“The Adventure of the
Speckled Band”
By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Author Notes
Born in Scotland
Enjoyed writing mystery stories in
his early twenties
Studied medicine, and it was
observed that he was more often
accurate in guessing the
occupations of his patients than in
diagnosing their illnesses
More Author Notes
Based the character of
Sherlock Holmes on a
surgeon in Scotland whose
hobby was deducing people’s
characters from minor details
of their appearance
Who is Sherlock Holmes?
He is the famous
detective who is known
for deductive reasoning.
He analyzes the evidence
and draws specific
conclusions.
Author notes continued
Doyle wrote 56 stories and four
novels about Sherlock Holmes
He felt his other writings were
overlooked because of the
popularity of Holmes, so he
wrote a story in which the
famous detective died.
The public outrage was
so overwhelming that
Doyle gave in and wrote
“The Hound of the
Baskervilles”,
resurrecting the character
of the famous detective.
Mystery Story
A mystery story is a fictional
tale that tells how a puzzling
mystery is solved.
The leading character is
often a detective who
matches wits with someone
who has committed a crime.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Vocabulary Words – “logy”
means “the study of”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
ecology – the study of humans and their
environment
biology – the study of life and living organisms
psychology – the study of mental processes and
behavior
theology – the study of religion
anthropology – the study of the origin of humans
pathology – the study of diseases
geology – the study of the earth
Vocabulary Words – from your
story…
defray – to pay or furnish the money for
manifold – many and varied
morose – gloomy, ill-tempered
convulsed – taken over by violent,
involuntary spasms
5. imperturbably – unexcitedly, impassively
6. reverie – daydream
7. tangible – able to be touched or felt
1.
2.
3.
4.
Grammar for the Week:
Predicate Nouns
 A predicate noun is a noun that comes after
a linking verb.
 It also explains or identifies the subject in a
sentence:
 Watson was a medical doctor.
 “Doctor” is the predicate noun.
Find the predicate nouns:
 The two men were both bachelors.
 Watson became a married man.
 Before last summer, Watson was the
teacher.
 Edward was the head waiter at Donald’s
new restaurant.