Students will start by reading classic mystery stories such as  classic Sherlock Holmes story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Nancy Drew story by Carolyn Keene. We will then read three modern mysteries that continue on the legacies of the great detectives. We will read Enola Holmes and a new Nancy Drew book. 

 Students will be able to compare and contrast stories, author background, and times to see how the mystery story has evolved. 

Students will start the class by discussing what a detective is and how the career started off and what a modern detective is like.
Students will also compare what it is like to be a British Detective vs an American Detective.

Students will learn through lectures about the life and times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and look for similarities between his life and influences and the character Sherlock Holmes. After completing the section on Sherlock Holmes students will jump over to America and find out the influences of Carolyn Keene on her character Nancy Drew. 

Students will engage in discussion, vocabulary quizzes, and in class activities to check for understanding. Students will write their own detective  story and peer edit. As a summative  assignment students will participate in a mystery of their own and try to crack the case!

Week 1: Intro to Detective Genre and discuss job characteristics
Week 2: Intro to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, and Watson
Week 3: Vocab, Setting, Character traits, how to follow the clues (journal), read and discuss Sherlock Holmes Story
Week 4: Vocab, Setting, where have the clues led so far (discuss the clues), discuss Sherlock Holmes Story
Week 5: Vocab, Setting, finish Sherlock Holmes Story, Who solved it?, Where the clues actually led, mini detective game
Week 6: Quiz on Sherlock Holmes, Intro to Carolyn Keene, Nancy Drew and the American Detective
Week 7:  Read and Discuss Nancy Drew 1-3, How to write a Detective Story
Week 8: Read and Discuss Nancy Drew 4-7, 8-12, Outline/Brain storm Detective Story
Week 9: Peer Edit, Clips from Sherlock Holmes & Nancy Drew movies over the years 
Week 10: Share final copy of story, SOLVE IT!

* Peer editing depends on class size*
* Students will choose books in class*