Renaissance-Reformation Newspaper Project
Group Project: 3 members per group
Title Line- This is what introduces your Newspaper to people
One group member will create the headline.
1. Be sure to include the following in your Title Line:
 Newspaper Title
 Date
 Location which paper was printed (Choose a city where the Renaissance
took place, ex. Venice, Italy)
 Name of publisher (that is you!)
This can be decorative or plain, but please make it legible and neat.
Section A- People
Each group member must choose one task to complete.
1.
Choose a person from the given list and create a lead article, or headline
detailing the accomplishments or significance of that person. This should
describe any artwork, invention, writing, or philosophy that person created. Be
sure to highlight their “greatest accomplishment” explaining how it was different
than works of the past, and what characteristics make it “of this period”.
2.
Choose a different person from the list and create an obituary for that person. Be
sure to include pertinent facts and details about the person that distinguish them
as Renaissance personalities.
3.
Choose a different person from the list and write the results from an interview
with that person. Be sure to include pertinent facts and details about the person
that distinguish them as Renaissance personalities.
Section B- Life in the Renaissance
Each group member must choose two to create from the list below. Do not duplicate.
Life in the Renaissance was based on the concept of Humanism. Create advertisements
that would reflect how humanism affected life during this time period.
1. Personal Ads : “Wanted – Renaissance Man”, etc.
2. Help Wanted Ads: Painter needed, Printing press repairman wanted, etc.
3. Real Estate Ads : “Art Studio for Rent”, “Seaside villa for sale”, etc.
4. Museum Display: Whose artwork is it, what is it, where is it, characteristics,
reviews, etc.
5. Book Signing: What author is it, what is the title, where is he, summary of the
book, reviews, etc.
6. Theater Review: What is the play, who wrote it, where is it playing, summary of
the play, reviews, etc.
7. Society Section: This is a “Who’s Who” that highlights personalities of the time
and what they are doing.
Section C- Editorial Page
Each group member that did not create the Title Line must choose one to create.
1. Letter to the Editor – Create a letter to the editor about a Renaissance or
Reformation issue. An editorial states your opinion on an issue or supports or
criticizes a certain point of view on a topic.
2. Cartoon - Create a political cartoon on any relevant issue of the Renaissance or
Reformation. Cartoons are much like editorials in that they either support or
criticize an issue. It is simply a visual and clever way of stating your opinion on a
subject.
List of People for use in your project:
Martin Luther
John Calvin
Leonardo DaVinci
Michelangelo
William Shakespeare
Johannes Gutenburg
Thomas More
Raphael
Boccaccio
Isabella d’Este
Machiavelli
Lorenzo de Medici
Topics for use in your project:
Humanism
Secularism
Patrons of the Arts
Rebirth of Classical learning
Lutheranism / Calvinism / Protestantism vs. Catholicism
Shift from the Manor system to the Growth of Towns
Final Checklist
TITLE LINE on the top of the front page
_________
Section A – People (3 checks)
1. _____ Lead Article (Headline)
2. _____ Obituary
3. _____ Interview
Section B – Ads (Six checks )
4. _____ Personal Ad
5. _____ Help Wanted
6. _____ Real Estate
7. _____ Museum Display
8. _____ Book Signing
9. _____ Theater
10. _____ Society Section
Section C – Editorial Page (2 checks)
11. _____ Letter to the Editor
12. _____ Political Cartoon
There should be twelve (12) checkmarks on this page – one (1) check on each line for
Section A, six (6) checks for Section B, and one (1) check on each line in Section C for
a total of eleven (11) newspaper components plus the Title Line.
Remember:
* We will spend 2 days in class assigning tasks, planning rough drafts and
assembling the final product where your group will cut, paste, etc. to create an
authentic Renaissance era newspaper. But time must be spent at home as well.
* Refer to the rubric to ensure all requirements are met for the best grade possible.
* Put all of your names on the final product to the turned in. Your name should be
on your individual components as well.