My Curricular Story Unit

My curricular unit will be on the subject of suspense.  Students will be analyzing the nature of suspense and will example samples of works by suspense writers afterward writing on a topic and attempting to add suspense to their work.  They will be using FlipGrid to actually read their stories to me. I will have the opportunity to hear their writing in their own voice.   By listening to their own writing  out loud, they will be more aware of ways to improve.

topic:

Write a suspenseful story making sure that the story has the readers know more than the characters in the story.  Keep the stakes high (example: Someone’s life is ruined if things go badly.) Make sure the reader understands what the protagonist has to gain and lose.  They should know what the protagonist needs to achieve and what is in their way.     Keep pace by having time constraints like if the hero does not complete their task by sunset, they lose. Create situations where tough choices have to be made.  Try to make the villain’s point of view something that can be reasonable in the right context.   Always keep pressure on the protagonist to help heighten the level of suspense.

Write a suspenseful story using this scenario: protagonist works as head custodian in a cement plant.  Sometimes they work nights all alone.  They are about to make a decision that will change the rest of their life.  If they are successful, they think all of their problems are over.  If they fail, both the custodian and their family will suffer a terrible fate.  Using FlipGrid, read me your story.  If it meets some basic requirements, and you are willing to share with your classmates, we will publish it to the class.