Your group will create a newspaper to connect fact and fiction. Your group’s newspaper should include all of the elements listed below. Use the instructions and the rubric to keep your group organized, make sure you are meeting all of the requirements, and take any notes needed in your Reader’s Notebook.
Each group member will be responsible for one item on the front page and one item on the back page. (If you have four members, you are responsible for all 8 items. If you have three group members, your group will only be responsible for 6.)
Nameplate (Front page only)
As a group, create a nameplate that goes across the entire top of the front page. Example of a nameplate:
The nameplate should include the title of newspaper, the location, and date of publication. All of these should relate to your book. Include a teaser or tagline to draw in the reader (ex: “New York’s Hometown Newspaper”). Also, include the names of each group member as the editors. This title should be centered at the top of the page.
Front Page
1. Book Summary & Review: Start with a catchy headline. Headlines are short, tell a little bit about the article, and try to grab the reader’s attention. Then, write a concise 8-sentence summary with good details and include a graphic or hand drawn color illustration that relates to the story’s plot.
q a. Genre, Title and Authorq b. Setting
q c. Main Characters
q d. Plot
q e. Main Conflict
/ q f. Resolution
q g. Your opinion—thumbs up or thumbs down
q h. Rationale—explain your opinion—be specific
2. On the Scene Report—Actual Event: Start with a catchy headline. Report on an actual event that occurred during this time period. You will have to do research. The event doesn’t have to be included in the book, but has to be related to the time period. Include a graphic or hand drawn, colored illustration to go with this article. Length: six to ten well-written sentences.
3. On the Scene Report—Book Event: Start with a catchy headline. Report on an event with a clear turning point (one that you found the most suspenseful or compelling). Be certain to include a bit of rising action, the turning point, and the falling action. Include a graphic or hand drawn, colored illustration to go with this article. Length: six to ten well-written sentences.
4. Letter to the Editor Pick a topic at the time of your story which was controversial or argued about a lot (ex: slavery during the Civil War). Write a persuasive letter to the editor stating your opinion on the topic and your reasons for having that opinion. Length: keep your letter to six to ten well-written sentences.
Back Page
5. Puzzle: Create a word search or crossword puzzle with a minimum of ten words from the book that you didn’t know before, you found challenging, or you found interesting. Include a clue to solve for each word. (You will turn the solution in on a separate sheet of paper along with your final project.)
6. Obituary: Choose either a character from the book who dies or a real person from that period of history and write a paragraph obituary about that person. Information to include in your paragraph: date of death, age of death, how he/she died, information about his or her life, character traits and any important accomplishments. Include a hand drawn or graphic snapshot of the subject. Length: six to ten well-written sentences.
7. Advertisement or Political Cartoon:
a. Advertisement: Create an advertisement for a location in your book or an object in your book that has special importance. For either, include some type of picture that relates to the place or object (such as a photo or illustration) and enough information in the text of the advertisement so that it is clear how it relates to your book.
b. Political Cartoon: Create an original advertisement or political cartoon relating to the period, for example: an innovation/invention, cure for a sickness, or a special event (e.g. election).
8. Advice Column--Pretend at least two characters in your book wrote letters to an advice columnist seeking advice about important problems in the book. Write a response to each letter that is related to how that problem is solved. Include the original letters and both responses. Include a headline.
Tips on planning for this project:
- Decide which group member is responsible for which parts.
- It is important that you plan your time wisely for this book project.
- Take notes as you read and begin drafting articles when you have the information collected.
- Do research on the Actual Event (front page #2) article while you are reading—get it done ahead of time.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Like a newspaper, all the space on your front page should be filled with content. You may include any other newspaper-related content in order to fill the page--that includes more than the minimum requirements listed above. Everything you include must relate in some way to your literature circle novel or the historical setting in which it takes place. "Random stuff" is not acceptable. Proofread carefully.