ELA Name: ______Informative Writing: Unsolved Mysteries I can objectively list and describe the multiple perspectives, factors, and option associated with an issue.

Today’s audiences LOVE a good mystery. We like reading mystery novels, listening to news reports of ongoing investigations, and watching TV series about forensics.

Luckily for us, there are a TON of real-world unsolved mysteries to read, write, and think about. Some are famous – like unsolved murders, missing people, strange natural occurrences, or crimes in which no bad guy was caught. (Think of Anastasia, the OJ Simpson trial, Oscar Pistorius, and other well-known drama!) However, there are countless cold cases waiting to be evaluated and examined as well.

In this assignment, you will choose any famous or lesser-known unsolved mystery and write a report on it. Use the guidelines below to choose and organize your writing.

By the way - when investigators, detectives, police, forensic examiners, and reporters look at a case, they are legally obligated to stay neutral. (“Innocent until proven guilty”, remember?) So in this assignment, you are supposed to focus on the facts and possibilities, never revealing your opinion or pushing too hard to emphasize one side over another.

Step 1: Pick a Topic

Use the following criteria to help you choose your topic:  It must be unsolved. Any case with a convicted bad guy doesn’t count.  It does NOT have to be murder. You are not obligated to choose any topic that upsets you or freaks you out. This assignment does NOT need to feel like an episode of Criminal Minds.  It needs to be a plausible mystery involving humans. Don’t give me any conspiracy theories about aliens or bigfoot.  It can be famous or smaller/local. Don’t feel obligated to tackle a huge case like Amelia Earhart.

Step 2: Research the Options

You will have to do CREDIBLE research to help you understand the topic well enough to write about it. Use the graphic organizer to help you, and be sure to not choose websites, videos, or other sources that aren’t published by reputable organizations. (No random sources by amateur conspiracy theorists!)

Step 3: Write an Informative Summary

Write a report that summarizes all of the information that a neutral reader would need to understand the topic and begin to form an opinion for herself. Don’t provide an imbalance of information or do anything to sway the reader; let him or her draw her own conclusion! If it helps, treat this like a news report, police report, or other document that only gets to state the facts. ELA Name: ______Unsolved Mysteries Graphic Organizers

These mysteries may be unsolved, but we do know SOME facts. Write about them below, and do credible research if needed to assist you.

Event Include date, location, and name of the event/mystery

Whodunit? List ALL the possible suspects or explanations. Do not pick a side.

Evidence List all of the known clues, facts, or evidence that is indisputable.

History of the Case What trials, investigations, or public reporting has already occurred? What is common knowledge? What has already been done to figure out what happened?

ELA Name: ______Informative Writing Rubric: Unsolved Mysteries 4 3 2 1 W.2.A Introduction and Writing fairly introduces Introduction may The mystery and Introduction subsequent paragraphs the known facts and not clearly or fully relevant facts are (Is the topic or clearly outline a viewpoints of the explain the not clearly problem fully mystery and known mystery and follows up mystery in a identifiable described?) facts, including analysis with necessary neutral manner. and/or and researched factual explanation or factual explained. support where needed. support.

W.2.B Student fully supports Writing uses a variety of Writing uses only The topic and/or Facts & all viewpoints/ options facts, details, and a few, possibly options are not Details with sufficient facts to examples to explain the inconsistent facts sufficiently (Do the events help the reader make situation in general and or support to explained with

Writing Writing build logically an educated decision. EACH of the possible explain the topic facts to be clear toward an answers/ solutions. and/or options. or informative to ending?) a reader.

W.2.D Writer uses both Writer uses BOTH specific Writer uses some Writer uses Vocabulary specific and common terminology for the topic situation-specific confusing, (Do you vocabulary, including and clear, common vocabulary, or repetitive, or balance jargon defining words as words for listeners to may not do so unspecific words with clarity?) needed, to be both understand. clearly. for the situation. accurate and understandable. Grammar L.2: The absence of errors The general lack of errors Errors indicate a Errors indicate a and Spelling indicates mastery of shows mastery of partial lack of lack of Is this my best grammar and/or grammatical concepts understanding in understanding in

proofreading? mastery of editing and/or proofreading grammar or grammar or Language skills. skills. proofreading. proofreading.

Turn-In Guidelines Effort Considerations Self-Assessment  Rubric on top  Length guidelines met What are you proud of?  Graphic organizer  Formatting incorrect  Final draft turned in  Title missing/vague Teacher’s Comments

What could you probably still revise?

Is this your best work? Why or why not?