Urban Legend Essay
Rhetorical Analysis of Urban Legends
English 1301 Soullier
Lesson Plan By this point, we have covered:
● Writing Effective Introductions and Conclusions
● Developing Thesis Statements ● Forming Paragraphs ● Analyzing Diction and Tone ● Finding Quality Sources ● Using MLA Format ● Citing Sources ● Identifying and Using Rhetoric
This lesson will cover:
● Goals and Outcomes ● Rhetorical Analysis ● Urban Legends ● Rhetorical Analysis of an Urban
Legend ● Responding critically to a text
Purpose and Goals Lecture and Assignment Learning Outcomes:
● Improvement of critical thinking skills (QEP) through reading, reflecting and responding critically to a text
● Demonstrate knowledge of the writing process
● Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution
Rhetorical Analysis:
A rhetorical analysis discusses how writers and speakers use rhetoric (ethos, pathos, logos) to persuade their audience.
You, the writer, will work to identify the speaker’s goals, the audience, and the rhetoric used.
What is an Urban Legend? Urban Legends are:
● Stories that are presented as being true and could believably happen
● Happened to a friend of a friend or a family member of the teller
● Often the legends have a loose basis in truth
● Move locations
Example Urban Legend:
Poisoned Halloween Candy
Every Halloween we receive warnings about candy laced with poison or containing razor blades and pins; however, this is a far from new. Is there an epidemic of Halloween Sadists poisoning kids’ candy?
Is Tampered Candy an Epidemic? Reported Cases of Tampered Candy
Each year 1-2 cases of candy tampering are reported on social media and in the news.
These cases are typically traced to the children, parents, or friends.
WMAR-2 News. “Needle Found in Halloween Candy.” ABC News. Youtube. Accessed 12 June 2019.
Is the Urban Legend True? Despite the number of incidents we hear regarding candy tampering each year, we never hear of about the aftermath or apprehension of the supposed Halloween Sadist.
This inability to confirm the rumors point to a long-lived urban legend, but don’t take my word for it.
TruTV. “The Myth of Poison Halloween Candy.” Adam Ruins Everything. 2018. YouTube. Accessed 12 June 2019.
Starting a Rhetorical Analysis Now that we have established that our story is an urban legend, we can start our rhetorical analysis.
Examine the work to determine the: ● Speaker ● Audience ● Purpose ● Rhetoric Used
Analyze the Speaker Who tells the story?
Traditionally, urban legends are told to us as second-hand information through oral transmission.
The speaker (friend, family member, ect.) usually heard this elsewhere and can only loosely verify the information. It happened to a friend of a friend.
Ex. Poisoned Halloween Candy
This legend has been endured because of the ethos behind it.
The method of transmission has changed with technology: oral transmission, news media, social media, and even police warnings.
Analyze the Audience Who is the intended audience?
Each urban legend has an intended audience. Consider:
● Where and when you heard it? ● Who is part of the legend? ● Does the legend appeal to a
specific culture or group of people?
● Who should worry about the legend being true?
Ex. Poisoned Halloween Candy
This legend involves a stranger giving a young child tampered candy.
The audience would include:
● Parents of young children ● Young children ● Concerned community officials
Analyze the Purpose Why was the legend created?
Each urban legend has a goal:
● How does it make you feel? ● How are you supposed to feel? ● Does the speaker want you to
change a previous behaviour?
Ex. Poisoned Halloween Candy
Most urban legends are cautionary tales. This particular legend warns to listener (kid or parent) to:
● Not take candy from strangers ● Not trust strangers ● Pay attention to your kids
Analyze the Rhetoric Used Three Types of Rhetoric
● Ethos (authority) ● Pathos (emotions) ● Logos (facts)
Ex. Poisoned Halloween Candy
Ethos: the teller of the legend is someone the listener trusts (peer, parent, ect.)
Pathos: the listener becomes afraid of Halloween candy and strangers. Parents, communities and children make changes in response.
Logos: Warnings from community leaders, police, news reports, and “supposed” other cases make the stories believable.
Prewriting Group Activity Instructions:
1. Get into groups of 3-4 2. Discuss urban legends you have
heard 3. Write down a brief summary of
the urban legends discussed 4. Write down any differences
between stories heard by other group members
Questions to Answer:
● When did you first hear to urban legend?
● Who told you the urban legend? ● What proof was provided? ● What was your response to the
urban legend?.
Resources Essay instructions are posted on Blackboard under Essays/Assignments→ Essay 2
To help you find the right urban legend to analyze, consider some of these resources from author, Jan Harold Brunvand:
● Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid ● Too Good to Be True ● The Baby Train ● Curses! Broiled Again!
For further examples on analysis of urban legends, view the documentary, Killer Legends:
Zeiman, Josh. Killer Legends. ChillerTV. YouTube. 2010. Accessed 12 June 2019