Urban Legend Essay

Final Research Paper For the Final Research Paper, you will choose an urban legend either from class or that interests you. Then you will work perform a rhetorical analysis of the legend; this cannot be the same legends that we discussed in class so far. You are free to choose how you response and what you focus on.

1. Choose one urban legend 2. Perform a Rhetorical Analysis on the urban legend. Identify the speaker, audience,

purpose, and rhetoric used. See the Rhetorical Analysis of an Urban Legend Lecture to see information and an example of how to complete this.

3. Research your urban legend and find at least four sources to support your points and one additional source that is a version of your urban legend. Your essay will have five sources total and each must be used as an in-text citation and cited on the works cited. One is the story and four are those that you find in the academic databases, books, ect. Sources can be about the legend, rhetoric, transmission of rumors, ect.

4. Write your assignment as an academic essay that is a min of 4 pages long (not including the Works Cited).

Paper formatting requirements:

• 4 pages min (not including works cited page) • 5 paragraph format essay is required (clear intro, body and conclusion - a par. has 5

sentences minimum.) • 12pt font, times new roman, standard margins • Follow MLA format • Essay must have a unique title (not Response 1 or the name of the readings) • No personal pronouns (I, me, my, you, your, us, we, one and our) • A thesis statement should be present as the last sentence of the introduction so that it may

be identified. Reference the thesis PowerPoint if you need a refresher on this topic. Research Requirements and Citation req.

• 5 sources title (4 outside sources min that are based on fact; such as library books, databases, and academic journals (with the 1 story, this will be 5 sources total)

• Do not use more than one source that says the same information • In-text citations are required in all essays. An essay lacking a works cited or in-text

citations is considered academic dishonesty. • Citations should not be the bulk of your paper, no more than 20%. One source is the

story and two other sources have been provided for you. You MUST use all three sources in your essay and no other sources are allowed.

• Definitions of terms, characters, places, ect are not counted

Resource: Source Locations; Sources must be of academic quality

• Google Books (This is different than GooglePlayBook) Put in your search terms and books will come up regarding that content. View those that say "Preview available"- it may take a few tries, but defiantly a good place.)

• Google Scholar • .EDU and .GOV are also good places to start

DO NOT USE or AVOID:

• pro/con cites • .com • .org