Industrial Revolution WebQuest:
Was Life Better as a Result?
Introduction
The Industrial Revolution had a profound effect on all levels of society in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
How people lived and worked changed significantly during this time. You will explore
the following questions:


How did living conditions change as a result of the Industrial Revolution?

Did industrial growth contribute positively or negatively to society?
Did the benefits outweigh the problems generated by the Industrial
Revolution
Task
The class will be divided into two groups.
Group #1 will research and present information which supports the argument that the Industrial Revolution produced benefits
which made life better for the citizen of the day.
Group #2 will argue that the Industrial Revolution resulted in major societal problems and actually failed to make life better for
people.
Each group will research the question from several perspectives and produce newspapers with articles about this time period.
Process
1.
Divide into two large teams.
Group #1 will take the position that the Industrial Revolution made life better for the citizens by raising their
standard of living.
Group #2 will take the position that the Industrial Revolution failed to make life better for people and, in fact,
created new societal problems.
2.
Each group will subdivide its members into three smaller research groups. These small groups will examine these
positions from the following perspectives:



3.
upper/upper middle class (factory owners, large land owners, capitalists, financiers);
middle class (professionals, merchants, craftsmen, overseers, factory managers, lawyers);
lower class (male, female and child factory
workers, agricultural laborers).
In your role as a member of a particular social class,
consider at least four of the following factors in making
your argument as to whether the Industrial Revolution
made life better or not for members of your social class:





the growth of cities and other population shifts








health and sanitation
working conditions for men, women or children
changing role of women
impact of inventions on life
living conditions in the cities and in the
countryside
education
housing
income and wealth accumulation
role of labor unions
changes in family life
transportation
leisure
Final Product
Each group will publish a newspaper which advocates their point of view and answers the question: "Was life
better or worse for people of this time?" The articles in the newspaper will reflect the social class perspective of
each of the three subgroups. Each student will contribute one factual news article or profile of an individual.
Each subgroup must also create one opinion piece (letter to the editor, editorial, or commentary) that
represents the point of view of their social class (upper, middle, or lower class). The newspaper must also
contain at least two visual images (pictures, drawings, cartoons, photographs, etc.).
Assessment
Exceeds
Meets
Approaches
Expectations
Expectations 3 Expectations 2
4
Does Not Meet
Expectations 1
PROCESS
TimeManagement
Entire group
uses all inclass time
effectively and
efficiently.
Deadlines are
met &
progress is
steady
Every member
of the group
has a specific
Delegation of
role and
Responsibilities
carries it out to
the best of
their abilities.
Most of the
group uses
time efficiently
& effectively.
All deadlines
are met
without
rushing
Group
procrastinates
and does not use
time as well as it
could. Meets
deadlines only
with frantic effort
Group wastes time,
does not meet
deadlines and work
is
disproportionately
put on one
member.
Members are
assigned roles
and most are
carried out
with a solid
effort.
Members do not
carry out
assigned roles, a
few members do
disproportionate
amounts of work
for group
Roles &tasks
aren’t assigned or
completed. Group
does not function
well together. Lack
of responsibility
shown
All articles
have headlines
and are laid out
in newspaper
format
including
masthead,
justified
columns, dates,
by-lines,
separate Op/Ed
page, etc.
Fairly
professional
looking work.
Articles have
weak headlines.
An attempt is
made to create a
newspaper
layout, but
important parts
are missing.
Opinions are
mixed-in with
news stories.
Not-quite
professional
looking material
Articles are
missing headlines.
Material is not
typed or laid out in
columns using
newspaper format.
Opinions are
missing or unclear.
Unprofessional
looking work.
One or two
Graphics are
PRODUCT
Layout,
Headlines, &
Opinions
All articles
attention
getting
headlines.
Laid out well
in newspaper
format
including
masthead,
justified
columns,
dates, by-lines,
separate
Op/Ed page,
etc.
Professional
looking work.
Graphics &
More than two Two unique
unique and
appropriate
images are
used and
aligned with
the content
images
included in the
newspaper that
are linked to
content.
images are
included by not
unique and do
not enhance the
paper
inappropriate or
not included in
product.
Appearance is
sloppy
Overall
Interest of
News Articles
Most articles
are very
interesting,
well written,
and factually
accurate. They
answer the 5
W’s with
supporting
details and
quotations
Many articles
are interesting
and factually
accurate. All
articles attempt
to answer the 5
W’s and
provide
supporting
details and
quotations
Some articles are
interesting and
factually
accurate. Most
articles attempt
to answer the 5
W’s & provide
supporting
details and
quotations
Few articles are
interesting. Many
factual errors exist
in the newspaper.
Details or
quotations are
missing & effort is
poor.
Spelling,
Proofreading,
& Grammar
Virtually no
spelling or
grammar
errors. Team
edits each
other’s work
Few spelling
and grammar
errors remain
after team has
edited each
other’s work
Articles can be
understood
despite spelling
& grammar
errors. Minimal
peer editing
Grammar, spelling,
and other errors
make the paper
difficult to
understand.
Many members
of the group
attempt to
answer
questions about
the entire
paper. Most
answers are
accurate and
thoughtful,
demonstrating
a depth of
understanding
Some members
of the group
answer most of
the questions.
Some members
show a depth of
understanding,
while others cant
demonstrate
knowledge
A Few members of
the group answer
questions about the
paper & process.
Group cannot
accurately answer
questions about
their own opinions
or articles.
Appearance of
Newspaper
All members
of the group
are able to
confidently
answer
questions
Group Depth
about any part
of
Understanding of the
newspaper’s
content & the
group process
used to
publish it.
Authoring notes:
This WebQuest was adapted by Jaye Alper, Seth Andrew, Doug McGlathery, and Carol Siriani.