Mood Paragraph Example

Planning Template

Topic Sentence

In the story “No Matter What” the author created an uncomfortable and suspenseful mood at the beginning of the story.

Point 1

Joan Lowery Nixon describes the weather as “…hot and sticky and the wind is filled with dust…” (p.71)

Point 2

Danny enters the house and runs to the washroom and throws up; “I heard the bathroom door slam and the sickening sounds of violent retching.” (p.70)

Point 3

Bart Ridgeway comes to the door and acts suspiciously; “If you are with the sheriff’s department, why aren’t you wearing a uniform?” (p.74)

Concluding Sentence

Joan Lowery Nixon successfully draws the reader into the story through by using character’s actions as well as the weather to create an uncomfortable and suspicious mood.

Sample Paragraph

In the story “No Matter What” the author created an uncomfortable and suspenseful mood at the beginning of the story. One of the ways in which an author can create the mood of a story is by describing the weather; for example, a sunny day would create a happy mood. Joan Lowery Nixon describes the weather as “…hot and sticky and the wind is filled with dust…” (p.71). Experiencing this weather would be uncomfortable; by writing about this, the author can create a less comfortable feeling in the reader. As well, Danny enters the house and runs to the washroom and throws up; “I heard the bathroom door slam and the sickening sounds of violent retching.” (p.70) Upon reading this, the reader feels that something very strange is happening and wants to find out; this adds to a suspenseful mood. As the story continues, the reader meets Bart Ridgeway and he acts in a very suspicious way; “If you are with the sheriff’s department, why aren’t you wearing a uniform?” (p.74) In addition, he doesn’t allow Megan any time to view his police badge. The reader is left to think that something untoward is happening. Joan Lowery Nixon successfully draws the reader into the story through by using character’s actions as well as the weather to create an uncomfortable and suspicious mood.