World War I U.S. Propaganda Poster – Extra Credit Assignment

Ok… so there’s one week left in the Last Markingperiodto change your grade around. Well… how about trying to get a slight boost to make you, your parents, and… well… me happy!

During World War I, posters were created by government agencies to convince Americans to do all sorts of things. Some examples include:

-volunteering for military service

-working hard in military related factories and shipyards

-buying bonds to fund the war

-sacrificing at home by using as little as possible (rationing, VictoryGardens)

-recycling unwanted material in your home for military use

-being supportive of the U.S. Government and their policies during wartime.

Your task (if you choose to do it) involves pretending you’re part of the American effort to promote one of tasks above by designing an original persuasive poster.

You will be graded on the following:

  1. An original design (no printed out stuff from the internet) that is colorful and takes up at least an entire sheet of plain white typing paper. If you want to use color construction paper or poster board, that’s fine too but will likely not result in you getting any extra points. (I put likely there… you never know… maybe I’ll be absolutely blown away by your design). Be sure to put your name and hour somewhere small on your paper. I don’t want it to interfere with the design at all. (2)
  1. It must contain text that is persuasive, has a specific message or slogan, and is written neatly. Warning… You must write more than something simple like BUY WAR BONDS, but you shouldn’t have the text take up the entire poster either. Be clever! (2)
  1. Your text and design must be appropriate for school. Basically… no Anti-Central Powers propaganda with slang or derogatory comments. Keep it positive! (1)
  1. You must turn your design in to me by Monday, June 6 if you want extra credit. I will not accept any beyond that. I don’t care if you’re absent. It’s extra credit… you will not lose points if you don’t turn it in.
  1. I want an original design. I don’t want a copy of Uncle Sam pointing at me saying “I want you”.
  1. Point total. If it meets all the requirements it is worth 15 summative points.

Your example will be put on display in my classroom by being hung from the ceiling!