To Kill a Mockingbird Final Assessment Lucky you! You have been chosen to design a brand new newspaper for Maycomb. You will plan, write, and publish a newspaper that shows your understanding of the people and events in To Kill a Mockingbird. This project is worth 100 points. Mr. Underwood isn t too thrilled, as this new newspaper will compete with Mr. Underwood s Maycomb Tribune. You will need to create an original name for your newspaper. Look to real newspapers for inspiration. Here s what you need to do: You have already been assigned a group. However, your grade will be based upon both individual and group work. You will have two complete class periods to complete this project. Feel free to do extra research or work outside of class to make your newspaper the best it can be. We will show your newspapers to a panel of English teachers who will choose the top newspaper. The chosen newspaper and its staff will receive 5 extra credit points. Impress us! All content in the newspaper must be true to the facts/details of the novel. Any characters or places you develop (such as a local diner), must be logical. As much as possible, use the real characters and setting from the novel. Your newspaper needs to be formatted to resemble a real newspaper and contain the following: 1. News articles total of 5 a) 2 news stories regarding national events i. Use information learned at the beginning of the unit be factual b) 2 news stories regarding local events i. Trial ii. Church OR school events c) 1 news story written by a reporter from New York who is covering the trial (HINT: think about his point of view may be different given he is from New York)
News Articles: A good news article answers the basic questions: who, what, when, where, why and how. It also uses direct quotes from people who were there and witnessed an event or who know something about the event. A good reporter will report both or all sides of the story. Use a real news story as your model for writing this story. Create a headline for the story and make sure it has a byline. To get more examples, read the stories on the front pages of newspapers to get the sound and structure of a common news story. (News is on the front page. Other types of articles are found elsewhere in the newspaper). 2. Editorial page total of 3 a) 1 opinion/editorial piece b) 2 letters to the editor from citizens of Maycomb. Choose 2. i. Member of the black community sitting in the balcony at the trial. ii. Member of the jury who believed Tom was innocent but was afraid to go against other members. iii. Visitor to Maycomb who stopped in and saw the trial/verdict. Editorials: An editorial is an opinion piece written by the senior editorial staff or publisher of a newspaper or magazine. Editorials are usually unsigned and may be used to reflect the opinion of the periodical. Additionally, most print publications feature an editorial, or letter followed by a Letters to the Editor section. In major newspapers, such as the New York Times and the Boston Globe, editorials are classified under the heading "opinion". Typically, a newspaper's editorial board evaluates which issues are important for their readership to know the newspaper's opinion. 3. Obituaries total of 2 a) Tom Robinson b) Bob Ewell We will give you an outline to follow. Once you complete the outline, then you need to turn it into an obituary. Obituary: An obituary is a newspaper account of a person's death and life. It generally includes the main events of his or her life, the person's family, and any special accomplishments from his or her life. If the person's death was "famous," there might be details of the circumstances. The audience for the obituary is the general public. 4. Pictures/drawings total of 2 a) 2 pictures with captions
Responsibility: Individually, you are responsible for writing an original piece which will be graded using the attached rubric. For your individual pieces, you may consult members of your own group for ideas and editing. However, each of you is ultimately responsible for your own work. Your individual work is worth 60% of your grade. As a group, you are going to decide who is going to write each piece. You will create the newspaper together using the individual pieces AND include two pictures with captions. The group is to decide which pictures to use and write the captions. As a group, you must meet all the minimum requirements. See recap below. The group work is 40% of your grade and you will be graded using the attached rubric. You are free to use your notes, study guides and book. Use your time wisely. We are expecting great things! Good luck! Minimum Requirements: Optional, but will enhance your newspaper: 2 National Event Stories Political Cartoons 2 Local Event Stories Gossip Column 1 NY Reporter Story Sports Section Editorial Crossword Puzzle related to vocabulary terms presented throughout the unit 2 Letters to Editor Advertisement for product, job or house 2 Obituaries Other details found in newspapers 2 Pictures with captions
Name: Date: Period: To Kill a Mockingbird Final Assessment Individual Work Focus/Organization The main idea or sequence is clear. 5 4 3 2 1 The piece fulfills its purpose and is appropriate to its intended audience. 5 4 3 2 1 Ideas and facts are presented in an effective order. 5 4 3 2 1 The writing has unity and coherence. 5 4 3 2 1 Elaboration/Support/Style The opening engages readers attention. 5 4 3 2 1 All details are clearly related to the topic. 5 4 3 2 1 Details/facts are appropriate. 5 4 3 2 1 Word choice enhances writing. 5 4 3 2 1 Grammar/Usage/Mechanics. Sentences are well-constructed with varied structure. 5 4 3 2 1 Grammar usage is correct; no spelling errors. 5 4 3 2 1 Capitalization and punctuation is correct. 5 4 3 2 1 Overall Piece is effectively written. 5 4 3 2 1 Comments:
Group Members: Date: Period: To Kill a Mockingbird Final Assessment Group Work Collaboration/Process Properly organized to complete project 4 3 2 1 Managed time wisely 4 3 2 1 Product/Project Format 4 3 2 1 Organization/structure 4 3 2 1 Creativity 4 3 2 1 Demonstrated knowledge of content 4 3 2 1 Met requirements 4 3 2 1 Overall impact 4 3 2 1 Average of group assessment by peers 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Comments:
Period: Date: To Kill a Mockingbird Final Assessment Please write your name next to your assignment for your group. Minimum Requirements: Student Completing: Student Completing: 2 National Event 1. 2. Stories 2 Local Event 1. 2. Stories 1 NY Reporter 1. N/A Story Editorial 1. N/A 2 Letters to 1. 2. Editor 2 Obituaries 1. 2. 2 Pictures with captions N/A N/A