Write Horror Shorts- 2 Stephen King hooks & Creative Writing Supports

My students are engaged by horror and anything weird and wonderful! This unit works really well around Halloween and can be used throughout the year too.

Although high school students are sometimes nervous to do creative writing, it motivates and liberates them to be creepy! This unit is the best possible way for students to apply all of those literary terms they have learned. They realize literary terms are actually the building blocks of any story. I even enjoy the marking of this unit!

This Unit Includes:

1) Detailed teacher notes

2) 2 Stephen King Minds on (hooks):

• a 43 min documentary, questions, and answers
• a 2-page informal essay, questions, and answers.

3) Student learning:

• Vital Literary terms: setting, character, plot, conflict, poetic devices, theme, narration & irony,
• Dialogue rules sheet

4) Assignment sheet:

• Specific rubric
• Complete & creepy mentor text your students will love and will set the bar high.

5) Plot Outline/ Planner:

• Self-Editing Organizers Designed to Improve:
• Setting,
• Character &
• Theme.

(6) Teacher answers for the Minds on documentary & short essay.)

This product works well after Student Expert Presentations

For more spooky/ creepy topics, please consider Read then Write a Scary Short Story, Brothers Grimm Assignment, or a conversation from podcasts about the Salem Witch Trials.