Pencil marks on the door frame: writing a ghost story with restraint
A quiet, original ghost story about a woman who finds a child's height marks under the paint of an old house; students analyse how restraint, precise detail and an open ending create unease, then write their own story.
C2Adults60 minStory
About this lesson
A C2 writing lesson (story). Prompts, model texts and simple checklists — from a first email to an opinion essay.
- Level
- C2
- Skill
- Writing
- Type
- Story
- Students
- Adults
- Time
- About 60 minutes
- Topic
- Halloween
- Activities
- Key words, Speaking / writing task, Reading text, Multiple choice, Matching, Gap-fill
- Key words
- restraint, understatement, peel, faded, sand (v), slate, dust sheet
- Access
- Premium
By the end, students can
- Analyse literary techniques that create tension without explicit horror
- Use understatement, precise detail and pacing for effect
- Write a polished short story of 350–400 words