1. Minute Mystery Sequence
Mr. Glen Dawursk, Jr.

2. Two Minute Mystery Descriptive Essay
Assignment
Two Minute Mystery Descriptive Essay
For our mystery unit, you are required to write a “2 Minute Mystery” following the format of those we have read and analyzed in class.

3. Mystery Assignment Use the title “The Case of ……”
Include clues and dialogue between characters.
Use plenty of descriptive words.
Be sure that it can be easily read in two minutes.
This means that is should be no longer than one page TYPED (word-processed), about 500 words.
The mystery plot should end with the detective (you) making an accusation followed by a question to the reader.
After the question, put the solution to the mystery at the bottom of the paper under the heading: “The Solution”

4. Mystery Assignment Hand-in
YOU MUST DO BOTH to receive credit for the assignment!
Double-space type your mystery and print a copy to hand-in on the due date, and it to
Save your document file name as follows: “period number – your last name.doc”   Example: 1-dawursk.doc

5. Mystery: Plot 2-Minute Plot The sequence of action
The events which tell what happens in your mystery.
Whatever the characters do or did
Your mystery should answer who, what, where, when and why.

6. Mystery: Structure 2-Minute Structure
The framework that determines how a story is put together; its “skeleton.”
The structure of a “two-minute mystery” like many short stories includes five basic elements.

7. Mystery: Plot Elements
The five main elements of any Mystery plot are:
Exposition (introduction)
Inciting Moment (Initial Complication)
Rising action (mini-complications)
Climax (crisis)
Denouement (resolution)
1/5
3/5

8. Mystery: Plot Diagram CLIMAX
A visual representation of the Mystery plot
RISING ACTION
EXPOSITION
INCITING MOMENT
DENOUEMENT

9. Mystery: Plot Diagram CLIMAX DENOUEMENT RISING ACTION EXPOSITION
INCITING MOMENT

10. Exposition is your Introduction
Mystery: Exposition
Exposition is your Introduction
Usually one very descriptive sentence which simply tells when and/or where
Example: “It was a dark, rainy night in a town that never sleeps, when suddenly…”

11. Mystery: Setting Setting
Environment in which the story takes place.
Most of the setting will be given after the crime scene has been introduced.
Location; place
Date; time
Specific situation
Historical context

12. Mystery: Plot Diagram CLIMAX DENOUEMENT RISING ACTION EXPOSITION
INCITING MOMENT

13. Mystery: Inciting Moment
The start of the conflict and usually the beginning of rising action
Conflict is the actual crime!

14. The Conflict
There is only ONE conflict in a two-minute mystery; something illegal has just happened or was just discovered.
Examples:
I received a call from Margret Smith; there had been a murder outside her East condo.
I heard a knock at my door; it was Officer Jones informing me that the First Bank on Wells Street had just been robbed.
The detective received an urgent text stating that he was needed at Schmitty’s Bar on Edge Street as there was a dead body found in the dumpster.

15. Mystery: Plot Diagram CLIMAX DENOUEMENT RISING ACTION EXPOSITION
INCITING MOMENT

16. Mystery: Exposition
Additional exposition is given AFTER the inciting moment in a minute mystery.
Location; place
Date; time
Specific situation
Historical context
Details are essential.

17. Characters Mystery: Characters The individuals in the story.
This includes the victim, witnesses, and the accused.
This will be the bulk of your mystery: 3/5th of story.
Use dialog to give character attitude, misleading evidence and other clues.

18. Protagonist Mystery: Protagonist
The main or central character in the story…is the detective, possibly “you” representing the victim.

19. Antagonist Mystery: Antagonist The adversary of the protagonist
The individual(s) who did the crime being investigated

20. Mystery: Rising Action
The part of the story usually after the inciting moment where we are given the bulk of the clues, character descriptions, crime scene information and additional information.

21. Mystery: Plot Diagram CLIMAX DENOUEMENT RISING ACTION EXPOSITION
INCITING MOMENT

22. Mystery: Climax Climax
Where the detective says “You did it” and then the narration is followed with a question to the reader.
Question example: Who did it and why?

23. Mystery: Plot Diagram CLIMAX DENOUEMENT RISING ACTION EXPOSITION
INCITING MOMENT

24. Mystery: Denouement Denouement French for “the tying of ends.”
Also called the resolution to the story.
Comes after the climax to bring aspects of the plot to a close.
Give the SOLUTION to the mystery

25. Mystery: Plot Diagram CLIMAX
A visual representation of the Mystery plot
RISING ACTION
EXPOSITION
INCITING MOMENT
DENOUEMENT

26. Mr. Glen Dawursk, Jr. www.mrdclassroom.com
Two-Minute Mystery
Mr. Glen Dawursk, Jr.