2. Why Mysteries?
• Help to determine which details are
important
• Practice supporting an answer with
evidence from the text
3. Vocabulary
• Alibi: An excuse that an accused person uses to
show that he or she was not at the scene of the
crime
• Breakthrough: A discovery that helps solve the
crime
• Clue: A fact or object that gives information
toward solving the crime
• Crime: An action that breaks the law
• Deduction: Drawing a conclusion
• Detective: An investigator looking for and
gathering clues
• Evidence: A thing or statement that helps to
prove who committed the crime
4. • Hunch: A guess or feeling not based on facts
• Motive: A reason that a person does something —
can include anger, hatred, love, or greed
• Mystery: Something that is unknown
• Opportunity: A fact proving or reason why
someone could have committed the crime.
• Red herring: A false clue that throws the
investigator off track
• Sleuth: An investigator
• Suspect: Person who has a motive to have
committed a crime
• Witness: Person who has knowledge about a crime
5. Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Read the mystery silently.
Re-read the story again looking for clues.
Determine what the crime or question is
Identify the possible suspects.
Highlight, circle, or underline important clues
in the text.
6. Fill-out graphic organizer using evidence from
the story.
7. Solve the mystery and explain WHY!
