Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Questions to Ponder

1. Who is the narrator of the story? Is he reliable?
2. How would the story be different if Sherlock was narrating the story?
3. What is the importance of Dr. Mortimer's walking stick in chapter 1?
4. In Chapter 2, Dr. Mortimer reads a lengthy retelling of the Curse of the Baskervilles to Holmes and Watson. List the unearthly, or supernatural, occurrences, things that would be difficult to explain.
5. In chapter 3, Dr. Mortimer says he has spoken with three people who live upon the moor and claim to have seen a creature "corresponding to the hell-hound of the legend," leading to "a reign of terror in the district." When and why do people tend to lean towards supernatural explanations for things?
6. List all the things that Sherlock deduces from the note in chapter 4 and how he does it.

Freewriting

After you have pondered and discussed these questions with your teacher, choose one to complete a freewrite.

If you are unfamiliar with freewriting, here are a few tips:

• Keep your pencil moving. Don’t stop. Just brain dump onto your paper.
• Have a set amount of time. Set a timer and write for the full amount of time.
• Ignore all grammar and spelling. Don’t let editing slow down the process. The goal is to get thoughts on paper. Spelling and grammar are not important in this instance.
• Pen and paper aren’t the only ways to freewrite. Feel free to type on the computer. Not only does this accomplish the task, but it builds typing skills.

Share your freewrite in the comments below.