Ever notice that in movies set in campgrounds, there's always that moment where everyone sits around the campfire and listens to a story? But, it's not just any story! They are always tales involving mystery and suspense!
The good news is that you don't have to go camping around to tell and hear such tales. Yes, you can, but how about starting to test this experience at school or at home, exchanging ideas with friends?
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Next, we selected mystery and suspense stories, how to work with them in the classroom, as well as tips to teach you how to write your own stories. Ready? So, grab your popcorn and… sit down and here comes the story!
The project is very suitable for elementary school students, especially in the final years. They need to reach high school prepared for reading and writing because, from then on, they begin to focus their studies on the National High School Exam (Enem).
The problem is that many of them still have, at this stage, some difficulty in structuring their texts, especially narrative ones. This is where the importance of introducing the genre with texts that attract your attention comes in.
The aim of the project is for the teacher to present how the composition process works, including the planning the idea, transcribing what was thought (the text itself) and, finally, reviewing what was written. To achieve it, strategies must be devised.
One suggestion is to talk about stories, tales and mystery films, pointing out the main characteristics, the structure of the plot, the presentation of the characters, among other elements. Next, apply a pre-selected short story for students to read.
But, it is not simply handing over the tale. To awaken the imagination and work on textual development, distribute the incomplete story, asking students to read it at home and reflect on a possible development.
The next day, ask them to bring their notes and hand in the full text. Analyze what the students wrote, separate what came closest and also discuss what they thought of the outcome and why the story ended up that way.
After that moment, start working with the class on textual linguistic elements, strategies descriptive phrases, adjectives, catchphrases, sentence structures, in short, all the characteristics present in the history.
From there, the student must begin to understand the audience he intends to reach, how to characterize his characters and how to develop his story. A good short story should obey the following structure:
How to put this in the text? Initially, the writer should introduce the subject, where it takes place, what will happen, and who is involved. The problem must gradually grow until it reaches the climax, which is the maximum complication of the issue, until its conclusion.
In the midst of the whole story, students should note that the author needs to make the reader want to know what's going on, get confused among the suspects, very typical of suspense narratives.
The teacher must delimit the elements to be worked on, in addition to the narrative focus (first or third person). Before starting to draft the stories, ask the students to read a few more examples, even to build repertoire and have more ideas.
Did the students read more copies, did they bring up various situations and levels of suspense (robbery, kidnapping, murder)? Now, it's time to put it into practice! Ask them to start writing their own stories and think of a cool way to publish them.
Tips for writing a good suspense story
As promised, we brought interesting tips on how to write a good suspense and mystery story. They can be applied both in the project developed in the classroom and at any other time. Let's go?
read examples of stories in the genre you want to write to get a sense of how to unfold the text, present the problem, setting and characters
notice how the story describes the way the characters deal with and solve the problem, as well as the obstacles encountered
In this process, try to use as much detail as possible to make your story attractive to the reader. Remember to always review your text and also ask a friend to read it in order to give suggestions or point out what can be improved.
Persecution – Paulo André T.M.Gomes
Midnight, tired and sleepy, there I was, walking through the dirty and deserted streets of that city. My only company was the moon and some nocturnal animals. In a corner there was a dog and a cat trying to find food, rummaging through garbage cans. Elsewhere on the street, rats were coming in and out of a sewer near the bakery on the corner. I was trying to remember why I left work so late when I heard footsteps behind me.
I walked faster, not looking back. I started to shiver and break out in a cold sweat. Accelerated heart. Those footsteps kept chasing me. I turned quickly. There was nothing but shadows. The fear increased. Either I was going crazy, or I was being followed by something supernatural.
I ran desperately. I stopped at the first corner, panting. I looked again. Anything! I continued walking, trying to stay calm. It wasn't long before I got to my house.
Calmer now, I finally stopped in front of my door. I grabbed the doorknob, still a little shaky from my fright and running. When I turned it, the door didn't open. Probably my parents were already sleeping. I looked for my keys in every pocket I had. I did not find it.
The steps resumed. The fear came back in twofold. He was a bit dizzy. He couldn't keep me on my feet. The world spun dizzily. I tried to scream, but the voice didn't come. That sound came closer and closer. There was no way out. So I gathered all my strength and, in a sudden movement... I fell out of bed and woke up!
Mystery Tale – Stanislaw Ponte Preta
With his coat collar turned up and hat brim down, walking around dark corners, it was almost impossible for anyone who passed him to see his face. At the agreed place, he stopped and made the sign they had already stipulated as a password. He stopped under the lamppost, lit a cigarette, and exhaled the smoke in three measured puffs. Immediately a bad-looking guy, who was in the cafe opposite, straightened his tie and spat sideways.
It was the one. He cautiously crossed the street, entered the cafe and ordered a guarana. The other smiled and approached:
Follow me! – was the order given in a hollow voice. He just took a sip of the guarana and left. The other entered a dank, dimly lit alley, and he—at a distance of ten or twelve paces—entered as well.
There seemed to be no one there. The silence was sepulchral. But the man in front looked around, made sure no one was lying in wait, and knocked on a window. Then a hinge groaned and the door opened discreetly.
The two entered and found themselves in a small and smoky room where, in the center, there was a table full of small packages. Behind her, a guy with a long beard, humble clothes and the air of a farmer seemed to be afraid of what he was going to do. He didn't hesitate – however – when the man who had gone in first pointed to the one who had gone in next and said, "It's this one."
The one behind the table picked up one of the packages and handed it to the speaker. This one passed the package to the other and asked if he had brought the money. A nod was the answer. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a wad of bills and handed it to his partner. Then he turned to leave. The one who had gone in with him said he would stay there.
She left then alone, walking close to the alley walls. When he reached a brighter street, he whistled for a passing taxi and had it rung at full speed to a certain address. The driver obeyed and, half an hour later, he entered the house shouting to his wife:
– Juliet! Oh Juliet... I got it.
The woman came out, drying her hands on an apron, smiling happily. The husband placed the package on the table, looking triumphant. She opened the package and found that her husband had gotten it.
There it was: a kilo of beans.
the spooky mystery
In a small town in the interior there was a mystery never revealed. All the residents were afraid and terrified. It is a small abandoned house, where a former mayor of the town used to live. After his death, residents began to hear strange noises from his home.
Screams, doors slammed were some sounds that everyone heard when approaching the house. One day, two compadres decided to enter the house that intrigued all the residents of the quiet town.
As soon as they approached the house, they began to hear the noise of doors slamming. The two were very scared, but they didn't give up and entered the house. They realized that the noise was coming from the bedroom, so they went up the stairs towards the bedroom, took a deep breath, created courage and opened the door, but there was nothing inside.
The two compadres decided to walk around the whole house. The noises kept getting louder. They entered the library the door closes and they are paralyzed by what they see. They let out a scream of horror that is heard by everyone in the street. From that day on, these two compadres were never seen again.
And the city that had one great mystery now has two, to the terror of all the residents.
