Newspaper: Putting it All Together Unit: Wealth and Poverty English 4A

1. Newspaper: Putting it All Together Unit: Wealth and Poverty English 4A

2. The Assignment:Creating a Mock Newspaper

3. Project Overview • Create a mock newspaper centered on the theme of Wealth and Poverty • The newspaper must contain the following elements • 2 advertisements • 1 satirical essay • 1 opinion piece • 3 articles about a local, national, and international news event

4. Project Overview • It is probably best to plan out all of the different elements of the newspaper before laying it out. • You can create the elements in whatever program you want, and then copy and paste or insert the elements into your final publication. • Keep a checklist so you don’t forget any of the elements! • The project is worth 300 total points!

5. Project Overview • Choose a time and location for your newspaper • You can place your newspaper in the past, present or future. • You can locate your newspaper where you live, or in any other location, real or imagined. • You can base your stories on real events, but make sure you write your OWN story. • Be consistent! If your newspaper comes from the future, make sure all of your stories and ads are futuristic as well. Make sure you write as though the stories are happening currently.

6. Advertisements • You must create two separate advertisements – The two ads together are worth 25 points. • You can advertise any product or service you want, but keep the wealth and poverty theme in mind. • Create something original! Don’t copy something from the internet or other print source.

7. Advertisements • Ads should inform and persuade • Tell the reader what the product or service is and what it does, and convince them to buy it! • You can use photographs, clip art, or drawings that you scan in. You can then use any programs you have access to add text. • Make sure the text can be read easily. • Be creative! Use interesting fonts and colors.

8. An Example • This is an example of an real ad. REMEMBER: Don’t copy an ad from the internet. This is an example. CREATE YOUR OWN! • Note: The ad uses a striking picture that demonstrates what the product is (a touch screen phone).There is a catchy slogan, and the text tells you what it is and where you can buy it.

9. Satirical Essay • You must write one satirical essay that is at least 400 words. – This is worth 50 points. • If possible, your satire should address the theme of wealth and poverty. • In a previous assignment, you wrote an outline for a satirical essay. You may use this as the basis for your essay, or you can write something else. • Make sure to refer back to the lessons on satire and use the tools of satire.

10. Satirical Essay • Remember, this must be your own original writing! • Satire should be funny! Address a real problem, but your solution to the problem should be over the top and ridiculous. Make sure you somehow also make your real solution to the problem clear to the reader. • For examples, look to the discussion boards!

11. Opinion Editorial • You must write an Op-Ed piece that is at least 400 words. – This is worth 50 points. • An Op-Ed piece can be an editorial written by your newspaper’s “editor” or it can be a letter to the editor. • The piece is essentially a persuasive essay. You need to take a stand on a controversial issue and persuade your audience to take your side.

12. Opinion Editorial • Make sure your issue and stance are clear. • Make sure you back up your stance. • Don’t just say things like “Taxes are bad! Get rid of taxes!” Give reasons why taxes are bad and what the benefits of abolishing taxes would be. • Make sure the issue you pick goes along with the time and location in which you have placed your newspaper.

13. Opinion Editorial • Check out the following sites for examples: • http://www.nytimes.com/pages/opinion/index.html • http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/default.htm • http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/ • Remember, you Op-Ed MUST reflect the Wealth and Poverty theme!

14. News Articles • You must write three news articles: local news, national news and international news - Each is worth 50 points for a total of 150 points. • Each article must be at least 150 words. • Remember to be consistent with the time and location of your newspaper as a whole. • Write as though the events are current: You can write about events in 1969, but pretend you are writing in 1969, not 2011.

15. Local News • This could be any kind of story that happens in the area near where your newspaper is located • Look at your own local newspaper for ideas! • You could write about a crime, a fire, some other interesting event, a human interest topic or a society event.

16. National News • This story should focus on something important happening in the country where your newspaper is located – If your story takes place in the U.S., write about something happening in the U.S. that could be important to anyone living in the U.S. • This could be a political story or a natural disaster or any other story important to anyone living in that country.

17. International News • This story could be happening anywhere in the world! • It could be political, such as something between two countries, or it could be an important story just happening in a country OTHER than the one your newspaper is located in

18. Writing a News Story • News stories are objective – this means they give the facts only! Keep your opinions to your op-ed and satire! (Quotes from witnesses can be subjective. As the writer, stay objective.) • News stories begin with a lead that uses the 5Ws – this first sentence or paragraph should tell you the Who, What, When, Where and Why of the story (and the How as well) • Other details follow later in the story. This style of writing is called the inverted pyramid.

19. The Inverted Pyramid

20. The Inverted Pyramid What Who Where Bob Smith, mayor of Aventa Town, was arrested last night at his home for plagiarism. When Why The mayor gave a speech on global warming recently, which police have discovered was actually written by high school student Jennifer Learns. The mayor’s wife, Roberta Smith, was seen crying on the porch outside the family’s home.

21. Other Parts of the Newspaper • The last 25 points of the project reflect the layout of the newspaper, including the following items • A masthead • Headlines for each story • Bylines for each story • Columns

22. Masthead • The masthead goes at the top and identifies your newspaper. It may also include a logo, the date and an edition number.

23. Headlines • Headlines get the audience’s attention gets people interested in the story. • Headlines should be descriptive, accurate and interesting. • Headlines are generally written in the present tense: • Armed robber kills bank teller • Crash injures family of three • Every story, including your satire and op-ed, should have a headline

24. Bylines and Columns • Bylines: • A byline tells you who wrote the story. It should be placed under the headline, but before the beginning of the story. • While YOU are writing the stories, you can make up reporter names for your bylines. • Columns: • Newspapers are formatted in columns. You can use as many or as few columns as you like, but make sure the text can be read and that your paper resembles a real newspaper.

25. Grading • Blackboard does not supply a rubric, but it does detail how the paper will be graded. I will use a condensed version of this as a rubric, as seen here. • You will also be graded on the 6+1 Writing Traits, so be sure to proofread and watch your grammar, spelling and conventions!

26. The Writing Process • Remember, use the writing process! Plan, Organize, Write, Edit, Rewrite! • Use the inverted pyramid graphic organizer to plan and organize your news stories, and use the outlining a satirical argument organizer in the course to plan your satirical article. • For the op-ed piece, use a five-paragraph structure: • Introduction • Reason 1 • Reason 2 • Reason 3 • Conclusion

27. Other Questions? • If you have questions about any part of this assignment, contact your teacher! • Use the example provided in the course for ideas, and look at real newspapers, both printed and online, as models.