1. ...so it’s no longer a mystery.
MYSTERY VOCABULARY
...so it’s no longer a mystery.

2. INITIATING EVENT [inciting incident]
The event that sparks the story.
Occurs near the beginning.
Everything that happens after is a result of the initiating event.

3. FOR EXAMPLE...
PLANE CRASH =

4. NEED ANOTHER?
Nemo gets lost =

5. YOUR TURN 1. Think of your favorite movie or book.
2. What was the initiating event?
3. How do you know this was the initiating event?
YES.
WRITE YOUR ANSWERS DOWN.

6. CAUSE & EFFECT: [action & reaction]
Cause = Action:
The cause is the reason something happens
Effect = Reaction
The effect is what happens as a result

7. The cat growled at the girl.
FOR EXAMPLE
The girl teased the cat.
The cat growled at the girl.

8. Sally studied hard for her test.
YOUR TURN
The boy kicked the ball.
Sally studied hard for her test.
Joe was very tired.

9. INFERENCE: a logical guess based on evidence.
Based on what you read in the text and what you know from personal experience, you can figure out more about the story than just what the words say.
Inferences may be unique, and not everybody will come to the same conclusions.

10. It rained; the sprinklers were on; there is dew on the grass.
FOR EXAMPLE...
You Infer:
I have eaten pizza, didn’t like it, and decided all pizza must taste like that.
I Say:
“I hate pizza.”
You Infer:
It rained; the sprinklers were on; there is dew on the grass.
The lawn is wet.

11. YOUR TURN You read: A man gets on the bus.
He is carrying a suitcase.
What can you infer about this man?

12. CONNOTATION:
The suggested meaning of a word based on emotional and imaginative responses.

13. The strict dictionary definition of a word.
DENOTATION:
The strict dictionary definition of a word.

14. FOR EXAMPLE... You may live in a house, but we live in a home.
In the dictionary, both words mean basically the same thing: a dwelling place.
However, people associate comfort, love, security, or family with a home, but do not make the same associations with a house.
Same denotation. Different connotation.

15. enthusiastic // fanatical
YOUR TURN
All of these pairs of words have the same denotation. Tell me which one has the more favorable connotation.
thrifty // cheap
enthusiastic // fanatical
chef // cook
dinghy // yacht

16. IMPORTANCE? YES. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
1. Why is the initiating event important in a mystery?
YES.
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
2. Why is cause & effect important in a mystery?
3. Why is inference important in a mystery?
4. Why is connotation important in a mystery?