Realistic Fiction Writing Project

Truth Through Evidence

Realistic Fiction Writing Project

Digital Writing Notebook - Week 5

Week 1: Planning & Initial Development

• Think about YOUR detective learning experience this week. Answer these planning questions:

  1. What was your first impression when you started learning about detective work?

  2. Which detective skills (observation, measurement, documentation) did you practice?

  3. What specific investigation activities did you do?

  4. What challenged you or surprised you about detective work?

  5. How did you feel as you learned systematic investigation methods?

  Write down all your ideas - you'll use these to write your story later this week!

Brainstorm (Detective Learning Experience Planning)

Open Ended

Think about your detective learning experience this week. What investigation activities did you do? What detective skills did you practice? What surprised or challenged you? Write down all your ideas about what happened during your forensic investigation training.

• Focus: Writing the beginning of your narrative + Grammar lesson on subject-verb agreement

  Part 1: Write Your Introduction

  Write the beginning of your realistic fiction narrative about YOUR detective learning experience:

  • Start with an engaging hook (How did detective training begin for you?)

  • Introduce yourself as a student learning investigation

  • Describe the setting where you learned

  • Show what made you curious about detective work

  Remember: Use subject-verb agreement correctly! Use vocabulary words: criminal, evidence, burglary, mystery, robbery

Introduction (Investigation Story Beginning)

Open Ended

Write the beginning of your realistic fiction narrative about learning detective skills this week. Include: an engaging opening sentence, an introduction of yourself as a student detective, a description of where you learned investigation skills, and what made you curious about detective work. Use subject-verb agreement and vocabulary words correctly.

• Focus: Adding specific details about evidence collection and investigation skills

  Add Details to Your Middle Section:

  Write about your investigation experience with lots of specific details:

  • What was the most interesting or challenging investigation task?

  • How did you use mathematical thinking during detective work?

  • What observation techniques did you practice?

  • Which investigation tools or methods did you use?

  Show, don't tell: Use sensory details and specific examples from your experience!

Detail Development (Evidence and Analysis Experience)

Open Ended

Write the middle section of your narrative with specific details about your investigation experience. Describe: the investigation tasks you completed, how you used observation and measurement skills, the evidence collection techniques you practiced, and which parts were most interesting or challenging. Show what happened with sensory details and specific examples.

• Focus: Wrapping up your narrative with reflection

  Write Your Conclusion:

  Complete your narrative by reflecting on what you learned:

  • How has learning investigation skills changed how you think?

  • What will you remember most about detective training?

  • How will you use these systematic thinking skills in the future?

  • What does careful investigation teach us about seeking truth?

  Connect to bigger ideas: Truth-seeking, serving others, systematic problem-solving

Conclusion (Detective Learning Reflection)

Open Ended

Write the ending of your narrative that reflects on what you learned. Explain: how learning investigation skills changed your thinking, what systematic observation techniques you'll use in the future, and how careful evidence analysis helps seek truth and serve others. Connect your detective experience to bigger ideas about problem-solving.

Friday - Final Publishing

Digital submission of completed narrative + reflection on writing process

Open Ended

Copy and paste your completed realistic fiction narrative into this slide. Make sure your story includes all parts: introduction, detailed middle section, and conclusion. Check that you used subject-verb agreement correctly and included vocabulary words naturally. Then copy your finished narrative into your composition notebook as your final published piece.