Urban Legends

The Project:After reading and evaluating urban legends and other strange and mysterious stories, you will have the opportunity to create your own unique urban legend.

The Purpose:
Through the creation of your urban legend, you will demonstrate your understanding of narrative format, the 6+1 Traits of Writing, and elements of this genre.

Targets:

I can demonstrate understanding of the narrative format by writing my own urban legend.

I understand what the parts of an urban legend are.

I can write narratives that develop real or imagined experiences or events.

I will develop and strengthen my writing through pre-writing, proofreading, editing and revising.

I can use technology to publish writing.

 

The Format:
The way that you choose to format and present your urban legend is up to YOU! The following is a list of suggestions:
· Traditional paper
· Story book
· Turn your story into a digital story using Photostory or Windows Movie Maker
· Script/Screen Play with a Live or Video Presentation
· Create a children’s book, scrap book, pop-up book, or comic book
· Come up with another option of your choice and get approved by your teachers

When writing your urban legend, I would recommend you refer back to some of the examples listed below to help you write a strong urban legend. It will be much harder to write one on your own. However, remember you MUST also be careful of plaigarism. You should:

1. You can rely on as little or as much material in the urban legends we've read/watched in class to write your own urban legend.
2. You can change any detail and add any detail to make it a better story.
3. You can choose to make the ending positive or funny but it must aim to make the readers scared.
4. One part of the story must contain a very descriptive atmosphere that makes the readers’ hair stand on end. You must make use of all five senses:
1. Sight
2. Touch
3. Hearing
4. Smell
5. Taste
5. You may like to include experiences you have had yourself.
6. You may like to make the setting your own part of the world or elsewhere.
7. Include at least one scary character.
8. Decide before you begin whether you are going to write in first, second or third person.

***After you have finished your pre-write you should check in with Mrs. Priaulx so she can approve your project. 

Mysterious Encounters: Urban Legends by: Rachel Lynette 

Urban Legend Discovery Sheet

More Information on Urban Legends:

 http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/urbanlegends/f/urbanlegends1.htm

Use the links below to read some CLASSIC URBAN LEGENDS!!! You must read at least three of the legends below and complete the worksheet.

Urban Legend Story Worksheet.docx

Seven Bridges Road.pdf 

Little Boy Lost.pdf 

Kempers Hall's Headless Nun.pdf 

Haunted Farmhouse.pdf 

Gravity Drive.pdf 

T.B. Scott Mansion.pdf 

Vanishing Hitchhikers

Resurrection Mary

The Stickney Mansion

Chicago's Other Vanishing Hitchhikers

Meshack Road

Hitchhike Annie

The Greensboro Hitchhiker

Highway 365

Phrophesying Passengers

Believe It or Not

The Gate

Watch How to Spot an Urban Legend!!

Click Here to View Another Version of How to Spot a Urban Legend!!

Videos...Urban Legends...Watch if You Dare...

Urban Legends Video Worksheet.docx

The Licked Hand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbnrRyPc-GM&feature=related

Mothman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3wJrDwugo0&feature=related

Hellhound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqAFYIaqPT8&feature=fvwrel

Bloody Mary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kumzi9d282o&feature=relmfu

Haunted Dolls

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGzuJMqySuY&feature=relmfu

 Project Resources:

Creepy background music. I like Creepy Music Box, Creepy Dolls, Creepy Organ Music, Behold the Darkness, A bizarre jingle bells remake, O Willow Waly, the sound of rain and thunder, Sounds of Horror.

Project Sample:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l8lN5uid-8

Urban Legends Writing Packet1.doc

Show, Don't Tell Sheet

Revision Sheet

Urban Legends Peer Evaluation

Urban Legends Rubric