Instructions for Pok-a-Tok article
Dear Student:
Using three sources, you will write an article in a sports’ journalism format, about the Mesoamerican game, Pok-a-Tok. Use pages 364-365 in your textbook and the two handouts. Read all of them thoroughly. Look up words you don’t know. Take notes as you read, so you don’t have to re-read the original.
1. Your story must follow the staccato style of journalists who write for the sports’ pages of newspapers like we read yesterday.
2. You must make up at least three quotes for your article. Think about whom you could interview as part of the story.
3. You must at least mention
a. what some of the rules are.
b. a description of the stadium and crowd.
c. the size of the ball in inches that is mentioned in centimeters in the Chichen Itza story. See board for conversion ratio.
d. players’ names you make up.
e. team names you make up.
f. how the players are dressed.
g. a description of the action in a match you are covering. You can incorporate the rules into this aspect.
h. research names of actual ancient Mayan cities.
4. Your article must be a minimum of 25 sentences. You decide how to break up the paragraphs. If you need a copy of yesterday’s stories, please ask the guest teacher for one. Return it at the end of the period. You may not keep any handouts, including these instructions.
5. You must draw a full sized picture representing some action from your story on a blank white piece of paper. You must color your picture. It must be hand drawn. You may use your textbook, internet or the handouts for examples.
Please periodically refer back to these instructions as you are working so you do it correctly!
I can’t wait to read them!!!
Ms. Karahalios