Library Workshops

Urban Legends

Stories that we tell that are often shocking, but believable tall tales that are often cautionary. There are several genres of Urban Legends including crime, medicine, internet, and paranormal.

The hallmarks of an urban legend include:

• The source of the story is often someone the teller knows, at least by extension.

• The story has an air of plausibility to it.

• A lesson is learned and it features people being punished for violating societal taboos.

• The story has a dramatic ending that is just a little too perfect.

Generate the start of an urban legend using this generator.

Check your source

What makes a news source reliable?

• Publication Reputation and/or Bias: publication or website is well-respected and provides factual, fair, and balanced reporting.
• Relies on Facts: does not appeal to emotion but factual events and information that is readily available and verified.
• Cites Sources: article provides (current) links or citations for sources used.
• Not Unique: article provides information or ideas that can be confirmed by other reputable sources.

What makes a news source unreliable?

• It can't be verified. Links or sources included do not lead to sources outside of the site's domain or do not relate to the topic of the article.
• Appeals to emotion. Unreliable news plays on feelings to ensure you won't be skeptical of its contents.
• No expert opinions or cited sources. Authors of articles aren't experts with credentials or journalists and expert are not consulted. You may not see an author's name at all.
• It can't be found anywhere else. Look up the claim or idea in a known, reputable news source. If they're not reporting it, it's probably untrue.
• Fake news often comes from fake sites. Do you recognize the website address? If it looks weird or unfamiliar (like abcnews.com.co), it's probably unreliable or downright false.

Fact Checking Websites

• Snopes is an award-winning site where writers Barbara and David Mikkelson collect, research, and frequently debunk urban legends and Internet rumors.
• Media Bias / Factcheck  is an independent website that has promoted awareness of media bias and misinformation by rating the bias, factual accuracy, and credibility of media sources, large and small.
• FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Thye are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.