CIVIL WAR NEWSPAPER PROJECT
Standard Assessed: 8.10 Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.
Congratulations! You have just been hired to start a newspaper and the year is 1863. Your job will be to create a
Newspaper from the North, South or West of the United States and inform the people of the events, people, and issues
during the Civil War. What you choose to report is up to you.
Dates & Deadlines
Date Assigned: Monday May 6th, 2013
Date Due: Wednesday May 15th, 2013
TOPICS: Your group will be responsible for writing 6 primary articles. Below is a list of topics you may choose to write
about. Starred items are topics your group MUST report on and your group can choose TWO additional topics to report
for a 3 and for a 4 you must choose THREE additional topics to report on:
Weapons
Red Cross
Compare and contrast Jefferson Davis and Abraham
Lincoln as President’s
General Robert E. Lee
Battle of Bull Run
General Thomas Jackson
Naval Battle: The Virginia v The Monitor
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Chancellorsville
General Ulysses S. Grant
Fashion
Sports
Battle of Shiloh
54th Massachusetts Regiment
Inflation
Union Blockade
Women in the War
Fall of Vicksburg
Battle of Gettysburg
General George Pickett
Total War
General George McClellan
General Phillip Sheridan
General William Tecumseh Sherman
Music
Newspaper Checklist
____6 Primary Articles
Requirements:
Topic of choice 500 words
Picture with caption
Clear introduction of topic and conclusion
Historically Accurate
Articles should be free of spelling/grammar errors
Include name of author (your name)
Bibliography must be attached to Newspaper and in
MLA format
____3 Secondary Articles
Options:
Classifieds/Notices/Advertisements
Comics/Coupons
Horoscopes
Weather
Crossword Puzzle
Advice Column
Include name of author (your name)
____Each Primary Article must be written by using
the following sources:
(1) Primary source (quote, diary entry, newspaper article
from the time, letter, analyze a picture)
(2) Secondary sources (textbook, encyclopedia,
supplemental reading sources, information from
university)
____Research
Your sources must be from a credible website and
bibliography must be attached on a separate paper
____Group Work and Evaluation Completed
Groups will create a newspaper as their final product.
You will be asked to assess your group members on how
well they shared ideas and balanced responsibilities.
Complete Evaluation
____Newspaper Overall Look
You will receive one piece of 11x17 paper to use for
your newspaper (you will be using the front and back)
Layout - should look like a newspaper (articles typed is
preferable with similar font)
Creativity is a must (cool pictures, title, articles, etc)
Original Name and Date of issue
Civil War Newspaper Rubric
CATEGORY
4
3
2
1
Requirements
All of the required
content was present plus
additional topics and
information. Starred
topics, more than 6
primary articles, more
than 3 secondary
articles, bibliography,
appropriate and relevant
images.
All the required content
was present. Starred
topics, 6 primary
articles, 3 secondary
articles, bibliography,
appropriate and relevant
images.
One required
Most required elements
element was
were missing OR
missing. Didn't
incomplete.
include one of the
starred topics, less
than 6 primary
articles, less than 3
secondary articles,
bibliography,
appropriate and
relevant images.
Primary Articles
100% of the articles
establish a clear purpose
in the lead paragraph and
demonstrate a clear
understanding of the
topic.
Articles mostly establish
a clear purpose in the
lead paragraph and
demonstrate an
understanding of the
topic.
Articles
Articles do not have
demonstrate a basic purpose or demonstrate
understanding of
understanding of topics.
the topic.
Secondary Articles
The secondary articles
contain information and
creativity that make the
newspaper exceptionally
interesting to readers.
The secondary articles
contain information and
creativity that make the
newspaper interesting to
readers.
The secondary
articles may not
contain information
and creativity that
make the
newspaper
somewhat
interesting to read.
The article does not
contain information and
creativity that make the
newspaper interesting to
read.
Contributions of Group
Members
Each person in the group
has contributed at least 3
primary articles and 2
secondary articles,
graphics, and did not
require prompting from
teachers or peers.
Each person in the group
has contributed at least 2
primary articles and one
secondary articles,
graphics with a few
reminders from peers.
Each person in the
group has
contributed at least
one primary article,
one secondary, and
a graphic with
some minimal
assistance from
peers.
One or more students in
the group required quite a
lot of assistance from
peers before contributing
one article OR group
member did not contribute
the required elements to
the group for a final
product
Newspaper Overall
Look
Product shows a large
amount of original
thought. Ideas are
creative and inventive,
has an original title,
issue date, and
newspaper looks
extremely realistic.
Product shows some
original thought. Work
shows new ideas and
insights, has an original
title, issue date, and
newspaper looks
realistic.
Product uses other
people's ideas
(giving them
credit), but there is
little evidence of
original thinking.
May be missing an
original title, issue
date, and
newspaper looks
somewhat realistic.
Product uses other people's
ideas, but does not give
them credit. Missing more
than one of the following;
an original title, issue date,
and newspaper looks like
little effort was put into
completion.
Your Name:_________________________________
GROUP EVALUATION
Name of one group member: ______________________________________________________________________
Complete the following about your group work:
We encourage everyone as a group.
ALWAYS
NEVER
We shared out ideas.
ALWAYS
NEVER
We responded to each others' ideas even if we did not agree with them.
ALWAYS
NEVER
We checked with other group members to make sure they understood what we said and our reason for saying it.
ALWAYS
NEVER
We used our time efficiently to complete our tasks.
ALWAYS
NEVER
If you had to give your group and members a score of (4, 3, 2, 1) what would it be? And why? Please support your
reasoning with examples._________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of second group member: _______________________________________________________________________
Complete the following about your group work:
We encourage everyone as a group.
ALWAYS
NEVER
We shared out ideas.
ALWAYS
NEVER
We responded to each others' ideas even if we did not agree with them.
ALWAYS
NEVER
We checked with other group members to make sure they understood what we said and our reason for saying it.
ALWAYS
NEVER
We used our time efficiently to complete our tasks.
ALWAYS
NEVER
If you had to give your group and members a score of (4, 3, 2, 1) what would it be? And why? Please support your
reasoning with examples._________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________