Introduction Paragraph

Hook: "The Baby-Sitter" by Jane Yolen is a scary story about a young baby-sitter who
experiences peculiar incidents in an old house.
Trans: Suspense is essential to create a scary story and keep the reader hooked on the narrative.
Thesis: In the story, the setting and sensory details create suspense and make the story terrifying.
1st body
TS: The story begins with a description of the setting, which sets a creepy tone for the story.
CD: As the narrator says at the beginning of the story, "The house was one of those old, creaky
Victorian horrors, with a dozen rooms and two sets of stairs" (424).
COM: The detailed setting description makes the readers feel as though they are in the story.
COM: The details also give us hint that something bad is going to happen, which creates
suspense.
CS: The setting helps develop suspense in the story.

2nd body
TS: The sensory details strengthen the feelings of mystery and fear.
CD: When Hilary, the baby-sitter, was being chased by an odd man, "She didn't take time to look
behind her but slid into the room, slammed the door, rammed the bolt home, and slipped the desk
chair under the doorknob." (433)
COM: The details slow down the action of the story and slowly bring the story to the climax, in
which the readers can feel tension.
COM: The twist attracts the readers because it develops tension.
CS: Sensory details strengthen the frightful mood of the story.
Conclusion paragraph
CS: In "The Baby-Sitter", Yolen exploits the setting and sensory details to make the story more
terrifying.
CS: It is a frightening tale that makes everyone think twice before offering o baby-sit again.