Process

1.      Select and read an historical fiction book with a setting in the Colonial/Revolutionary War period.  Refer to the Sources section of this WebQuest for suggestions of books. You might want to write down ideas about events and daily life found in your book to refer to when developing your newspaper.

2.      Your teacher will divide the class into groups of 3 or 4 and assign specific roles to each group member. This will be your newspaper Staff assignment/job. Each group will work cooperatively to create their newspaper. The staff should brainstorm ideas for each staff members’ assignment. While all articles and advertisements should be historically appropriate and accurate for the time period—have fun with this, use your imagination, and be creative!

3.      You might want to refer to the following resources for historical information and graphics:

a.      Reflections from historical fiction book you read

b.      Research using Resources provided in this WebQuest

4.      Review the Rubric in the Evaluation section so you will know the expectations and how you will be assessed.  Before turning in your final newspaper, revisit the rubric to make sure you have met all of the expectations.

5.       The roles are:

a.      Editor: The editor will serve as the team leader—not making decisions for the group, but making sure they work together and that everyone’s opinions are heard and considered. The editor holds the overall responsibility to proofread the final product. Individual staff members are still expected to edit and proofread their own work before it is turned over to the editor for final proofreading.  As an additional task, the editor must create at least 2 “Letters to the Editor” that are historically appropriate.  Possible letters might state an opinion about an important issue from that period or ask advice concerning a problem.

b.      Reporter: Depending on the size of the group your staff might include 1 or 2 reporters. Each reporter will create a minimum of two historically appropriate articles. The articles might:

                                                               i.      Provide information about events taking place in the clash between the colonies and British (ex. On-scene reporting of the Boston Tea Party)

                                                             ii.      Detail something considered “human interest” such as relating an accomplishment of a specific individual in the community (ex. Mark Smith Sets Record in Game of Nine Pins)

                                                            iii.      Inform colonists of an event of interest to the community (ex. Up-coming Colony Fair).

c.      Advertising Manager: This staff member is responsible for developing at least 3 advertisements for the newspaper. The advertisements can be for

                                                              i.      products (ex. Tools, food, building materials, clothing),

                                                            ii.      events (ex. Guest speaker…Paul Revere or the signing of the Declaration of Independence), or

                                                          iii.      travel (ex. Visit Williamsburg or Be a Part of History: Visit Concord or Lexington )

6.      After each member writes or types—and proofreads—their contribution to the newspaper, the staff will begin to create the newspaper using Microsoft Publisher. A minimum of a 2-page layout will be chosen. Each staff member will enter their assignment into the Publisher document, in the appropriate layout placement—as determined by the staff, collaboratively.  Each staff member is responsible for adding at least one graphic to their specific assignment…once it is entered into the Publisher document.  Refer to the Resources section of this WebQuest for sites of graphics.

7.      The Editor will proofread the completed newspaper, do a final SAVE, and print it.

8.      Each "staff” group will submit a group bibliography of resources used by all "staff" members. All web sites, books, and other sources must be included. The bibliography must be in the format provided by your teacher.