Introduction

Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter living in Ancient Greece. You have recently been hired by the Greek Gazette. Today is your first day and you must report to your editor for your first assignment. As a reporter at the Gazette, you will be expected to report on major events, daily life, sports, entertainment and various other news happenings.

Task

You will write various newspaper articles working in a group of two to four students. Your group will research and write newspaper articles on eight newsworthy topics. All articles MUST include at least one graphic. Although you are working in a group and helping each other, you are responsible for your own articles. Your editor will be responsible for dividing the article topics in your group.

Topics

Your newspaper MUST include ONE article on each of the following topics:

1. Major Event (Front Section)
2. Government
3. Religion

Your newspaper MUST choose FIVE articles from the topics below:

1. Fashion
2. Food
3. Obituaries
4. Medicine
5. Entertainment
6. Sports
7. Military
   
8. an additional Government
9. an additional Religion
10. an additional Major Event
11. a topic approved by Mr. Cole
    

Group Procedure

1. Form a group of two to four members.
2. Elect an editor within your group.
3. In each group, your editor will decide who will be in charge of which sections.
4. Each member should look at the websites listed in Resources to get ideas for their sections.
5. As a group, discuss article ideas.
6. Research and start writing articles, meeting as a group every so often to keep each other updated. Make sure to keep a list of sources used.
7. Complete the articles. Make sure you include headlines, datelines, and by-lines.
8. Find suitable graphics and create captions to go with them.
9. Proofread articles, and peer edit in your group.
10. As a group, prepare the layout of the newspaper by inserting your articles, headlines, datelines, bylines, graphics and captions into the PowerPoint template.
11. Make any final changes.

Individual Procedure

1. Research, research, research!
2. Complete an outline for your article.
3. Your article must be between 250 and 500 words.
4. After finding an appropriate graphic, either (a) save it as a separate file or (b)copy and paste it to an MS Word document.
5. Compile a list of all the sources you used to write your article. At the top of your paper, centered, be sure to include the title "Works Cited".
   
6. Write the final draft of your article using MS Word.
7. Include your NAME, PERIOD, DATE, GROUP NAME, TOPIC and SUB TOPIC
8. Submit a digital copy of your article, graphic and works cited to your editor and a hard copy of the same to Mr. Cole by the due date.
   

Digital Copies

Every group member will need to bring something to class on which they can save their work on a daily basis.

The editor in each group MUST have a FLASH DRIVE to compile all of the files of the other group members and to save the PowerPoint template onto.

You will be submitting three digital files to your editor. One for your article, another for your image and a final listing your works cited. To avoid confusion and to make the final process of compromising the eight articles easier for your editor, save each of your digital files as follows:

1. Save your article as "Article-Topic-Last Name, First Initial"
2. Save your image as "Image-Topic-Last Name, First Initial"
3. Save your works cited as "Works Cited- Topic-Last Name, First Initial"
   

Grading

You will be given nine classes to complete this assignment. Each day that we are working on this assignment, you will be graded the equivalent of a homework grade. This grade will be based on your ability to stay on task with the project. That means this assignment is worth NINE homework grades. If you have an unexcused absence you will not recieve credit for that day.

There are several benchmarks that you must reach in order to complete this project. Each one is worth a quiz grade. The benchmarks are as follows:

1. Hand in an outline of your topic.
2. Hand in at least one graphic.
   
3. Hand in a rough draft of the sources you plan on using.

The article you hand in to me will be graded as a test grade. The article will be graded using the CHS Writing Rubric. In addition to the requirements set out in the rubric, the final draft must be formatted properly (See Example).

Upon completion of each of the eight articles, your editor will compile and insert them into the provided PowerPoint Template. While it is the ultimate responsibility of your editor to compile the articles (he or she will receive CONSIDERABLE extra credit for the added responsibility), each group member should pool their talents to produce the best PowerPoint Presentation possible. Each group member will receive the equivalent of a test grade for the presentation. The presentation will be graded using the CHS PowerPoint Rubric. A presentation that is considered "Above Standard" must include:

• Slide Transitions
• Animations
• Sounds
• Appropriate Sequencing
• Appropriate Timing
  

How to Write a News Article

Pure news articles are the most structured type of newspaper article. A specific format must be followed in writing this type of article. The purpose of the articles you are writing is to convey facts of an event to an interested reader.

Tips for writing a news article:

1. As with all newspaper articles, it should be set off with a headline. The headline shouldn’t be a summary of the article; instead it should serve the purpose of getting the reader’s attention.
2. The story should start with a “lead paragraph” which is the summary of the story. Do not tease at the beginning or summarize at the end as you sometimes see on television news. Lay all your cards out on the table. The lead paragraph should include the who, what, when, where, and why of the story.
3. After the lead paragraph comes explanation and amplification, which deals with illuminating details. Use discretion in choosing details to include. Also, some details may not be as important as others. Put in order of importance from greatest to least. Don’t feel the need to include everything you know, but do include everything you feel is important.
4. If the average reader will be confused reading the story, fill in the gaps with background information. When in doubt, give that information. Almost every piece on the O.J. Simpson case included in the explanation and amplification section the basic information on what he was on trial for even though it was basically common knowledge.
5. Do not use the first person. If you feel that it is absolutely important, think about writing a feature story or a column instead (see below).
6. NO BIAS. Personal prejudices should not find their way into the article. Again, use of an op-ed or column forum is recommended for personal opinions.
7. When possible, use quotes to flavor the article. However, don’t use quotes for the sake of using quotes- make sure they are relevant. Also, make sure the quotes aren’t a grammatical embarrassment—avoid run-ons especially.
   

Resources

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/religion/greekrelig.htm
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/people/index.htm
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/clothing/index.htm
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/food/greekfood.htm
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/games/index.htm
http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Greeklife.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/economy/index.htm
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/Greece.html#life
http://www.museum.upenn.edu/greek_world/index.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/government/democracy.htm
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/government/oligarchy.htm
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/history/classical.htm
http://www.museum.upenn.edu/greek_world/index.html
http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/greekmyths/work.htm#resource
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/kimbrough/greekgods/
http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Greeklife.html#INTRO
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/greecerome/

Other Resources:
Be sure to check out books on Ancient Greece in the Town and CHS Libraries.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have now created a professional looking newspaper based on your research of Ancient Greece. You have successfully researched and reported on events using information from web sites, and shown a knowledge in not only Ancient Greece, but also in writing articles, working as a team, creating a PowerPoint and producing a newspaper.

Extra Credit for Editors

The person elected as Editor for each group will receive TEN points added to each of the three quiz grades and both of the test grades for a total of FIFTY extra credit points!