The Rebellions of 1837 Assignment

Pages 66-77
Name _________________________
To show me your understanding of the Rebellions of 1837, you will complete one of
the following two assignments.
OPTION A:
Newspaper editorial
Newspapers were incredibly important in both Upper and Lower Canada. Media was a
way for reformers to express their frustrations and criticisms of the government, and
the critical newspapers were often shut down to preserve the image of the
government.
Your assignment is to choose a colony (either Upper or Lower Canada) and write an
editorial that either supports or defies government reform. In Upper Canada, you
could write an editorial for Mackenzies newspaper, The Colonial Advocate, or you
could invent a government-friendly newspaper. In Lower Canada, you could write for
Le Canadien or OCallaghans The Vindicator if you wanted to demand government
reform, or invent a newspaper in support of the Chteau Clique.
This should be 1-2 pages in length, and should be made to look like an actual article
from a newspaper in 1837 (see page 72 for an example of what a paper could look
like). I would like to see the title, date, authors name and a newspaper-style layout.
It should be very clear what side you are arguing for, and you must discuss the issues
that are specific to each colony.
OPTION B:
Comic strip
** see page 75-76 **
The rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada were short and their success is debatable,
but they do make for interesting stories. Your task is to design a storyboard of one of
the two rebellions that shows:
- the causes of the rebellion,
- the lead-up to the actual rebellion (think List of Grievances and 92
Resolutions)
- the rebellion itself and any important battles
- the end results.
The comic book page must be 6-9 panels and must show the important people, ideas
and events of the rebellion (either in Upper or Lower Canada). It should include
captions for each drawing (including a few speech bubbles) and must be coloured.

Evaluation:
Quality/Originality

Understanding

Effort

Format: 1 point
(coloured/in the
style of a newspaper)

1 point
It seems that you
have copied the
assignment directly
from the textbook
without using your
own ideas.

2 points
You seem to have
put effort into
coming up with
your own ideas,
but the work is
uninteresting or
standard
Newspaper:
Newspaper:
The editorial lacks You mention
a clear position
appropriate issues
and voice, does not and seem to have
address the issues
an opinion, but
of the
the piece lacks a
colonists/governm clear voice and
ent
position
Comic strip:
The comic strip
lacks any of the
listed elements.
Drawings and
captions are
missing or unclear.

Comic strip:
You have included
all of the listed
elements but you
have presented
them in an
unclear way.
Drawings are
recognizable, but
missing captions.

The work is messy

and unpresentable.
It is done in pencil
and/or scribbled
out quickly.

The work is neat

but lacks polish.

3 points
There is evidence
that you have put
some thought into
this assignment
and have made it
your own.
Newspaper:
You have a clear
voice and
position. You
outline the issues
of the colonists or
government and
the piece has the
tone and emotion
of a newspaper
editorial in 1837.
Comic strip:
You have chosen
important people
and moments and
illustrated them
and their
importance
clearly. Captions
are well written
and drawings are
carefully done.
Your work is neat,
clean and wellpresented.