Comprehensive Narrative Writing Guide Student Pages for Print or Projection SECTION 4: Suspense www.empoweringwriters.com 1-866-285-3516 Student Reference Sheet Name____________________________________________ The Magic of Three Template Red Flag word/phrase________________, 1st. HINT: _____________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ No discovery: ________________________________________________________________ Reaction: ____________________________________________________________________ Red Flag word/phrase________________, 2nd. HINT: ____________________________ No discovery: ________________________________________________________________ Reaction: ____________________________________________________________________ Red Flag word/phrase________________, 3rd. HINT: _____________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Revelation/Discovery: ________________________________________________________ RED FLAG WORDS AND PHRASES Suddenly Just then All of a sudden A moment later In the blink of an eye Without warning The next thing I knew Instantly To my surprise 219 ©2004 Empowering Writers, LLC Student Page Name____________________________________________ Word Referents - 1 Imagine that the author wants to build suspense before revealing a story critical character. One way to do this is by using word referents instead of immediately naming the character or object. Using word referents makes the reader wonder exactly what kind of character or object will be revealed. See how many different ways you can refer to each story critical character or object. Ex. Story critical character: Knight Describing Word Character Word powerful warrior metal-clad fighter sword fighting soldier armored man Now, it’s your turn: Story critical character: Fairy Describing Word Character Word ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Story critical object: Ice cream cone Describing Word Object Word ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ 221 ©2004 Empowering Writers, LLC Student Page Name____________________________________________ Word Referents - 2 Imagine that the author wants to build suspense before revealing a story critical character. One way to do this is by using word referents instead of immediately naming the character or object. Using word referents makes the reader wonder exactly what kind of character or object will be revealed. See how many different ways you can refer to each story critical character or object. Ex. Story critical character: witch Describing Word/Adjective Character Word/Noun scary woman green-faced hag cackling broom rider black-clad character Now, it’s your turn: Story critical character: leprechaun Describing Word/Adjective Character Word/Noun ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Story critical object: rose bush Describing Word/Adjective Object Word/Noun ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ 222 ©2004 Empowering Writers, LLC Student Page Name____________________________________________ Word Referents - 3 Imagine that the author wants to build suspense before revealing a story critical character. One way to do this is by using word referents instead of immediately naming the character or object. Using word referents makes the reader wonder exactly what kind of character or object will be revealed. See how many different ways you can refer to each story critical character or object. Ex. Story critical character: Clown Adjective Noun silly performer clumsy entertainer red-nosed circus attraction sad-faced jokester Now, it’s your turn: Story critical character: soldier Adjective Noun ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Story critical object: Corvette Stingray Adjective Noun ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ 223 ©2004 Empowering Writers, LLC Student Page Name____________________________________________ Find the Suspense! - 1 Authors can build suspense by raising story questions to make you wonder or worry. They can use word referents in order to hint at, rather than name, a revelation. Read each suspenseful segment. Underline story questions in red. Underline the use of word referents in blue. 1.) Jennifer stared into the dark forest. She shivered a little and her heart began to race. Were there wild animals in these woods, she wondered. She walked on, cautious and quiet. Would she make it out safely? 2.) Jan was amazed at the sight before her. She never realized all the stories she’d heard were true! The little man in green giggled. He was the size of a child with a long white beard and jolly red cheeks. He wore a green derby hat with a big gold buckle. The impish elf scurried around the clearing, pointing to the rainbow. Jan hid behind the tree, staring in disbelief. This mischievous fellow kept muttering about a pot of gold. It was hard to believe that she was watching a leprechaun! 3.) Jack peered down the stairs. He heard the crinkle of paper, and the sticky sound of tape being pulled off the roll. His mother was kneeling near the Christmas tree, smiling as he unrolled the gift wrap. His heart began to race with excitement as she caught sight of the box in her hands. Could it really be for him? The one thing he had wished and hoped for? 225 ©2004 Empowering Writers, LLC Student Page Name____________________________________________ Find the Suspense! - 2 Authors can build suspense by raising story questions to make you wonder or worry. They can use word referents in order to hint at, rather than name, a revelation. Read each suspenseful segment. Underline story questions in red. Underline the use of word referents in blue. 1.) Zach walked along the path through the zoo and stopped short. He stared into the habitat in front of him. The creature was absolutely beautiful! Its long neck extended to the treetops, and its small mouth pulled at the leaves. This graceful beast glanced down at Zach with large, soulful, dark eyes. Zach marveled at her four long, stilt-like legs. This amazing animal’s coat was speckled in shades of gold and brown, like sunlight through the trees. Zach looked at the nameplate posted on the fence - “Giraffe,” he whispered. 2.) Lee was exhausted. The race was nearly over and every muscle in her body ached. She was in the lead, but not by much. She ignored her blistered feet and pressed on. She heard the pounding of feet gaining on her. She saw the finish line up ahead. The crowds along the curb roared. Would she make it? Would she have what it takes to win? 226 ©2004 Empowering Writers, LLC Student Page Name____________________________________________ Find the Suspense! - 3 Authors can build suspense by raising story questions to make you wonder or worry. They can use word referents in order to hint at, rather than name, a revelation. Read each suspenseful segment. Underline story questions in red. Underline the use of word referents in blue. 1.) Robert climbed the steps to the old deserted house. Everyone said it was haunted, but could that really be true? He didn’t believe that things like ghosts or spirits actually existed. Robert took a deep breath and put his hand on the doorknob. He thought about the dare, and paused. Would he have the guts to go inside and see for himself? 2.) Maria knew she should have worn her hiking boots and heavy socks - that sandals were not safe in this environment. She stepped carefully over the rocks and cautiously through the tall grass. She felt a sense of danger before she actually saw it. Next she heard a swishing sound and saw the grass in front of her separate. The rattling sound that came next stopped her short. Its beady eyes glinted in the light and its tongue flicked. But the tip of the deadly creature’s tail, raised up, angrily vibrating its poisonous warning was the most terrifying thing Maria had ever laid eyes on. 3.) Ben held the small gift-wrapped box in his hand for a moment. His heart began to race. Could it possibly be what he thought? His parents beamed at him and nodded. He picked at the tape and peeled back the gold paper. The box felt so light it seemed