AP French IV – L’Etranger – Newspaper Editorial Assignment

For this assignment, you will pretend that you are a journalist in Alger and you are covering Meursault’s case
for the local newspaper. You will be writing a newspaper editorial about his crime and trial.

To begin, look up the word “editorial” in a dictionary and write its definition in English here:
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Next, visit a popular French news source online to find samples of editorials. Suggested sites to visit:
• LeMonde.fr (click on “Perspectives” then on “Opinions” to view editorial samples)
• Libération.fr (click on “Actualités” then on “Société” then on “Les blogs” to view editorial samples)

Write the name of the site you visit here: _______________________________

Write the title of the article you read here:
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Write the date the article was published here: ___________________________

Now, using the following “assumed facts” from L’Etranger, you will write an editorial of your own that will
inform a reader about Meursault’s crime and trial. Pretend that the reader of your editorial has never heard of
Meursault. The goal is to explain his crime and trial but to also express your opinion on whether Meursault is
guilty or innocent. Your editorial must include:
• a summary of the crime
• a summary of the trial
• your personal opinion of Meursault and his act

Les faits
- le crime: un meurtre sur la plage
- la date: le 17 juillet à midi
- le meurtrier: un employé de bureau dénommé Meursault
- la méthode: 5 balles de revolver
- la victime: un arabe non encore identifié
- le motif: inconnu
- le lieu d’incarcération: la prison d’Alger
- le verdict: reconnu coupable de meurtre avec premeditation
- la sentence: la peine de mort
- la méthode d’exécution: la guillotine