'Cliff Walk': Exploring Elements of How to Begin A Ghost Story

This resource is based on a study of the opening of my short ghost story, ‘Cliff Walk’. The text contains advanced vocabulary and structure, and would work best with, for example, a top-set English group or as an extension activity for individual students with higher skills.

The aim of the resource is to move away from text-led closed comprehension and instead, ask the student(s) to consider which words or phrases, in their own opinion, would answer the questions. Students may have different and varied answers to a question, which can lead to further discussion as to why. This is why the answer key lists ‘possible answers’.

The resource can be used in the following order:

1. Read and discuss the extract

2. Complete the comprehension worksheet. Pair/group discussion is useful here.

3. Ask students to continue the story in their own words

4. Share their completed stories

5. Read the full original version and discuss/compare with their ideas

It can also work as a speaking & listening activity.

The resource is aimed at secondary school years 9-13. I hope this is a challenging activity during the Halloween period of the school year, or as part of a general unit about supernatural fiction.