CIVIL WAR NEWSPAPER PROJECT

Standard Assessed: 8.10 Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.

Congratulations! You have just been hired to start a newspaper and the year is 1863. Your job will be to create a
Newspaper from the North, South or West of the United States and inform the people of the events, people, and issues
during the Civil War. What you choose to report is up to you. 

Dates & Deadlines

Date Assigned: Monday May 6th, 2013 Date Due: Wednesday May 15th, 2013

TOPICS: Your group will be responsible for writing 6 primary articles. Below is a list of topics you may choose to write
about. Starred items are topics your group MUST report on and your group can choose TWO additional topics to report
for a 3 and for a 4 you must choose THREE additional topics to report on:

Weapons Battle of Shiloh

Red Cross 54th Massachusetts Regiment
Compare and contrast Jefferson Davis and Abraham Inflation
Lincoln as President’s Union Blockade
General Robert E. Lee Women in the War
Battle of Bull Run Fall of Vicksburg
General Thomas Jackson Battle of Gettysburg
Naval Battle: The Virginia v The Monitor General George Pickett
Battle of Antietam Total War
Battle of Fredericksburg General George McClellan
Battle of Chancellorsville General Phillip Sheridan
General Ulysses S. Grant General William Tecumseh Sherman
Fashion Music
Sports

Newspaper Checklist

____4 Primary Articles

Requirements: ____Each Primary Article must be written by using
Topic of choice 500 words the following sources:
Picture with caption (1) Primary source (quote, diary entry, newspaper article
Clear introduction of topic and conclusion from the time, letter, analyze a picture)
Historically Accurate (2) Secondary sources (textbook, encyclopedia,
Articles should be free of spelling/grammar errors supplemental reading sources, information from
Include name of author (your name) university)
Bibliography must be attached to Newspaper and in
MLA format ____Research 
Your sources must be from a credible website and
____2Secondary Articles bibliography must be attached on a separate paper
Options:
Classifieds/Notices/Advertisements ____Group Work and Evaluation Completed
Comics/Coupons Groups will create a newspaper as their final product.
Horoscopes You will be asked to assess your group members on how
Weather well they shared ideas and balanced responsibilities.
Crossword Puzzle Complete Evaluation
Advice Column
Include name of author (your name) ____Newspaper Overall Look
You will receive one piece of 11x17 paper to use for
your newspaper (you will be using the front and back)
Layout - should look like a newspaper (articles typed is
preferable with similar font)
 Creativity is a must (cool pictures, title, articles, etc)
Original Name and Date of issue
Civil War Newspaper Rubric

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Requirements All of the required All the required content One required Most required elements
content was present plus was present. Starred element was were missing OR
additional topics and topics, 6 primary articles, missing. Didn't incomplete.
information. Starred 3 secondary articles, include one of the
topics, more than 6 bibliography, appropriate starred topics, less
primary articles, more and relevant images. than 6 primary
than 3 secondary articles, articles, less than 3
bibliography, appropriate secondary articles,
and relevant images. bibliography,
appropriate and
relevant images.
Primary Articles 100% of the articles Articles mostly establish Articles Articles do not have
establish a clear purpose a clear purpose in the demonstrate a basic purpose or demonstrate
in the lead paragraph and lead paragraph and understanding of understanding of topics.
demonstrate a clear demonstrate an the topic.
understanding of the understanding of the
topic. topic.
Secondary Articles The secondary articles The secondary articles The secondary The article does not
contain information and contain information and articles may not contain information and
creativity that make the creativity that make the contain information creativity that make the
newspaper exceptionally newspaper interesting to and creativity that newspaper interesting to
interesting to readers. readers. make the read.
newspaper
somewhat
interesting to read.
Contributions of Group Each person in the group Each person in the group Each person in the One or more students in
Members has contributed at least 3 has contributed at least 2 group has the group required quite a
primary articles and 2 primary articles and one contributed at least lot of assistance from peers
secondary articles, secondary articles, one primary article, before contributing one
graphics, and did not graphics with a few one secondary, and article OR group member
require prompting from reminders from peers. a graphic with did not contribute the
teachers or peers. some minimal required elements to the
assistance from group for a final product
peers.
Newspaper Overall Look Product shows a large Product shows some Product uses other Product uses other people's
amount of original original thought. Work people's ideas ideas, but does not give
thought. Ideas are shows new ideas and (giving them them credit. Missing more
creative and inventive, insights, has an original credit), but there is than one of the following;
has an original title, issue title, issue date, and little evidence of an original title, issue date,
date, and newspaper newspaper looks original thinking. and newspaper looks like
looks extremely realistic. realistic. May be missing an little effort was put into
original title, issue completion.
date, and
newspaper looks
somewhat realistic.
Your Name:_________________________________

GROUP EVALUATION

Name of one group member: ______________________________________________________________________

Complete the following about your group work:

We encourage everyone as a group.

ALWAYS                                    NEVER

We shared out ideas.

ALWAYS                                   NEVER

We responded to each others' ideas even if we did not agree with them.
ALWAYS                                  NEVER

We checked with other group members to make sure they understood what we said and our reason for saying it.
ALWAYS                                  NEVER

We used our time efficiently to complete our tasks.       

ALWAYS                                  NEVER

If you had to give your group and members a score of (4, 3, 2, 1) what would it be? And why? Please support your
reasoning with examples._________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of second group member: _______________________________________________________________________

Complete the following about your group work:

We encourage everyone as a group.

ALWAYS                                    NEVER

We shared out ideas.

ALWAYS                                   NEVER

We responded to each others' ideas even if we did not agree with them.
ALWAYS                                  NEVER

We checked with other group members to make sure they understood what we said and our reason for saying it.
ALWAYS                                  NEVER

We used our time efficiently to complete our tasks.       

ALWAYS                                  NEVER

If you had to give your group and members a score of (4, 3, 2, 1) what would it be? And why? Please support your
reasoning with examples._________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________