Extra! Extra!
Newspaper Article Book Project
For this project, you will be creating the front page of a newspaper. All the articles, headlines and
pictures will relate to the book you have chosen for your book project. In some article, you will be
presenting the facts in the story and in others; you will be present information from the story in a
creative way. As you read the book, keep notes about what happened and what might make for good
newspaper reading. The written sections may be typed or hand written. However, hand written
sections are expected to have high quality penmanship. Work carefully- accuracy and neatness count!
Be creative, but stick to the story you read as well.
Supplies:
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Large poster board
Glue,
Markers/pens/crayons/colored pencils/printer
Ruler (to make straight lines)
Any other decorative material
1. Plan your paper as follows:
 Divide your newspaper into appropriate spaces and columns.
 The top part of your newspaper is called the “nameplate”. It should include a name and date. It
may also include the price, a flag or symbol and a slogan, the issue number and/or year of
publication. Check the top of the front page of a real newspaper for an example. Be sure to use
a date relevant to the time period of your book if your book is set in a different time period.
2. The following sections MUST be included on your front page:
a. Advice Column- a letter to an advice columnist about a personal problem from one
characters life and a reply from the advice columnist. You may make up the advice
columnist name and letter writer. Be sure to include information about the problem the
character has and the solution given by the advice columnist. You may chose any
relevant character from the book.
b. Book Review- a book review in which you summarize the plot of the book (but don’t
give away the ending). Include opinions about the book. Use details from the book to
support your opinions. Would you recommend this book to a friend? What other kinds
of readers might like this book? Be sure to include the title and author in your review.
c. Character Feature Article- Write a section of your paper just about the main character.
Include the main characters name, character traits (generous, fair, leader, stubborn,
etc), interesting information about the character, things the character did in the story, a
“word sketch” of the character,(describes the physical features of the character).
3. In addition to the required sections of the newspaper, you must also include ONE (or more) of
the following “fillers”a. Comic Strip- Design a four-panel comic strip that illustrates something funny that
happened in the story. Be sure to give it a title and include dialogue.
b. Classified Add- It can be a “help-wanted” ad or an ad for an object that a character
wants/wants to sell.
c. Advertisement- An advertisement for an important object or service in the story. It
needs to include the name of the “product”, its purpose and an incentive to buy it.
d. Cross Word Puzzle- A crossword puzzle with vocabulary relevant to or featured in the
book. It must have a minimum of 6 clues, complete with cross word puzzle and
matching clues.
Newspaper Book Project Checklist:
Did you…
___ fill all the space, leaving no empty spaces?
___ Include the three “must have” parts of the newspaper including the advice column, book review and
character feature article?
___ include at least one of the “fillers”?
___ at least two pictures with a caption about the picture?
___ a title for each section?
___ include all the information for the nameplate at the top of the paper.
___ check to make sure all your punctuation, grammar and spelling is correct?
___ support all of your opinions with facts, details and information from the story?
___ make sure your project reflects your best effort and quality of workmanship with creativity,
neatness and attention to detail?
Newspaper Book Report PROJECT Rubric
Section Criteria
The “nameplate “section included a name and date. It also may include the price, a
flag or symbol and a slogan, the issue number and/or year of publication.
Advice Column section- in letter format; included a problem from one of the story
characters and a reply with a solution to from the advice columnist. The problem
and solution were relevant to the story.
Book Review section- the book review summarized the plot of the book (but didn’t
give away the ending). It included opinions about the book and used details from
the book to support opinions. It included the title and author in the review.
Character Feature Article section- The section focused on the main character. It
included the main characters name, character traits (generous, fair, leader,
stubborn, etc), interesting information, things the character did in the story, a
“word sketch” of the character (describes the physical features of the character).
Score (0-4)
Included at least one additional of the optional “fillers”. The included filler followed
the guideline for that section, including all mentioned parts and demonstrating
creative thinking.
Project was neat and visually pleasing, demonstrating organization, good use of
space and use of a ruler.
Project demonstrated correct grammar, punctuation and capitalization usage.
Project demonstrated creativity.
Project demonstrated the student’s best effort and quality workmanship.
Project included at least two pictures with a caption about the picture.
Bonus was given by teacher for:
Total
0- Did not include in the newspaper. Did not complete this section in the newspaper project.
1- Included section in the project, but did not include important elements of the section OR the
section severely lacked neatness, punctuation , capitals and general cohesiveness. Overall, the
orgination, creativity, effort and quality of workmanship needs improvement.
2- Included section, but it only somewhat included important elements of the section OR the
section somewhat lacted neatness, punctuation, capitals and general cohesiveness. It was
satifactorily organized and demonstrated satisfactory creativeiy, effort and quality of
workmanship.
3- Included section and it mostly included the important element sof the section Or the section
mostley included neatness, correct punction/capitalization and had an overall good, general
cohesivness.It was organized well and demonstrated some creativity, a good effort and a good
quality of workmanship.
4- Included section and it completely included the important element of the section and the
section was neatly done, had all correct puntuation/capitalization and had an overall excellent
cohesivness. It was excellent in organization and demonstrated creativety, best effort and high
quality of workmanship.
Project Score/ Report Card Equivalencies
0: Project was not completed
1-10: Project needs improvement
11-20: Project is satisfactory
21-30: Project is good
31-40: Project is excellent
The Egypt Street Gazette
January 19th, 1912
A Miraculous journey is about to begin…
To Read or Not to
Meet Edward Tulan
In this section, the author will
Read
include the main characters
Book Review Section
name, character traits (generous,
The book review
fair, leader, stubborn, etc),
summarizes the plot of the
interesting information, things
book (but doesn’t give away
the character did in the story, a
the ending). It includes
“word sketch” of the character
(describes the physical features
of the character). Be as
descriptive and detailed as
possible. Paint a picture of the
opinions about the book and
Edward and Abilene Tulane
"If you have no intention of loving
or being loved, then the whole
journey is pointless." (p. 189)
uses details from the book
to support opinions. It
includes the title and author
in the review.
character with words.
Dear Abilene
(Filler Section: Example of an Advertisement)
The Trip of a Lifetime
On Sale Now
In this section, the author will include, in letter
format,a problem from one of the story characters
and a reply with a solution to from the advice
columnist. The problem and solution need to be
relevant to the story.
Tickets for the Queen Mary
Setting Sail to London
Buy now and receive a free
pocket watch!
The Queen Mary- Just before nightfall…