Unsolved mysteries introduction

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson often drew different conclusions from the same clues, the same pieces of information. They then looked for additional evidence to prove that something was true.

The process of solving a mystery and the process of writing a research have several things in common. Both require gathering and studying clues, evidence, and information; weeding out “red herrings” or irrelevant information; organizing thoughts; and presenting accurate conclusions.

You have been hired by the Unsolved Mysteries Society to conduct background research for an upcoming documentary, which will include a Google Slides Presentation of your findings. It is very important for you to provide accurate information, because the people at the Unsolved Mysteries Society pride themselves on presenting nothing but the facts. You will present your findings and presentation with confidence. Your professional reputation (and your grade) will be affected by the quality of the report you produce for them.

The Unsolved Mysteries Society has commissioned a research report analyzing the information about your topic. Your findings will explain what facts are known, what theories have been presented to explain the facts, which theory has the most support, and what aspects of the mystery remain unexplained. You will use the information from your research to create and present a Google Slides presentation.

1. Topics have been selected using the lottery method.

2. Find facts and theories about the mystery. Take notes from books, magazines articles, encyclopedias, and the Internet. Keep track of your sources, especially the page numbers of print materials and the URL (Web address) and retrieval date of any online materials. Use the note card method for your information and sources (cards will be provided if needed).

3. Think about what you have learned. Do you have any unanswered questions? If you do, you may need to continue your research.

4. Organize the material you have gathered onto your useful form.

5. Think about how you want to present your information and plan accordingly. Your planning has a value of its own from the research project, so plan effectively. Be sure to indicate the source of facts, ideas, and phrases you found during your research, so that you avoid plagiarism.

6. Think some more and revise your presentation. There is more to revising than checking spelling and punctuation, although those are also important. You might want to reorganize, or you might see that you need one or two more facts.

7. Submit your presentation by sharing with Mrs. Acker (juliaacker@mooreschools.com)

8. Present your findings.

9. Celebrate a challenging job well done!

Names:

Unsolved Mystery Research Form

Mystery:

10 verifiable facts about topic:

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

3 leading theories and reliability of those theories

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

Concluding thesis:

Evidence proving thesis (should include quotes and paraphrasing and in-text citation):

Explain any aspects of the mystery which remain unexplained.

Make sure that your sources are in alphabetical order by the first word of the information. You must use at least 4 sources, and one of them must be an encyclopedia. Please attempt to find a book as one of your sources as well. This list should not contain your citations for your presentation.

Names:

Total: /130

For Educators:

Easter Island

Big Foot

Stonehenge

Bermuda Triangle

Holy Grail

The Hope Diamond

Curse of King Tut

Lost Colony of Roanoke

Amelia Earhart’s disappearance

Lost City of Atlantis

Builders of the Great Pyramids

Crop Circles

King Arthur and the Round Table

Roswell / Area 51

Oak Island Treasure

Disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa

Lindbergh baby

Disappearance of D.B. Cooper

El Dorado