How to write like the best-selling author of all time

The main goals of this ESL lesson plan are to:

• – Explore mystery writing vocabulary including “tension,” “misdirection,” and character traits while learning about Agatha Christie’s techniques in this C2 lesson plan.
• – Analyze literary styles through reading comprehension exercises about mystery novels and writing strategies for adult English lessons.
• – Watch videos about bestselling authors and discuss creative writing approaches using these English teaching materials.

In this C2 lesson plan, the student will learn about and discuss Agatha Christie’s writing style. They will also read some tips and tricks for writing a mystery novel. 

Warm-up

The lesson starts with a genre-matching exercise (romance, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery). Next, the student matches the popular books with their genres.

Reading: Mystery or not?

The student reads book descriptions and decides if they are mysteries or not.

Video: How to write like the best-selling author of all time

Before they watch a video, the student matches new words with their meanings (tension, murky, misdirection, etc.) and uses them to complete the sentences. They also complete a mind map by revealing hints and guessing the famous author the video will be about.

They watch the video How to write like the best-selling author of all time and learn about Agatha Christie’s writing style. They complete the video comprehension practice and check if the statements based on the video are true or false. 

Reading: Writing a mystery novel – tips and tricks

The student reads a passage about Christie’s successful writing strategies and a passage about mystery writing tips. Then, they answer the questions based on the text. They also identify the characteristics a mystery character should have (complex, intriguing, interesting, etc.).

Finally, the student completes a review and answers the wrap-up questions.