sleuth trying to solve? How does your sleuth get involved?

Character Traits

Sleuth’s Character TraitsDescribe your sleuth’s character traits. How do your sleuth’s

character traits contribute to his/her strengths and weaknesses as a detective?

Crime Scene

Describe the crime scene. Action verbs, in the present

tense, drive this mode of writing in order to “show,” not

“tell.” Include sensory detail-- what does the sleuth taste,

smell, touch, see and hear? Do not use personal pronouns

in order to increase descriptive quality. Put the reader at

the scene of the crime by writing as if you are the

detective on-site surveying the scene. Please refer to

pages 44-46 and 288 in Reader’s Journey for assistance.

Create a poster that includes

the following:

• illustration of villain

•description of character traits

•description of physical

appearance

•strengths

•weaknesses

•What was the crime?

•Where was it committed?

•Where was the villain last

seen?

•Of what should the public be

aware?

Elements of a

Mystery

alibi clue crimeElements of a

Mysterydetective evidence plot

Elements of a

Mysteryred herring setting sleuth

Elements of a

Mystery

suspect victim witness

Letter to the Chief of PoliceWrite a letter to the local chief of police convincing him/her who should be arrested and why.

Elements of a MysteryUsing the elements of a mystery write “how-to” paragraph that

takes the reader step by step through the process by which the sleuth solved the mystery.

Timeline

Create a timeline that follows your sleuth through the

most exciting of his or her 18-24 hours on the case.

Use at least 10 events on your timeline.

Who is the dynamic character? How does this character change from the beginning of the story to the end?

Dynamic Character

Stor

y M

ap

Elements of a Mystery

Draw a story map including all of the elements stated below:

•Protagonist •Antagonist•Setting (time and place)•Conflict•Climax•Resolution•Plot (series of events: list 3

main events-beginning, middle, end)

Static CharacterIdentify 1 static character and explain how they do not change throughout the story.

List 3 specific clues the author

includes in the text. If the

author includes a “red herring”

or false clue, identify this in

your list.