The Westing Game CD Pacing
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Narrative Writing
Genre: Mystery
~What is Mystery?~
Definition:

Mysteries, like other narratives, have the same elements: settings, characters, plot, conflicts,
resolutions, and themes. Mystery is a form of realistic fiction, but with a twist: everything in a
mystery revolves around a puzzle or an unusual problem to solve. Mystery asks the questions:
What happened? Who did it? How did they do it? and Why?
Purpose:

The purpose of mystery writing is to entertain and involve the reader in the excitement and
suspense of the problem/mystery.
Form and Features:





Mood is dark, dreary, mysterious, and often scary.
The conflict in a mystery is a crime, a puzzle, or a secret.
The plot of a mystery revolves around a crime or crimes that characters try to solve by gathering
and analyzing clues.
Suspense is a crucial component of mystery. Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty about what will
happen next in a story.
Authors create suspense by using the following elements in their writing:
 Foreshadowing – clues throughout a story that hint at what will happen next, or help the
reader eventually solve the mystery
 Red Herrings – clues that are placed in the mystery to throw the reader off track
 Cliffhangers – when a chapter ends abruptly, causing the reader to be curious about what will
happen next
MYSTERY INTRODUCTIONS
1) My mind still can’t believe what I saw…
2) It was a dark and stormy night…
3) I walked into the room and suddenly…
4) What I’m about to tell you is shocking…
5) I remember the day my life changed forever…
6) I opened the door and realized the ____________ was gone…
7) Thunder roared, and the lights went out. When they came back on, my best
friend was gone…
8) I found a mysterious note on my table…
9) The minute I stepped into the house, I knew something wasn’t right…
10)
A strange man came to my door…
MYSTER CLIFFHANGERS
1) …Little did I know, that was just the beginning.
2) …No one would have guessed what happened next.
3) …Then, my worst fears were coming true.
4) …Suddenly, the lights went out.
5) …The worst part was yet to come.
6) …Then, I got the biggest shock of my life.
The Westing Game
Mystery Genre Elements
Every good mystery contains three important elements that keep the reader guessing!
These elements are Cliffhangers, Foreshadowing, and Red Herrings.
Cliffhangers:
The author creates an abrupt ending that leaves the reader hanging (sometimes at the end of a
chapter)
Foreshadowing:
The author gives clues about what might happen next in the story
Red Herrings:
The author puts false clues in the story, to lead the reader off track
Find examples of Cliffhangers, Foreshadowing, and Red Herrings in The Westing Game.
Record your findings below. Please include the PAGE NUMBER where you found your
answers.
CLIFFHANGERS
FORESHADOWING
RED HERRINGS
The Westing Game
Detective Notebook
Set up a notebook with pages for each character, where you
can keep notes:
NAME:
AGE:
GENDER:
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
OCCUPATION:
CHARACTER CLUES:
CONNECTION TO SAM WESTING:
Otis amber
Crow
Sydelle Pulaski
Flora baumbach
Sidney sikes
Sandy mcsouthers
E. J. plum
J. J. ford
Dr deere
Dr Wexler
Grace Wexler
Angela
Turtle
Theo
Chris
Mr. Theodorakis
Mrs. Theodorakis
Mr hoo
Madame hoo
Doug hoo
Sam westing
Violet westing
Mrs westing
Rosalie
Barney northrup
Example of Detective Notes entry:








Otis Amber
o 62 year old delivery boy
o Not snowed in at Sunset Towers
o Crow’s partner
o Aviator helmet
Barney Northrup
o Salesperson
o Buckteeth
o Moustache
o Liar
o Crafty
Dr. Denton Deere
o Fake, pretends to be smart
o Always in a hurry
o Plastic surgery intern
o Engaged to Angela
o Chris’s partner
Sydelle Pulaski
o Secretary to sausage company
o Whiney, picky, skeptical
o Green glasses
o Wants attention (uses crutches)
o Polish
o Takes notes on will (stolen)
o Gets real limp from 2nd bomb
o Partner: Angela
Flora Baumbach
o Dressmaker
o Made dress for Violet
o Partner: Turtle
o Cares about Chris
o Kicked by Turtle
o Daughter Rosalie died
Berthe Erica Crow
o Cleaning lady at Sunset Towers
o Pale skin, copper hair
o Wears black (mourning?)
o Guilty conscience
o Stern, religious
o Limps
J. J. Ford
o Judge
o 1st African American female judge
o Big tipper (bribe?)
o Mercedes
o Thinks Sam’s game is a big trick!
o Hires an investigator
o Partner: Sandy
o Logical, serious
Madame Hoo
o Small, sad, quiet
o Misses China (Hong Kong)
o Mr. Hoo’s second wife
o Little English
















o Doesn’t know about game
o Partner: Jake
Mr. Hoo
o Owns restaurant
o Strict father, wants Doug to study
o Complains about business
o Partner: Grace
o “found” Sydelle’s notebook
o Thinks Sam’s killer deserves a medal
o Sam stole diaper idea
Doug Hoo
o Track star
o H. S. Senior
o Partner: Theo
o Messes with Turtle
Theo Theodorakis
o H. S. Senior
o Likes Angela
o No college – save $ for Chris
o Writer
o Chess?
o Held coffee shop meeting
Mr. Theodorakis
o Coffee shop
o Violet’s boyfriend?
Mrs. Theodorakis
o Victim of 1st bomb
Chris Theodorakis
o Stutters, siezures
o Admires Theo (brother)
o Bird watcher
o Observant
o Partner: Dr. Deere
Grace Wexler
Dr. Jake Wexler
Angela Wexler
Turtle Wexler
E. J. Plum
Sidney Sikes
Sandy McSouthers
Sam Westing
Violet Westing
Mrs. Westing
The Westing Game Ch. 4 – The Corpse Found
1) In the beginning of this chapter, many ADJECTIVES are used to describe Turtle. Fill them in:
“Except for her ____________ chin Turtle Wexler looked every inch the witch, her ________
_____________ hair streaming wild in the wind from under her _____________ hat, a __________
wart pasted on her ___________ _____________ nose.”
2) Why does Doug Hoo have a stopwatch at the beginning of this chapter?
3) The author is building ________________ with this sentence:
“Suddenly a terrified scream – a young girl’s scream – pierced the night. Should he go in, or was this
one of the brat’s tricks?”
4) Turtle comes out of the Westing House. What happened on that Halloween night? Number the following
events in the correct order:
_____ Turtle screams “E-E-E-E-e-e-e-e!” and runs out of the house
_____ Turtle hears a whisper that sounds like “pur-ple, pur-ple”
_____ Turtle finds the newspaper with the headline: “SAM WESTING FOUND DEAD”
_____ Turtle falls down the stairs in the Westing House
_____ Turtle sees the corpse in the upstairs bedroom
5) How much is Sam Westing’s estate worth?
6) What did Sam Westing like to do on the Fourth of July?
7) What did Turtle find in the storeroom?
8) What happened to Sam Westing’s daughter and wife?
9) What is Sidney Sikes’ job?
10) Sidney Sikes and Sam Westing were in a car accident. After the accident, what happened to Sam
Westing?
11) What did Turtle accidentally leave behind in the mansion?
12) What is E. J. Plum’s job?
13) At the end of this chapter, Otis Amber delivers letters to the tenants of Sunset Towers. According to
these letters, why are the people invited to the Westing House?
MYSTERIOUS QUOTES
After reading chapter 8, answer the following questions on your own lined paper.
All answers must be completed in R.A.C.E. Format.
1) “The tenants of Sunset Towers awoke from clue-chasing, blood-dripping dreams,
bound in twisted sheets and imprisoned by fifteen-foot snowdrifts. No telephones.
No electricity. Snowbound with a murderer!”
a) Think about the word choice the author uses in this quote. Why does the author choose to
describe the opening scene of the chapter this way? How does it contribute to the mood or
tone of this chapter?
2) “‘These handmade candles are both practical and romantic,’ she said, peddling her
wares from apartment door to apartment door to frightened tenants at seven in the
morning. (Oh, it’s only Turtle.) ‘And the colored stripes tell time, which is very handy
if your electric clock stopped. Each stripe burns exactly one-half hour, more or less.
Twelve stripes, six hours.’”
a) What is going on in this scene? What does this quote reveal about Turtle’s character?
3) “No one had bothered to tell Madame Hoo about the Westing game.”
a) What does this quote reveal about the other characters and their relationship with Madame
Hoo? Why might this quote be important to the plot of the story?
4) “Other players were snowbound elsewhere: Denton Deere in the hospital, Sandy at
home. No one gave a thought to where Otis Amber or Crow might be.”
a) Why might this information be important to the plot? What are your predictions, based on
this quote?
MYSTERIOUS QUOTES
After reading chapter 8, answer the following questions on your own lined paper.
All answers must be completed in R.A.C.E. Format.
5) Grace is looking at Madame Hoo: “‘She does look young, but it’s so hard to tell ages of
people of the Oriental persuasion,’ Grace said. Why was he glaring at her like that?
‘Your wife is quite lovely, you know, so doll-like and inscrutable.’”
a) Look at this quote from BOTH Grace’s perspective, and Mr. Hoo’s perspective. What is the
issue here?
6) J. J. Ford’s thoughts: “Sam Westing was dead, but maybe, just once, she could beat
him at his own game. His last game.”
a) What might J. J. Ford mean by “just once, she could beat him”? Why might this quote be
important to the plot of the story?
7) J. J. Ford’s thoughts: “Sam Westing knew that greed would keep them playing the
game. Until the ‘murderer’ was captured. And punished. Sam Westing was not
murdered, but one of his heirs was guilty – guilty of some offense against a relentless
man. And that heir was in danger.”
a) J. J. Ford seems to have a unique outlook on Sam Westing and his game. PREDICT: What
could be the meaning and/or significance of this quote?
8) “Having found what she wanted in Turtle’s desk, Angela returned to her frilly bedroom
where Sydelle Pulaski, glasses low on her nose, was perched on a ruffled stool at the
vanity table.”
a) What is going on in this scene? What does this scene reveal about Angela’s character?
The Westing Game
Ch. 9 – Lost and Found
Answer the following questions using the R.A.C.E. Answer format:
REPEAT the question in your answer
ANSWER the entire question
COMPLETE sentences with correct grammar and punctuation
EXPLAIN your answer with examples from the book
1.) Why is Grace acting so loving towards Turtle in the beginning of chapter 9?
2.) Who made the sign that called Turtle a “brat?” Why do you think Turtle kicked the
wrong person?
3.) Grace notices Angela is not wearing her engagement ring. Angela says it’s because of a
rash. Do you believe her? Why or why not?
4.) J. J. Ford is throwing a party. Why do you think she wants to have a party and invite
everyone?
5.) What does Sydelle plan to do at the party?
6.) Turtle suddenly throws a fit, kicks everything in the room, and leaves. What is
bothering her?
7.) J. J. Ford learns some interesting information from her newspaperman. What is it?
8.) Why does Mr. Hoo decide to stay for J. J. Ford’s party?
Notes in the Elevator
LOST: Important business papers of
no value to anyone but the owner.
Please return to Sydelle Pulaski, 3C.
No questions asked.
Lost: Silver cross on filigree chain,
topaz pin and earrings, gold-filled
cuff links. Return to Grace Windsor
Wexler, 3D. REWARD!
All players willing to discuss sharing
their clues come to the coffee shop
tomorrow 10 A.M.
WHOEVER STOLE MY MICKEY
MOUSE CLOCK BETTER GIVE IT
BACK. JUST LEAVE IT IN THE HALL
IN FRONT OF APARTMENT 3D
WHEN NO ONE’S LOOKING.
TURTLE WEXLER
ORDER DOWN, NOT UP!
Or come on up to the fifth floor and
dine in elegance at
SHIN HOO’S RESTAURANT
Specializing in exquisite Chinese
cuisine.
LOST: STRING OF PEARLS.
SENTIMENTAL VALUE. IF FOUND,
PLEASE BRING THEM TO
APARTMENT 2C. THANK YOU,
FLORA BAUMBACH (DRESSMAKER
AND ALTERATIONS, REASONABLY
PRICED)
FOUND: SIX CLUES
The following clues, printed on
squares of Westing Toilet Tissue,
were found in the third floor
hallway:
BRAIDED KICKING TORTOISE ‘SI
A BRAT
I am having an informal party this
evening from eight o’clock on. You
are all invited. Please come.
J.J. Ford, apartment 4D
Turtle, wherever you are – Be home
by seven-thirty SHARP!!!
Your loving mother
Chapter 9 Worksheet
Who wrote the note?
Why?
What does the note reveal?
NAME:
DIRECTIONS:
Read chapter 10 of The Westing Game. Fill in the blanks as you read.
Then, copy these clues into your detective notes:
ANGELA WEXLER She is tired of her _________ bossing her around.
DR. JAKE WEXLER He is the only person who talks to _________.
JUDGE J.J. FORD She used to play _________.
CROW She cares about _________ and wants to comfort her.
Her job is the Sunset Towers _________ woman.
BONUS QUESTION:
The tenants of Sunset Towers are still snowbound and unable to come or go. Crow is present
at Judge Ford’s party, but she is not on the list of Sunset Towers apartment owners. What
does this mean?
NAME:
DIRECTIONS:
Read chapter 13 of The Westing Game. Fill in the blanks as you read.
Then, copy these clues into your detective notes:
TURTLE WEXLER The bomber used Turtle’s striped _________.
THEO He has a crush on _________.
THEODORAKIS He wants to be a _________ but he plans to give up college to pay
for Chris’s _________.
ANGELA WEXLER
FLORA BAUMBACH
She wanted to go to college to be a _________ but her mom said no.
Many years ago, she made a wedding dress for _________.
The third bomb will go off in the _________’s apartment.
EXTRA CLUES
BONUS QUESTIONS:
Where does the second bomb take place?
Which character is hurt in the second bomb?
NAME:
DIRECTIONS:
Read chapter 15 of The Westing Game. Answer the questions as you
read.
1) Judge Ford researches Mrs. Westing. What adjectives are used to
describe Mrs. Westing? Which character do you think is Mrs.
Westing?
2) According to Sandy McSouthers, why did Violet Westing commit
suicide? Who did she really want to marry?
3) At the end of the chapter, whose death is possibly predicted?
The Westing Game – Discussion Questions
Ch. 14 – Pairs Repaired
1. Why won’t Chris sign the check for Dr. Deere?
2. What is bothering Angela in this chapter? What does Angela mean by “It was too late now”?
3. What does Theo discover about the quote “May God Thy Gold Refine”? Why is this important?
4. What does Angela find out about Sydelle? Why does Angela lie to Sydelle?
5. What did Crow hide in Angela’s bag? What does it mean?
Ch. 15 – Fact and Gossip
6. In the beginning, which five characters are standing outside gossiping about Sam’s death?
7. What is Grace’s plan regarding Shin Hoo’s Restaurant?
8. Judge Ford researches Mrs. Westing. What adjectives are used to describe Mrs. Westing? Which
characters might fit that description?
9. According to Sandy McSouthers, why did Violet Westing commit suicide? Who did she really want
to marry?
10. At the end of the chapter, whose death is possibly foreshadowed?
The Westing Game
Ch. 15-20 Review Worksheet
DIRECTIONS:
 Answer the following questions on a SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER.
 Answer in complete sentences, using the R.A.C.E. ANSWER FORMAT.
Ch. 15 – Fact and Gossip
11. In the beginning, which five characters are standing outside gossiping about Sam’s death?
12. Judge Ford researches Mrs. Westing. What adjectives are used to describe Mrs. Westing? Which
characters might fit that description?
13. According to Sandy McSouthers, why did Violet Westing commit suicide? Who did she really want
to marry?
Ch. 16 – The Third Bomb
14. A bomb goes off during Angela’s wedding shower. Who is hurt?
15. Why does Turtle thank her sister?
16. Turtle gives Angela her tapestry bag, but first she “removes the incriminating evidence.” What
could this mean?
17. Who is the bomber, and how can you tell?
Ch. 17 – Some Solutions
18. Judge Ford learns more facts about the Hoo family. What new facts do we learn?
19. Why does Theo want to talk to Doug in the middle of the night?
20. Instead of finding Doug, Theo runs into Crow. Where does she live? Why is this discovery
important?
21. How does Crow react when she sees Theo? What does she want him to do?
Ch. 18 – The Trackers
22. Sandy learns more facts about Flora Baumbach. What new facts do we learn, and what does this
reveal about Flora’s personality?
23. Why is Doug following Otis Amber?
24. What is Otis Amber’s connection to Sam Westing?
25. What does Dr. Deere offer to do for Chris? What does this reveal about his personality?
Ch. 19 – Odd Relatives
26. In the beginning of this chapter, Judge Ford and Sandy find some interesting facts about Crow.
What important facts do you notice?
27. Crow writes a note to Theo, and Theo passes it on to Angela. What is the meaning of this cryptic
note?
28. What connection does Judge Ford discover between Grace and Crow?
29. What surprising information does Judge Ford discover about Sydelle Pulaski, and why is this
important to the story?
Ch. 20 – Confessions
30. Judge Ford interviews Mr. Theodorakis. What important facts do we discover about Mr.
Theodorakis, AND Violet Westing?
31. According to Judge Ford, Sam is using the Westing Game to punish Mrs. Westing. Why?
32. Which heir do you think is Mrs. Westing, and how do you know?
NAME:
DIRECTIONS:
Read chapter 18 of The Westing Game. Answer the questions as you
read.
1) Why is Doug following Otis Amber?
2) What is Otis Amber’s connection to Sam Westing?
3) What does Dr. Deere offer to do for Chris? What does this reveal
about his personality?
NAME:
DIRECTIONS:
Read chapter 21 of The Westing Game. Answer the questions as you
read.
1) What is Judge Ford’s connection to Sam Westing?
2) When the fourth bomb goes off, who is the suspected bomber and
how can you tell?
3) Turtle confesses to Judge Ford that she was in the mansion the
night Sam Westing was murdered. Why does Judge Ford suspect
that Sam Westing wasn’t murdered at all?
The Westing Game
Answer the following questions in R.A.C.E. Answer Format.
Ch. 21 – The Fourth Bomb
1. What new and interesting facts do we learn about J. J. Ford? What is her connection to Sam
Westing?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. When the fourth bomb goes off, who is the suspected bomber and how can you tell?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. J. J. Ford asks Turtle about the bomb. What does J. J. Ford think was Turtle’s reason for
setting off the fireworks in the elevator?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. Turtle confesses to J. J. Ford that she was in the mansion the night Sam Westing was
murdered. Why does J. J. Ford suspect that Sam Westing wasn’t murdered at all?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
5. At the end of the chapter, which character unlocks the true meaning of the clues?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Add Detective Notes:
**Judge J. J. Ford **Turtle Wexler **Sandy McSouthers **Sydelle Pulaski
Ch. 22 – Losers, Winners
1. Turtle writes a confession to the bombings. Do you believe she is actually the bomber? Why
or why not?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Read the second paragraph in this chapter, starting with “Boom.” According to this paragraph,
who is the thief and how do you know?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the thief’s motivation (reason) for stealing things?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. When J. J. Ford sees the picture of Sam Westing from 15 years ago, what does she realize
about the corpse in the coffin?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
5. When J. J. Ford reads the article about Sam Westing’s car accident, what does she realize
about Sam’s disappearance?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
6. When Turtle is at Sandy’s dentist office, what does she see in the glass cabinet?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
7. Why does Turtle kick Barney Northrup?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
8. At the end of the chapter, why is Crow so afraid?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
NAME:
DIRECTIONS:
Read chapter 23 of The Westing Game. Answer the questions as you
read.
1) Who does Chris notice is limping at the Westing House meeting?
2) Why does Chris say Sam Westing was a good man?
3) Judge Ford is trying to find out which characters have had plastic
surgery. Who does Dr. Deere say “should” have plastic surgery?
4) Theo has been playing chess with the mysterious person again. He
eventually takes the opponent’s queen. Why is this important?
Ch. 24 – Wrong All Wrong
1. After the characters give their answers, Sam Westing’s will says all their answers are wrong!
What does Sam want the heirs to do now?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why does Madame Hoo think she will be punished soon?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why does J. J. Ford think Sandy McSouthers is Sam Westing?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. What do the missing clues spell?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
5. Just as J. J. Ford is about to accuse Sandy McSouthers of being Sam Westing, what happens
to him?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
6. Suddenly Sidney Sikes comes in and announces that Sandy is dead. Who is Sidney Sikes,
and why is he important to the story?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
7. At the end of the chapter, what does Crow say is the answer to the game? Why? What does
she say she will do with the money?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________