The Art and Ahhh! of a Suspense Short Story

7th Grade Literature

Halloween comes early for the middle school students of St. Matt's! After reviewing active reading strategies, the seventh graders kick off their literature class with a unit about suspense short stories. Along with studying plot and story elements, students will explore the techniques authors (and other artists) use to give us thrills and chills. These techniques include mood, irony, foreshadowing, point of view, and imagery. At the finale, groups of students will show their understanding of the suspense techniques by creating a suspenseful movie or story and explaining the techniques they used for the effects.