In The Red-Headed League, Sherlock Holmes uses his skills of observation to describe Mr. Jabez Wilson, whom he has just met. Watch this video (with Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes) from 4:17 to 6:25.
Watson Attempts Deduction
Red-Headed League Leads to Red-Handed Capture
Assignment for a work of historical fiction: Work with your teammates to create a situation using observation and deduction based on your expertise from your field of study or personal knowledge. To do this, first brainstorm some of the facts, practices and policies you have learned in your program and interesting bits of knowledge you have gained inside or outside of school. Don't worry about whether they are related or not--try to make as long of a list as possible. Once you have a good list, review them to see what kind of scenario you could build on.
Determine a problem that needs a diagnosis (health, electrical, construction, biological, psychological, environmental, etc.) and a solution
Determine the setting of your story (where and when)
Create a character and sidekick who will solve the mystery. Have the sidekick narrate the story.
Sketch out the basic outline of your story including the observations and deductions you intend to include.
Could your story be enhanced by pictures? Brainstorm what pictures could be used and either search for them on the net or take them yourself. Feel free to use pictures of Old Montreal.
Assignment to research an unsolved mystery: see this site
