Exploring conventions of detective fiction
I can identify character and plot conventions used in the genre of detective fiction.
Exploring conventions of detective fiction
I can identify character and plot conventions used in the genre of detective fiction.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Different genres of writing make use of different plot and character conventions.
- In detective fiction, common character conventions include 'the brilliant detective' and 'the faithful sidekick'.
- In detective fiction, common plot conventions include 'the red herring' and 'the big reveal'.
- These conventions are not rules: authors constantly subvert and play with them to entertain the reader.
- In detective fiction, the reader is trying to solve the mystery too so the author plans the plot carefully.
Keywords
Genre - a literary style with particular characteristics
Conventions - features that tell us what genre we are reading
Character conventions - types of character that are commonly seen in a particular genre
Plot conventions - plot points or narrative features that are commonly seen in a particular genre
Common misconception
Pupils may believe that conventions are 'rules' that writers must stick to.
Draw attention to how, even in this story, some of the conventions are broken - this doesn't mean it's not detective fiction! You may ask pupils to think of their own examples of broken conventions.
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Exploring conventions of detective fiction, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Exploring conventions of detective fiction, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the 'Sherlock Holmes': descriptive and letter writing unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
seller
unique
impossible to read
jewel
Exit quiz
6 Questions
technology; futuristic ideas; unreal settings
fear and suspense; isolation; darkness
a journey; a hero; action and threats
the person who investigates who committed a crime
the person who committed the crime
someone who may have committed the crime
someone who helped commit the crime
someone who saw the crime occur
has a unique mind and can see connections others miss
is loyal to the detective but more down-to-earth
is as intelligent and cunning as the detective
is supposed to solve the crime but doesn't
Peterson arrives with the jewel
Mr Baker is in possession of the goose that contains the gem
Holmes and Watson realise that the man at the market is Ryder
We learn the story of how Horner was arrested on Ryder's evidence