Creating Suspense

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Creating Suspense

• Components of a Narrative

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Ways a good Author builds suspense

• 1 Makes the reader worry if a character will
  make it.
• Example,
• Theres no way she is going to make it!

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• 2 - A character might worry and tell another
  character their feelings
• Example
• Jack, I have a bad feeling about today.

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• 3 A character shows fear by his/her actions
  and thoughts.
• Example
• Chloe got goosebumps and fear shivered up and
  down her spine.

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• 4 The author will raise questions
• Example
• What was that noise? Was it just the wind or
  was something

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• 5 The author gives three hints
• Example
• First hint character detects something is
  wrong. But nothing is discovered.
• It was probably nothing

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• The second hint
• Example
• The character detects something again. It is a
  little more intense. Nothing is discovered.
• There it was again. Didnt you hear that?

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• The third hint
• Example
• The character detects a hint leading to a
  discovery.
• Jack heard a twig snap. He turned around and saw
  the beast standing right in front of him.

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Suspenseful Sentences

• I froze
• I watched helplessly as
• I stepped forward as my legs were shaking.
• I gulped.
• My heart skipped a beat as

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continued

• It was my only chance.
• Taking a deep breath I stepped forward.
• Shivers ran down my spine
• It was after that I realized
• I could feel something breathing on my neck
• The noise grew louder

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Assignment

• Write a paragraph using what you learned about
  suspense today. Make sure you include
  descriptive language for characters and setting.