Unsolved Mystery Research

Introduction

The world is full of mysterious places, creatures, and phenomena. Have you ever wondered if the Loch Ness
Monster, Bigfoot, or the Abominable Snowman really exist? What about the Lost City of Atlantis or the Bermuda
Triangle? How do you explain Crop Circles, UFOs, or the statues on Easter Island? Well, lucky for you, there has
been a new sighting, incident, or discovery related to one of these very mysteries! The popular magazine Unsolved
Mysteries Around the World would like to feature a cover article about the mystery in question.

Process
Step 1: Choose a topic (only 2 students per topic)
Step 2: Research your unsolved mystery using the Resources listed below. You will be
researching who or what your mystery is, different sightings and/or hoaxes, and the different
theories/hoaxes behind the mysteries.
Step 3: Take notes (on Unsolved Mystery Checklist or Google Drive) of information and
sources as you find it on the checklist.
Step 4: Easybib.com or Citefast.com – record all your sources as you gather them (on Unsolved
Mystery Checklist or Google Drive). This is a crucial step in making you Works Cited page. DO
NOT SKIP!
Step 5: Make a visual. This could be a Prezi, PowerPoint/Google Slides, Scrapbook, Poster, etc.
Find pictures and maps (cite these sources too)
Step 6: Using the Research Presentation Outline, write the rough draft. Then revise, edit, and
create your final copy.
Step 7: Present your unsolved mystery to the class along with your visual in a 3-minute
presentation.

What will I turn in?

· Presentation Outline
· A Works Cited Page with a minimum of 3 sources
· Visual
· 3-5 minute presentation

Good Sources to start with…

https://school.eb.com (username: jobe password: mavericks)

http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/scic/?p=SCIC&u=j220908046 (password: mavericks)
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/
http://www.pbs.org/
https://unsolved.com/
https://app.discoveryeducation.com/public:session/login (Use your MISD Google Account)

1
 Unsolved Mystery Research Paper, Works Cited, Visual and Presentation
Name: _______________________________________

Requirement 10 8 6 4 0-2

Works Cited

Introduction: Hook

Introduction: Basic
Info

Introduction:
Thesis

Body: Theory 1

Body: Theory 2

Conclusion: Heart of
the Matter & Zinger

Presentation

Visual

NOTES: TOTAL_________________/100

2
Name: ________________________
Unsolved Mystery Research Checklist
You will need to find all these things in order to write a successful research paper. Be sure to keep track of where
you find this information so you can cite it later (I suggest copying and pasting the URL or Book Title and Author
next to each answer). If you quote directly from the source, be sure to use quotation marks.

1. Who or what am I? __________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What do I look like? _________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Where am I from? ___________________________________________________________________________

4. What year was I first spotted? Or when did I start killing? ____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why am I famous? What is so special about me? __________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Why do I remain a mystery? ___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

7. One theory behind my existence/ one suspect as to who I am ________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Fact about theory/suspect #1

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. Fact about theory/suspect #1 ___________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

10. Fact about theory/suspect #1 __________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

11. Likelihood of this theory/suspect ________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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12 Second theory behind my existence/ one suspect as to who I am _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

13. Fact about theory/suspect #2 __________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

14. Fact about theory/suspect #2 __________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

15. Fact about theory/suspect #2 __________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
16. Likelihood of this theory/suspect ________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
17. Other interesting fact________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
18. Other interesting fact (May need more than 2) ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
19. Am I dangerous? Why am I important to figure out? _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
20. What will happen if I am discovered/figured out? _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________