Writing Task 6 - WHODUNNIT

WHAT'S A WHODUNNIT?

a WHODUNNIT is a detective story. In this type of writing there's usually been a crime that needs to be solved and the reader learns who did it only at the very end. The better the whodunnit, the more the reader tries to figure out who did it throughout the text. One of the most famous WHODUNNITS in English is Sir Arthur Connan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.

ORGANISATION:

5 paragraphs

a) an introduction in which you set the scene, present the characters (with names) answering the the basic questions - Who?, Where?, When?, What?
b) a development which should be divided into 2 paragraphs.
    b.1 - climax and detailed description of what happened
    b.2 - lifting hypothesis as to who might have committed the crime
c) a conclusion which solves the crime and ends all conflicts.

Before you start writing your story you should decide on the plot line. You should make sure that you write these events in the order they happened. To show the sequence of events you can use linking words such as: as soon as, while, before, first, next, then, at first, soon, suddenly, as, finally, before, eventually, meanwhile, after a while, etc.

I'll BE CHECKING YOUR COMPOSITION FOR:

- past tenses (simple, continuous, perfect, used to)
- have something done
- passive voice
- modals for speculation (might be, must have been, can't have been, etc)
- bonus: conditional (any type)
- crime vocabulary
- linkers

TECHNIQUES TO BEGIN YOUR STORY

An interesting beginning is as important as an interesting ending. An interesting beginning will call reader's attention and make him/her want to continue reading. A good ending will make him/her feel satisfied.

You can start your story by:

a) using your senses to set the scene and describe the weather, atmosphere, surroundings or people's actions to create mystery or suspense.
    I could hear the wind howling around me. It was quite dark that night and it felt strange to be out in the wilderness all alone.

b) using direct speech.
    Marcus entered the room. "What are you doing here?", he yelled at me. 

c) asking a rhetorical question: it is a question that does not require an answer.
    Have you ever travelled on the back of a horse for two days?

d) addressing the reader directly
    I am sure you know what I mean.

e) referring to your feelings or moods
    I was exhausted because I had been running all day.

TECHNIQUES TO END YOUR STORY

a) using direct speech
   "Thank you, sir", the boy said to me.

b) refer to your feelings and moods.
    We were shivering and we were happy to have made it.

c) asking a rhetorical question
    "Why did I have to suffer so much?"

d) describing people's reaction to/feelings about events developed in the main body
    My brother had become the hero of the day and I was extremely proud.

You can also check WT4 for more ideas on narratives and vocabulary!!

A "whodunit" is a form of mystery, which presents a crime and then challenges the reader to solve it. The story's protagonist -- often a professional or amateur detective -- serves as the readers' surrogate: asking questions until the criminal and the methods he used finally come to light. There are countless whodunit short stories, filling the ranks of literary libraries and pulp fiction alike. The very best of them form the touchstones for the entire genre.

Read more: Short Whodunit Stories | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8237846_short-whodunit-stories.html#ixzz27DLXp3nn



Here's a model writing:


PLEASURE

I could not believe what I saw when I entered Mr. Bird's room. There was blood all over the room. He must have tried to escape from this hideous killer. But how was it possible? I had been next door all night long and heard nothing. His face was all twisted and covered in blood. As I carefully approached his body, to my horror I could see he was missing an eye. Who would ever do such a thing to that good old man? I immediately left the room and called the police.

The police stayed in the room all morning and afternoon. Inspector Mason approached me by midday and I was asked all sorts of questions. I must confess I was a bit angry when I realised he was suspicious of me. Me, the man who had always been Mr. Bird's right arm? Now, I'm suspect of murder! I answered all his questions but that feeling of anger was growing on me.

What was on the inspector's mind? Why was he suspicious of me? I couldn't help asking myself those questions as I answered the detective's enquiries. I had been sick for a week and I am still quite weak. All of a sudden, inspector Mason went into my room. I followed him and started feeling sick, just as I had been the last few days. I could hear it. Stop it! Stop it! Oh by God stop it! I covered my ears.

The inspector saw me curling up and approached me. Dammit! I was very sick and I guess it had sharpened my senses - my hearing in special. I could hear all sorts of things. Am I going mad? Stop asking me questions! I am not sure how I first had the idea, but once I thought of it I could think of nothing else, it haunted me day and night. I loved the old man. I didn't want his money.

I think it was his eye, he had the eye of a vulture. A pale blue eye, with a film over it. Every time he looked at me it sent shivers down my spine and gradually the idea of taking his life grew on me, so that I could rid myself from his eyes forever. Every night for seven nights before killing him, I entered his room very carefully not to disturb the old man's sleep. Very carefully I left the door open so that a single ray of light could touch his eyes, but they were always closed and so it was impossible to do the work. On the eighth night as I was carefully opening the door, the old man suddenly moved, as if startled. He might have heard me come in. Now you might think that I drew back, but no. The room was dark and I kept pushing him hard. "Who's there?",  he cried. A ray light coming from the outside room touched his eyes, finally! Oh, the pleasure of taking his eye off! I felt at peace. And now, that inspector Mason is this close, it's the perfect moment to make his mouth stop asking me questions.

Oh, the pleasure!

Based on A telltale heart from Edgard Allan Poe.


Now it's your turn to write a whodunnit.

Here's the picture we used in class but feel free to write about anything that comes to mind, provided it's a whodunnit.