Unit 5

What Can I Learn from Realistic Fiction?

Reader's Notebook

Mysteries

The mystery is a genre in which the main character is a detective to find what is unknown.

  1. He or she looks for evidence, things or statements, to prove who committed a crime. 
  2. Mysteries generally have character vs. character conflicts because the detective is trying to uncover clues (facts or objects that give information) that will help him or her find the solution and solve the crime. 
  3. Several characters have alibis (excuses that accused suspects use to show they were not at the scene of the crime.) 
  4. There are sometimes red herrings or false clues that throw the investigator off track.
  5. Like any good character, the villain in a mystery story has a motive, a reason that a person does something—can include anger, hatred, love, or greed.

What breakthrough does Encyclopedia Brown have that helps him solve the crime? Make your own deductions and draw your own conclusions as you read this next short realistic fiction story.

Read the short realistic fiction story: Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Slippery Salamander.

EncyclopediaBrown.pdf

If you would like to read more mystery stories, you may find them at this website. http://kids.mysterynet.com/solveit/

When you are writing a fictional story, what kind of conflict do you usually like to write about? Why?

Click each coloured row for information about the activity.

Preview the Selection


View the headings and pictures.  What is a salamander?

  1.  What was the motive for the theft?
  2.  Who are the suspects who may have committed the crime?                   
  3. Where are the red herrings on p. 128?

  • Did you come to the same solution as Encyclopedia Brown?