Urban Legends Essay - 1537 Words

Jordan Groll American Society: Urban Legends in the Classroom What is it about America that causes students and people to crave an education? Could it be the intense pressures of society, or could it even be the simple fact that we want to educate ourselves? For centuries people were fine with being un-educated and life was simple and laid back, but when John Cotton (a noted Puritan Minister) established the first public school in America, people began to eat it up. And thus was the start of a race to the top and an obsession in today’s society about education. We are now living life in the fast lane, and most people don’t even have the time to stop and smell the flowers along the way. The Urban Legends, â€Å"Open Book†,†¦show more content†¦In â€Å"Reward† the student keeps himself accountable for his own success by working diligently and giving it all of his effort, because he knows that the only way to success is to walk down a road less traveled. Is it impossible to solve a rubix cube? Its not impossible, one just needs to know the right algorithms used to solve it. This is very similar to the Urban Legend of â€Å"The Unsolvable Problem†. In this tale, a student mistakes an example of an unsolvable math problem for his assigned homework, and after several long hours of hard work and dedication, he solves it. As we can see, the student genuinely cares about his education, and he is willing to solve any problem in his path in order to be educated. This brings us back to the example of the rubix cube. With enough dedication it can be solved without algorithms. These urban legends are clearly directed towards the younger generations as they are the ones who are still in school and are sifting through the slow process of the education system. All three of these urban legends/tales have the same theme of teens and education. They are all written for a specific audience type, and in these three the specific audience happens to b e teenagers or the younger generation. The Purpose of these legends is too relate to the teens in a way which will make them want to listen, and then to plant a seed or a message deep down inside of their heads which tells them to stay in school and to stress how importantShow MoreRelatedUrban Legends Essay841 Words   |  4 Pages We have all heard of strange and gory stories that are supposedly true, experienced by a friend of a friend. Whether true or not these so called urban legends tend to circulate throughout society thriving on each individuals fears and curiosity. What most people dont realize is, within these tales lies the attitudes and values of a community. These tales do not survive throughout the years solely on the basis of their entertainment level, but due to the fact that they reflect societys fearsRead MoreUrban Myths Of Urban Legends981 Words   |  4 PagesImagine the urban legends from your younger years, a reminiscent of your wildest fears. Your heart ra te gradually increases from the thought, feeling it pump out from your chest. Your breathing staggers and paranoia surrounds you. You’re frozen from fear, yet you can’t run or fight it off. As we grow, urban legends are intended to make us feel specific emotions: as children they instill fear, as adolescents they’re meant more as humorous banter, while as adults, they’re forgotten and replaced withRead MoreEssay on Urban Legend of Car Headlights1480 Words   |  6 Pagestheir urban legends. One legend, often called â€Å"Lights Out,† was mentioned by just about all of the students I interviewed. Those who did not mention it on their own recognized it when I described it. I interviewed a 19-year-old male sophomore who anticipates getting into the School of Business. He transferred from Community College this past fall, and currently lives with a relative in a nearby off-campus home. He went to a small Catholic high school. He recalls first hearing this legend earlyRead MoreEssay about Urban Legends1228 Words   |  5 Pages Joel Beckwith Febuary 13, 2001 Urban Legends In this paper I will explain exactly what an urban legend is,and give some examples of very popular ones that have been passed by word of mouth for decades across the United States. 1 quot; An urban legend is a story that is so bizarre,horrifying,or unexplainable, that it makes something inside of us want to believe it.quot; Urban Legends can have traced origins from other countries, universities, states, or people,that just decided to madeRead MoreWhat are Urban Legends? Essay1107 Words   |  5 PagesAPS ISU – Urban Legends What are Urban Legends? 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I remember this from back in second grade. It scaredRead MoreEssay about The Urban Legend of the Backseat Murderer1024 Words   |  5 PagesThe Backseat Murderer A good urban legend is like a good movie. It unfolds perfectly and it appeals to the audience’s hopes, fears, and anxieties. The urban legend I am about to describe was told by a first year female biology major at the University. She is of Indian descent and both her parents work in the biotechnology field. I collected this story on a Sunday night in the dorm. The fact that it was nighttime helped create the proper mood for the story. It was told in a dimly lit dorm roomRead More To Believe or Not to Believe, Modern Urban Legends Essay1485 Words   |  6 Pages To Believe or Not To Believe Modern Urban Legends nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Many people have heard the tale of the dotty grandmother who tried to dry off her damp poodle by placing it in the microwave oven. The dog exploded, sad to say the least , and Grandma has never been quite the same since. The story is not true; it is an urban legend, circulating by word of mouth since the 1970s (Brunvand, 108). Urban legends are popular stories alleged to be true and transmitted from person to personRead MorePathos And Logos Of The Urban Legend Head On A Stick957 Words   |  4 PagesUrban Legends: a story, usually horrific, which uses pieces of history and information to create a story which is circulated through several generations and cultures. The person telling an urban legend more likely than not has heard the story from someone else. Urban legends are passed down from parents, grandparents, friends, siblings etc... The story has been morphed so many times over the years that the true story behind the legend has been lost in the web of its new versions. Although terrifyingRead MoreInfluence Of Urban Legends On Various Art Forms Of 21st Century3442 Words   |  14 PagesSummer Project On ‘Influence of Urban Legends on Various Art forms Of 21st Century ’ In partial fulfillment of the requirements for Award of Degree of B.A. Hons. English - 3 Submitted By: Supervised By: Annant Gaur Dr. Smita Mishra A0706113077 Asst. Professor Amity Institute of English Studies and Research AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH India DECLARATION Date: 30.7.2014 I, Annant Gaur, student of B.A. Hons