Independent+Reading+Project+Choices

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1. Write a detective short story modeled after your book. You might model the role of the protagonist (PI, bail bondsman, police, amateur sleuth, etc.) You might model particular characters, a style of dialogue (hard-boiled) or the organizational format (chapters, cliffhangers, use of red herrings).
 * Independent Reading Novel/Stories Project **** Choices: **

Common Types of Crime Stories:

Classic This style incorporates the detective using deductive, inductive, and intuitive analysis in the evaluation of evidence in a logical and systematic way to solve the crime. Agatha Christie, Charlie Chan and Edgar Allan Poe follow this format.

Locked Room The locked room or puzzle mystery centers on the mystery and appears to be impossible to solve. It represents a true puzzle paradox. The crime is usually a murder that appears impossible to solve, but we must remember that it is solvable within the parameters of clues and suspects available.

Hard Boiled The “hard boiled” detective is cynical and not always well respected, and is often experiencing some physical pain. This type of detective mystery writing marked the beginning of the real detective. Sam Spade & Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone are good examples.

Police Procedural Police procedural embellishes the professional police detective solving the crime through accepted police procedures. Examples include //Law & Order, Criminal Minds.//

Inverted This type follows the plot through the acquisition of clues and the elimination of suspects. The detective in this format knows who the murderer is at the outset and the plot revolves around the detective finding the pieces of evidence that will point the finger at thesuspect.

Plot: Every mystery should have a minimum of two plots. The first plot is the //observable plot //that unfolds with the reader (that you want the reader to believe in) while the //actual plot //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">, <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">of the crime and courses of events that led up to it, is cleverly interwoven with the observable plot.

_ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Detective/Sleuth //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">(doesn’t have to be a professional) _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Suspects: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">between 3 and 6 suspects. _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Minor Characters: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">Not suspects, but are necessary to give valuable information. _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Red Herrings: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">Characters or clues intentionally placed to misdirect and confuse the <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">reader while playing fair. The reader may at some point think this person is the primary suspect. _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Narrator: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">Will the story be told in first (me) or third (s/he) person narrative? _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Motive: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">For each suspect. This allows you to quietly place important clues in the plot while confusing the reader. Some motives: jealousy, money, passion, robbery, <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">embezzlement, drugs, hate, etc. _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Clues: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">Must be known to the reader and detective in order to solve the crime. <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">The detective must come across these clues through the process of detection. _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Obvious or Given clues: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">These are clues that are given as part of the story line. <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">Obvious as well as omitted clues can include the lack of knowledge in certain areas, and the slip of tongue. _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Omitted Clues: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">These are clues that are intentionally omitted and are needed to <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">solve the crime. _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">A Word of Caution: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">Good clues are not necessarily tricky, nor elaborate. If you <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">make them too elaborate, they may not fit the plot and alert the reader to their importance. _ //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif';">Forensic Evidence: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">This speaks for itself… and is absolutely necessary.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Bold; msobidifontfamily: Times-Bold;">“Fair Play” Rules: _ <span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">All clues made known to the reader are known to the detective. _ <span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">Extraneous clues or suspects are not allowed. _ <span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">The crime must be solved through detection and logic. The crime cannot be <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">solved by accident or chance. _ <span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">Human frailties (amnesia, lying, forgetfulness) are not allowed. _ <span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif';">The guilty person must be among the known suspects.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Bold; msobidifontfamily: Times-Bold;">Mystery Story Structure: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Introduction: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Establishes the setting, time and place. The crime is also introduced along <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">with the characters. You should also include an attention getter to hold the reader’s attention. One to three paragraphs are sufficient to accomplish this task.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Body: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Detective discovers the clues through detection while creating conflict and suspicion. <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">Red herrings and minor characters are also introduced along with each suspect’s motives. When the characters are interviewed by the detective, many give motives why some of the other suspects would want to murder the victim. (Each person interviewed should offer some piece of evidence usable in the solution of the crime).

//<span style="font-family: 'Times-Italic','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Resolution: //<span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">The point at which the resolution begins has the reader most involved and <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times-Roman; msobidifontfamily: Times-Roman;">wondering if he/she has solved the crime correctly. All clues needed to solve the mystery must have been given prior to the resolution. No new clues may be introduced in the resolution. The detective uses deductive logic to eliminate suspects and solve the crime <span style="font-family: 'Times-Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">through the clues and forensic evidence provided in the introduction and the body.

2. Create a series (2-3) of new endings to the story or one extendedalternate ending. Each time you think a clue is leading to a certain conclusion, stop reading and write an ending that follows that lead.

3. Write a newspaper account of the crime or resolution. Create a headline. Use the 5ws, H, quotes from experts or witnesses. Start with the most important information. Editors cut from the bottom of news articles when they are short on space. You could use Publisher as a template.

4. Write a narrative/memoir piece as though you are either the detective or criminal. (2-3 pages)

5. Create a file for the case. Include details such as interview/interrogation transcripts, evidence log,maps, schedules, lists of leads and sources, newspaper articles, crime photos, photo line-ups, etc. [|Police Report Template Link] (You can write onto the template)

6. Rewrite this story as a stage drama making sure to include explicit stage directions.