Suspense. Suspense Day 1 The Case of the Spooky Sleepover We waited for the ghost to come. We...

SuspenseSuspense

Suspense Suspense

Day 1Day 1

The Case of the Spooky The Case of the Spooky SleepoverSleepover

We waited for the ghost to come. We watched as the sun fell from the sky. Long shadows filled the backyard. The wind started to blow. Leaves danced in the trees. And like a woolly blanket, darkness wrapped around us.

The Chocolate Fudge MysteryThe Chocolate Fudge Mystery

Cam walked ahead. Then she stopped. She held out her hand and Eric stopped, too. She put her finger in front of her mouth so that he would be quiet.

They listened.They heard the sounds of coins and keys jingling.Someone was walking behind them and was

getting closer. Jingle. Jingle.“What should we do?” Eric asked.

That feeling in your stomach you feel That feeling in your stomach you feel right before a big event in the story is right before a big event in the story is called:called:

SUSPENSESUSPENSE

SuspenseSuspense

►A sense of A sense of suspensesuspense and and anticipationanticipation is what hooks the reader and moves is what hooks the reader and moves the story into the main event.the story into the main event.

►Suspense building raises questions in Suspense building raises questions in the readers’ mind.the readers’ mind.

► If the main character is wondering or If the main character is wondering or worrying, so is the reader!worrying, so is the reader!

How do I build suspense How do I build suspense in my writing?in my writing?

First Way:First Way:

Ask Story QuestionsAsk Story Questions

Have the main character raise a question. Have the main character raise a question. If the main character wonders or worries in If the main character wonders or worries in the story, the reader will wonder or worry as the story, the reader will wonder or worry as

well.well.

This raises questions in the readers’ mind and This raises questions in the readers’ mind and compels them to read on…compels them to read on…

Find the Suspense!Find the Suspense!

Jennifer stared into the dark forest. Jennifer stared into the dark forest. She shivered a little and her heart She shivered a little and her heart began to race. Were there wild animals began to race. Were there wild animals in these woods, she wondered. She in these woods, she wondered. She walked on, cautious and quiet. Would walked on, cautious and quiet. Would she make it out safely?she make it out safely?

The Suspense: The Suspense: Would she make it out Would she make it out safely?safely?


Jan was amazed at the sight before Jan was amazed at the sight before her. She never realized all the stories she’d her. She never realized all the stories she’d heard before were true! The little man in heard before were true! The little man in green giggled. He was the size of a child green giggled. He was the size of a child with a long white beard and jolly red cheeks. with a long white beard and jolly red cheeks. The elf scurried around the clearing, The elf scurried around the clearing, pointing to the rainbow. What was this man pointing to the rainbow. What was this man doing? Jan hid behind the tree, staring in doing? Jan hid behind the tree, staring in disbelief. disbelief.

The Suspense: The Suspense: What was this man doing?What was this man doing?


Jack peered down the stairs. He heard Jack peered down the stairs. He heard the crinkle of paper, and the sticky sound of the crinkle of paper, and the sticky sound of tape being pulled off the roll. His mother was tape being pulled off the roll. His mother was kneeling near the Christmas tree, smiling as kneeling near the Christmas tree, smiling as he unrolled the gift wrap. His heart began to he unrolled the gift wrap. His heart began to race with excitement as she caught sight of race with excitement as she caught sight of the box in her hands. Could it really be for the box in her hands. Could it really be for him? The one thing he had wished and hoped him? The one thing he had wished and hoped for?for?

The Suspense: The Suspense: Was the box the one thing he Was the box the one thing he had had wished and hoped for?wished and hoped for?

Please fix this BORING Please fix this BORING sentence.sentence.

The strange egg hatched The strange egg hatched and out came a baby and out came a baby dragon.dragon.

ReviseRevise this by writing 4-5 this by writing 4-5 suspensefulsuspenseful sentences! Do not give it away too soon. sentences! Do not give it away too soon. Make the reader dying to find out what Make the reader dying to find out what will come out of that egg!will come out of that egg!

Suspense Suspense

Day 2Day 2


Lee was exhausted. The race was nearly Lee was exhausted. The race was nearly over and every muscle in her body ached. over and every muscle in her body ached. She was in the lead, but not by much. She She was in the lead, but not by much. She ignored her blistered feet and pressed on. She ignored her blistered feet and pressed on. She heard the pounding of feet gaining on her. heard the pounding of feet gaining on her. She saw the finish line up ahead. The crowds She saw the finish line up ahead. The crowds along the curb roared. Would she make it? along the curb roared. Would she make it? Would she have what it takes to win?Would she have what it takes to win?

The Suspense: The Suspense: Does Lee have what it takes to Does Lee have what it takes to win?win?

Review: SuspenseReview: Suspense





One Way:One Way:


Second Way:Second Way:

Synonym WordsSynonym Words

Instead of naming the character or Instead of naming the character or object that is about to be revealed through object that is about to be revealed through suspense, use synonyms of the character or suspense, use synonyms of the character or object so the reader will wonder exactly object so the reader will wonder exactly what will be revealed.what will be revealed.

Synonym Words ExampleSynonym Words Example

BORING: Just when the princess was to BORING: Just when the princess was to be taken, the knight killed the dragon.be taken, the knight killed the dragon.

REVISED: Just when the princess was to REVISED: Just when the princess was to be taken, a mighty warrior stepped be taken, a mighty warrior stepped before the dragon.before the dragon.

Synonym Word ExampleSynonym Word Example

Key Word: Key Word: KnightKnight

Describing WordDescribing Word Character WordCharacter Word

powerfulpowerful warriorwarrior

metal-cladmetal-clad fighterfighter

Sword fightingSword fighting soldiersoldier

armoredarmored man man

Synonym Word PracticeSynonym Word Practice

Key Word: Key Word: FairyFairy


?? ? ?

Synonym Word PracticeSynonym Word Practice

Key Word: Key Word: Ice Cream ConeIce Cream Cone


?? ? ?

Please fix this BORING Please fix this BORING sentence.sentence.

I was shocked to see the I was shocked to see the clownclown in front of my in front of my house.house.

ReviseRevise this by writing 1 this by writing 1 suspensefulsuspenseful sentence! Use synonym words to sentence! Use synonym words to make the sentence more suspenseful.make the sentence more suspenseful.

Suspense Suspense

Day 3Day 3


Robert climbed the steps to the old Robert climbed the steps to the old deserted house. Everyone said it was deserted house. Everyone said it was haunted, but could that really be true? He haunted, but could that really be true? He didn’t believe that things like ghosts actually didn’t believe that things like ghosts actually existed. Robert took a deep breath and put existed. Robert took a deep breath and put his hand on the doorknob. He thought his hand on the doorknob. He thought about the dare, and paused. Would he have about the dare, and paused. Would he have the guts to go inside and see for himself?the guts to go inside and see for himself?

The Suspense: The Suspense: Will Robert go inside the Will Robert go inside the house?house?

Review: SuspenseReview: Suspense





One Way:One Way:


Second Way:Second Way:

Synonym WordsSynonym Words

Third Way:Third Way:

Magic of ThreeMagic of Three

Magic of Three?Magic of Three?

The Magic of Three involves using at least The Magic of Three involves using at least 3 of your 3 of your sensessenses to give hints to the reader of what is about to give hints to the reader of what is about to happen.to happen.

1. You hear a noise. You look. Nothing. You dismiss it.1. You hear a noise. You look. Nothing. You dismiss it.

2. You see a fleeting shadow. Again, you try to 2. You see a fleeting shadow. Again, you try to determine what it could be, but don’t notice determine what it could be, but don’t notice anything unusual. You start to worry.anything unusual. You start to worry.

3. You feel something brush past you. You turn. 3. You feel something brush past you. You turn. There it is!There it is!

Please fix these BORING Please fix these BORING sentences.sentences.

Glenn held his breath. Glenn held his breath. There on the deck stood a There on the deck stood a mean, nasty pirate!mean, nasty pirate!

ReviseRevise these sentences by using 4 these sentences by using 4 suspensefulsuspenseful sentences! Use 3 sentences! Use 3 sentences that each use one sense and sentences that each use one sense and then one sentence that states what then one sentence that states what happened.happened.

Suspense Suspense

Day 4Day 4


Carlos strolled along the lonely beach. Just Carlos strolled along the lonely beach. Just then a peculiar splash in the water caught his eye. then a peculiar splash in the water caught his eye. He turned toward the water and peered into the He turned toward the water and peered into the waves. There was no sign of splashing out there.waves. There was no sign of splashing out there.

Suddenly, he heard a most unusual bellowing Suddenly, he heard a most unusual bellowing sound. He edged closer to the water trying to sound. He edged closer to the water trying to figure out what was out there.figure out what was out there.

Without warning, something huge and shiny Without warning, something huge and shiny seemed to leap out of the water! Carlos gasped- seemed to leap out of the water! Carlos gasped- what was that?what was that?

The Suspense: The Suspense: What leaped out of the water?What leaped out of the water? A splash, a sound, and a leapA splash, a sound, and a leap

Please fix these BORING Please fix these BORING sentences.sentences.

I spun around and looked I spun around and looked behind me. I couldn’t believe behind me. I couldn’t believe that I was staring into the that I was staring into the eyes of a space alien!eyes of a space alien!

ReviseRevise this by writing 4-5 this by writing 4-5 suspensefulsuspenseful sentences! sentences! You may use:You may use:► Story QuestionsStory Questions► Synonym Words for Synonym Words for space alienspace alien► Magic of Three – 3 senses before revealing Magic of Three – 3 senses before revealing

character or object.character or object.

Suspense. Suspense Day 1 The Case of the Spooky Sleepover We waited for the ghost to come. We...

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