a WebQuest for English - 9th grade honors

by Dianne Young

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

 Congratulations on your new printing press license! As the newest newspaper printers on the block, you have a fun task ahead. You will research the history and techniques of the famous writer Edgar Allan Poe. Additionally, you will delve into the history of Italy around the time of the Renaissance. Once the research is complete, your team will publish a "Poe" newspaper. This body of work will represent each member's discoveries in an interesting and informative way.

The ultimate goal for your team is to print a newspaper on 8.5 x 14 (legal size) sheet of paper. You will have news and information typed on both sides. The information will include articles on Poe's life, the Italian Renaissance, Mardi Gras, catacombs, and other information you find interesting. Articles will have pictures included along with a captions. Additionally, want ads, business opportunities, crossword puzzle, a society article (Dear Ann Landers?) and advertisements should be included. The more creative and inventive your articles are, the more fun this project will be for everyone.

This paper will be "old fashioned" in a sense. Choose fonts and types that reflect the time period your team chooses: mid 1800's or the Italian Renaissance. Before beginning the paper, research as a group Edgar Allen Poe, history of the printing press, the history of Catacombs, Renaissance Italy and Italy today to get the feel for the topics. After reading these websites, print out the exploratory questions and turn this page in as a group.

Once the exploratory questions are turned in, decide who will take each of the following positions. Individually, each student will prepare the necessary assignments in the job descriptions. These assignments will be printed in the team newspaper.

• Art/Layout Editor - Team member who demonstrates an artistic flair and has an eye for how things can go together in a nice neat manner.
• News Editor - Team member with a insight into life, yet you still have your moments of comedy.
• Historian/Copy Editor - Team member who is most likely to write and edit for Britannica. Your skills as a writer and proof reader are off the scale!
• Entertainment Editor - Team member who has an appreciation for sports, entertainment, and the finer aspects of humanity.

 Now that you have your assigned jobs, as a group, you need to come up with the title of your newspaper. This needs to reflect the personality of your group. Now, it is time for you to really get started!

To accomplish the task, you will follow these steps. Some of the steps you will accomplish as a group, and some things are done individually. The final product, the newspaper, will be a fabulous reflection of what each member learned as well as what you can produce as a cohesive unit.

1. First, you will be assigned to a team of four members
2. Individually read the web pages assigned, then as a group answer the question.
3. Submit you answers to the teacher. Only one sheet per group is to be turned in. Each person in the group earns the same grade.
4. Look at the resources link to determine how you want your paper to look.
5. Begin the individual editor link. Go to the websites links suggested, actively read by taking notes.
6. Next, complete the editorial directives which each student can link for assignments.
7. If you have accomplish your tasks much faster than your team mates, then write another article or assist team mates in some way that is beneficial and productive for everyone.
8. As articles and tasks are completed, follow the directives of the Art/Layout Editor and layout the newspaper. Use individual strengths and talents to perfect your paper before it goes to "print."
9. Once the team is satisfied that the layout is perfect, turn your paper into the teacher and she will send it to the printers (the nearest photo copy machine).
10. Each person will get a copy of other team newspapers. As a class, teams will discuss the strengths of their newspaper and will listen to ideas on how another assigned newspaper project can be improved.
11. Assessment will be given on the team newspaper as well as on individual effort.

Resources

• Feel free to bring in newspapers from home to analyze a front page. How many columns does it have? How many will yours have? What are by lines? Does each article have a title? Are the journalistic questions answered? Do captions help the reader understand what is going on? What is required with the newspaper title line?
• For your paper, look at the example of a newspaper layout for the minimum requirements to make your paper presentable. The newspaper rubric shows exactly what is necessary for a first rate team newspaper. 

You will earn an individual grade as well as two team grades. Your individual grade is based on the portfolio kept during the learning process. The first team grade is for the exploratory questions and answers. The second team grade is determined by a rubric set up to evaluate your team Newspaper.

I hope you have a fun time working on this WebQuest. If you come away with new knowledge about Edgar Allen Poe, Italy, catacombs of Rome, or the business of newspaper creation, then my goal is achieved!