Middle Ages Newspaper Project



Middle Ages Newspaper Project---500 to 1400 AD

The time---the Middle Ages. You and 2 companions are journalists during the middle ages and responsible for your Manor’s newspaper. This is a big responsibility. There is a lot going on in your world and a lot of things people need to know about. A strange disease is raging across Europe, children are being sent to the Middle East to fight wars against the Islamic Empire, there are amazing new fashions, castles to build, jousts to report, kings and queens to explore---and it is your job to tell these stories from the perspective of some one living in these crazy times.

Essential Questions:

• What was feudalism and why did it develop?

• What was daily life like for the people of the Middle Ages?

• What was the role of the church in society?

Manor Name and Coat of Arms

Each group will create a coat of arms

Written Content

Each person is responsible for a section of the newspaper. You will choose your section and article topic in your groups. Below are the requirements for the written portion of the project of each section page:

I. Lead Article:

This article relates to a current event or important issue of the day. Ideas for your article and where to research them follows in the packet. Students must pick an article that is a current event, or an article that involves an important social issue of the day. You must have 2 research sources for article information. Below are the requirements for each article (pick one):

Current Event (you must you 2 sources for article information)

All Current Event articles must include the following:

• 5 Ws---who, when, what, where, why of the event

• 7 specific details that inform the reader about the event.

• The article must be from the perspective of someone who lived during the event, a primary source.

• One quote from “eye witnesses” to the event.

• Article content and details must follow logical order and have a conclusion

• Must have a headline and byline.

Feature Article (Expository)

All Feature Articles must include the following:

Structure

1. Introductory paragraph---explains topic

2. Three subtopics (three ideas or concepts about your main topic, each one of these is a paragraph)

3. At least three supporting details about each subtopic

4. Concluding paragraph, which includes a prediction about the future of your topic.

5. Must have a headline and byline.

II. Classified Advertisement:

You must have 4 advertisements. One each for a product, job, real estate, and personals that was available during the time period you are studying.

Create your Classified Advertisement using the following guidelines. Your advertisement:

• See any local papers for formats

• Must relate to a JOB, PRODUCT, REAL ESTATE, and PERSONALS available during the middle ages: Make sure your research is specific to medieval life so you can include appropriate material. Example: Jousting lance for sale, barely used by an unfortunate knight.

• Include a general advertisement page for a store or job (example: New Suits of Amor just arrived at Jon's Amor Shoppe, or Coming Soon: Largest Jousting Event Ever). Entice and excite the reader to apply for the job or purchase the product your newspaper.

• Your paper must have a "real-estate" section (ex: Beautiful manor house on 50 acres complete with 200 peasants ... Call Geoffrey of Aquitaine.) Add photos in this section as well.

• Include a "personals" section using nobles and peasants as subject matter. Examples would be: "Knight in shining armor seeking beautiful damsel in distress. She must have a large dowry including some land." Or, "I, George of Timberlake lost my hand in the joust with Tommy of York. My favorite ring was on one of the fingers and I would like to get it back."

III. Free Choice (the TIMELINE is mandatory so choose ONE other)

1. Chart

Create or insert a table/chart that relates information facts/information (at least 4) from your section. Ant type of data may be shown in the chart, as long as it relates to your topic. See examples in this packet. There are many examples of charts in your textbook. You must cite the source of any information, graphic or image you use! This will be placed on a Citation Page.

2. Infographic

An infographic is an inserted graphic in the newspaper that relates to your topic. Accompanying the graphic are facts and information (at least 4) that help the reader understand the subject. See examples in this packet. There are many examples of infographics in your textbook. You must cite the source of any information, graphic or image you use! This will be placed on a Citation Page.

3. Map

Insert/draw a map that help the reader understand your topic or relates to your section. Accompanying the map you must include facts and information (at least 4) that help the reader understand the subject. See examples in this packet. There are many examples of maps in your textbook. You must cite the source of any information, graphic or image you use! This will be placed on your Citation Page.

4. Timeline

Create ONE timeline of 20 events that YOU believe were important between 500 A.D. and 1400 A.D.

Newspaper Layout:

You are allowed to use any one of the Newspaper or PowerPoint Template:

I. Masthead: The masthead is the name/title of your newspaper. The design of this masthead must be exactly the same for each page in your paper. This must include the date. See newspaper example.

II. Section Masthead: The section masthead is the title of your section (ex. Lifestyles, News, Sports). The section masthead is smaller than your headline, but may be put creatively on your section page.

III. Image/Graphic and Caption: All sections must insert one graphic, image, picture or drawing onto your section page. This graphic should relate to your article. Each graphic must have a caption that helps the reader better understand the topic.

IV. Coat of Arms: Each section must have a copy of their manor’s coat of arms. This may be included in your masthead.

Citations Page:

All sources used to create your newspaper must be included on your citations page. Also, pictures, graphics and images inserted into your paper MUST be cited as captions.

Useful website for sources:



Please Note: There should be no wasted space in your newspaper. No white space should be left on your section page. All of the areas must be covered.

Papers will lose points for not following directions, having grammar and spelling mistakes, and/or large amounts of blank, white space. This group project will take a lot of teamwork and responsibility. Choose an

Editor in Chief to oversee everything and make sure everyone is doing his or her part. Do not let your group members down by not doing your part. There will be both a group grade and an individual grade. See attached grading sheet. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE! A sample of the grading sheet is attached.

Name of Newspaper: ___________________________________________

Editor in Chief: __________________________________

Group Members and responsibilities:

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Individual Grade: Name___________________________________________

Title, byline, job description (10 points)

Written in third person (10 points)

Picture and caption (10 points)

Grammar, spelling, punctuation, (20 points)

Content accuracy (20 points)

(Who, where, what, why, when, and how)

Followed directions (20 points)

Work-cited (10)

Total Individual grade:

Group Grade:

Classified (20 points)

Real Estate (20 points)

Personal (20 points)

Business (20 points)

Followed directions (20 points)

Total Group grade

Total score for project: ________________________________

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