A Medieval (Middle Ages) Newspaper: Task: Create a professional medieval newspap

A Medieval (Middle Ages) Newspaper:
Task: Create a professional medieval newspaper covering events from the Middle Ages that your group
would be proud to publish. Imagine that you are journalist living during that time period and covering
historic events.
Your articles should describe the details of the events and the points of view of the people who
attended. All information must be historically accurate. Use the internet, library, or your textbook to
research the Middle Ages.
Your newspaper must include the following:
1) A unique and original title located at the top of your cover page in bold and large letters. Include
the location of your paper (investigate some medieval towns), and the date.
2) 3 articles (one must be an important cover page story, one must be an interview with a
Medieval historical figure and one is on a subject/event of your choice). Include images for each
article.
3) Each article must include:
 A memorable headline that gives a summary of the article’s contents
 Thorough details of the events being covered. Be sure to answer the 5 W’s and
H (Who, What, Why, When, Where and How) to write your articles. Articles
must be written in the third person (he/she/they).
 Articles should use descriiptive language. You may wish to research medieval
towns, job occupations, etc.
4) At least 2 advertisements which would appeal to your medieval readers. Advertisements may
feature any of the technological advancements of the Middle Ages and/or any other products
which would be of interest. Use the Ebook or the library to research technological
advancements of the time period. See example below:
5) What should I write about? (ideas)
 Describe an event- a joust, a banquet, a guild meeting, a crusade, a new king or queen, a
Renaissance artist, the building or refurbishing of a cathedral; a battle, etc.
 Interview a person- a knight about a tournament, a Pope about the direction or changes
in Church policy; a peasant or a serf about their daily life, a famous person, etc.
 Other possible topics:
Chivalry
Are you a plague doctor in need
of supplies? Since the Black
Plague is very contagious, you
need all the protection you can
get. Stop by my shop in the
market in Blakelow Township.
Task: Create a professional medieval newspaper covering events from the Middle Ages that your group would be proud to publish. Imagine that you are a journalist living during that time period and covering historic events.
Your articles should describe the details of the events and the points of view of the people who attended. All information must be historically accurate. Use the internet, library, or textbook to research the Middle Ages.
Your newspaper must include the following:
A unique and original title located at the top of your cover page in bold and large letters. Include the location of your paper (investigate some medieval towns), and the date.
3 articles (one must be an important cover page story, one must be an interview with a Medieval historical figure and one is on a subject/event of your choice). Include images for each article.
Each article must include:
A memorable headline that gives a summary of the article’s contents
Thorough details of the events being covered. Be sure to answer the 5 W’s and H (Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How) to write your articles. Articles must be written in the third person (he/she/they).
Articles should use descriiptive language. You may wish to research medieval towns, job occupations, etc.
At least 2 advertisements that would appeal to your medieval readers. Advertisements may feature any of the technological advancements of the Middle Ages and/or any other products which would be of interest. Use the eBook or the library to research technological advancements of the time period. See the example below:

What should I write about? (ideas)
Describe an event- a joust, a banquet, a guild meeting, a crusade, a new king or queen, a Renaissance artist, the building or refurbishing of a cathedral; a battle, etc.
Interview a person- a knight about a tournament, a Pope about the direction or changes in Church policy; a peasant or a serf about their daily life, a famous person, etc.
Other possible topics:
Chivalry
Feudalism (peasants, serfs, nobles)
Castles (design and function; life within a castle)
Knights
Vikings (Viking culture, exploration, boat building)
The Crusades
Bubonic Plague
Marco Polo
Architecture (especially the great Cathedrals)
Armor/Weapons
stained glass
Guild System
the Medieval Church (abbots, bishops, the papacy)
development of languages
well-known figures
Joan of Arc
Charlemagne
Richard the Lionhearted
Eleanor of Aquitaine
William the Conqueror
Charles Martel
The Princes in the Tower
Military Action
Battle of Tours
Hundred Years War
Wars of the Roses
Battle of Stirling Bridge
Battle of Vouille
Monastic life (monks, nuns, Benedictine rule)
Avignon Papacy
Saints
Medieval Town life
Magna Carta
Bayeux Tapestry
Domesday Book
Holy relics
Illuminated Manuscriipts
Gregorian Chant
Literature (possibly Song of Roland, Robin Hood)
The Inquisition
Rubric
Middle Ages Newspaper Rubric
Middle Ages Newspaper Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeHeadline & Byline & Pictures
Each news article has a headline, byline, and a corresponding picture
32 pts
Full Marks
Each article has a headline that captures the reader’s attention and accurately describes the content. Includes author of the article. All images have captions that explain the image.
22 pts
Reduced Marks
Each article has a headline that accurately describes the content. Includes author of the article. All images have captions that explain the image.
16 pts
Partial Marks
Article(s) headline does not describe the content. May or may not include the author of the article. Some images do not have captions that explain the image.
5 pts
Few Marks
Article(s) is/are missing a headline. Author is missing. All images are missing captions.
32 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeLayout – Flag
The name of the newspaper; the city or organization it serves; the date; price; edition; and possibly the volume number. The layout includes Headings or sections such as Entertainment etc.
30 pts
Full Marks
The name of the newspaper is clearly visible and is in a font that makes it stand out from other content. The date and edition of the newspaper appear below the name in a smaller font.
20 pts
Reduced Marks
The name of the newspaper is in a font that makes it stand out from other content. The date and edition of the newspaper appear below the name in a smaller font.
15 pts
Partial Marks
The name of the newspaper is in a font that makes it stand out from other content. Either the date or the edition number of the newspaper appears below the name in a smaller font.
8 pts
Few Marks
The name of the newspaper does not stand out OR both the name and edition of the newspaper are missing on one or more pages. If the name of the newspaper is missing the score will be 0.
30 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSpelling and Proofreading
32 pts
Full Marks
No spelling or grammar errors
20 pts
Reduced Marks
No more than a couple of spelling or grammar errors.
16 pts
Partial Marks
No more than 3 spelling or grammar errors
8 pts
Few Marks
Several spelling or grammar errors
32 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeHistorical Advertisement
At least 2 advertisements which would appeal to your medieval readers are included. Advertisements may feature any of the technological advancements of the Middle Ages and/or any other products which would be of interest.
30 pts
Full Marks
2 highly creative advertisements featuring any of the technological advancements of the Middle Ages and/or any other products which would be of interest.
20 pts
Reduced Marks
2 advertisements featuring any of the technological advancements of the Middle Ages and/or any other products which would be of interest. Advertisements show average creativity.
15 pts
Partial Marks
Only 1 advertisement featuring any of the technological advancements of the Middle Ages and/or any other products which would be of interest
0 pts
No Marks
Advertisements are missing or not from the time period
30 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent Accuracy/Supporting Details
3 articles (one must be an important cover page story, one must be an interview with a Medieval historical figure and one article on a subject/event of your choice). Include images for each article.
Each article thoroughly addresses the 5 W’s: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. All supporting facts and statistics are fully explained.
Range
61 pts
Full Marks
3 exceptionally well written and highly detailed news articles on topics from the Middle Ages. One article is an interview with a historical character from the same time period. Details give the reader important historical information (10+ facts in each article) which accurately portray the beliefs, point-of-view, or event being discussed. All articles on the Middle Ages thoroughly address the 5 W’s and H (who, what, when, where, why, and how). Correct time period has been followed.
45 pts
Reduced Marks
3 well written news articles on topics from the Middle Ages. One article is an interview with a historical character from the same time period. Details give the reader important information (7 -9 accurate facts present in each article). The information reflects an understanding of the time period. A few facts may be questionable but do not detract from the story line. 90-99% of the articles on the Middle Ages sufficiently address the 5 W’s and H (who, what, when, where and how).
20 pts
Partial Marks
3 news articles from the Middle Ages. One article is an interview with a historical character from the same time period. Details in the entry give some information (4-6 accurate facts in each article) to the reader. They do reflect some understanding of the time period. Most facts presented in the story are accurate (at least 70%). 75-89% of the articles on the Middle Ages adequately address the 5 W’s and H (who, what, when, where and how).
10 pts
Few Marks
Details in the article give little to no detail, do not relate to the texts that have been read, and reflect little understanding of the time period. or (3 or fewer accurate facts) OR Numerous factual errors in the story. May be missing the interview with a historical character. Less than 75% of the articles on the Middle Ages adequately address the 5 W’s and H (who, what, when, where, and how).
61 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeInterpret primary and secondary sources from ancient times to the mid-seventeenth century.
threshold: 3.0 pts
5 pts
Exceeds Expectations
3 pts
Meets Expectations
0 pts
Does Not Meet Expectations
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalyze change over time from ancient times to the mid-seventeenth century.
threshold: 3.0 pts
5 pts
Exceeds Expectations
3 pts
Meets Expectations
0 pts
Does Not Meet Expectations
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIdentify significant historical periods, events, individuals, and ideas from ancient times to the mid-seventeenth century.
threshold: 3.0 pts
5 pts
Exceeds Expectations
3 pts
Meets Expectations
0 pts
Does Not Meet Expectations
5 pts
Total Points: 200