1. Topic: Myths and Urban Legends
EQ: What Are They and Where Do They Come From?
Objective: Students will define both myth and legend and distinguish between the two, identifying the characteristics of both.

2. What are Myths and Urban Legends?
Urban legends and myths are modern folk tales.
People tell myths (fiction) to explain the unexplainable.
Legends are based on a small truth, exaggerated over time (nonfiction mixed with fiction).
Often based on hearsay
Often circulated as true
Plausible sounding story
Shocking or funny climax

3. Where do Urban Legends come from?
They have been around for centuries
Passed on from person to person
Today the internet is full of urban legends that are passed on through Facebook or other social media

4. They Contain Elements of Truth
Elements of truth make them believable
Setting is likely to be a real place (Hemet, California)
Some are inspired by an actual event
Each time the story is told it changes a little and details are added or changed. Think of rumors or the game of telephone.

5. Urban Legends can be about any thing
Woman dries poodle in microwave
Man dies in vat of gravy while making it for a restaurant
House is haunted by former dead owners
Bloody Mary
Hook man

6. Urban Legends have common topics or subject matter.
Humor
Horror
Warning
Embarrassment
Appeal to empathy
Moralizing

7. Recognize the element s of Urban Legends
Story is about non-specific protagonist (friend of a friend), not the story teller
You hear different versions of the same story
Topic related to common fears such as death, embarrassment, or crime
Story has a moral or warning
Story is too odd to be true