THE SAWYER TIMES

Introduction	Task	Process	Evaluation	Conclusion	Teacher Notes
Introduction		The year is 1876 and you are a reporter forThe Sawyer Times.  It is during this year that the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was published.  The Sawyer Times is devoting an entire newspaper to this book.  Because you have proven yourself as an outstanding reporter, the editor has given YOU the choice of three assignments.
Task		During your meeting with the editor, she explained to you the choices for your assignment.  You must choose one of the following:     Feature Article                 “The Life of Mark Twain” Designing the layout for the front cover of The Tom Sawyer                     Times   Writing the Obituary of Injun Joe
Process Choose one of the following:   Choice A:   “The Life of Mark Twain” The feature article for this edition of The Sawyer Times is on the life of Mark Twain.      1.  Read and take notes on the Biographical Profile of                           Mark Twain                                     http://www.geocities.com/swaisman/    Click on:      A Life                                                           Biographical Timeline                                                           Family and Friends                         2.  Develop a feature article describing  this                             incredible author.  (Five paragraph minimum)                               Must include the following (but may include                                more: Ø        Birthdate Ø        Two important events in the author’s life Ø        Titles of additional books the author has written Ø        1 Quote of Mark Twain         http://www.twainquotes.com/ Ø        Town and State Mark Twain was born Ø        The place where Mark Twain grew up Ø        The significance of Haley’s Comet Ø        Picture of Mark Twain       Note:  Print out a copy “The Life of Mark Twain Rubric”  to  see exactly how Choice A is graded. Choice B:  The Sawyer Times 1.  For Fun review the following website:                                  http://www.twainquotes.com/ Click on Newspaper Articles Read one or two articles                          2.  Design and create the front page of the                                newspaper The Sawyer Times using events                                from the story.  Each event picked will be used                                on the front cover.                                Must include: ü   5 major events from the story ü   1 graphic for each event ü   1 headline for each event you have chosen ü   1st paragraph of each article      Note:  Print out a copy of “The Sawyer Times Rubric” to see                 exactly how Choice B is graded.     Choice C:  The Obituary of Injun Joe               1.  Review the following website                       -  might need to make some notes http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Indians/joe.html               2.  Review the Obituary Section of the newspaper.                          (You may use this section of the newspaper as a                              sample)                   3.  Write Injun Joe’s Obituary                            Must include: ü     Background information on Injun Joe ü      5 major events in the story in which Injun Joe was involved ü      Details on Injun Joe’s death ü      Details about Injun Joe’s Funeral Services  (i.e.   visitation and funeral)         Note:  Print out a copy of “Injun Joe’s Obituary Rubric” to see exactly how Choice C is graded.
Evaluation                                  Choice A:  The Life of Mark Twain     Story Writing: The Life of Mark Twain Teacher name: Student Name ___________________ CATEGORY 4 3 2 1 Writing Process Student devotes a lot of time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works hard to make the feature article wonderful. Student devotes sufficient time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works and gets the job done. Student devotes some time and effort to the writing process but was not very thorough. Does enough to get by. Student devotes little time and effort to the writing process. Doesn't seem to care. Focus on Assigned Topic The entire feature article is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic. Most of the feature article is related to the assigned topic. The story wanders off at one point, but the reader can still learn something about the topic. Some of the feature article is related to the assigned topic, but a reader does not learn much about the topic. No attempt has been made to relate the feature article to the assigned topic. Title Title is creative, sparks interest and is related to the feature article and topic. Title is related to the feature article and topic. Title is present, but does not appear to be related to the feature article and topic. No title. Introduction First paragraph has a "grabber" or catchy beginning. First paragraph has a weak "grabber". A catchy beginning was attempted but was confusing rather than catchy. No attempt was made to catch the reader's attention in the first paragraph. Organization The feature article is very well organized. One idea follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions. The feature article is pretty well organized. One idea may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used. The feature article is a little hard to follow. The transitions are sometimes not clear. Ideas seem to be randomly arranged. Spelling and Punctuation There are no spelling or punctuation errors in the final draft. There is one spelling or punctuation error in the final draft. There are 2-3 spelling and punctuation errors in the final draft. The final draft has more than 3 spelling and punctuation errors. Requirements All of the written requirements (# of pages, # of graphics, type of graphics, etc.) were met. Almost all (about 90%) the written requirements were met. Most (about 75%) of the written requirements were met, but several were not. Many requirements were not met.   Choice B:  The Sawyer Times Newspaper : The Sawyer Times Teacher name: Student Name ___________________ CATEGORY 4 3 2 1 Layout - Headlines & Captions All articles have headlines that capture the reader's attention and accurately describe the content. All articles have a byline. All graphics have captions that adequately describe the people and action in the graphic. All articles have headlines that accurately describe the content. All articles have a byline. All graphics have captions. Most articles have headlines that accurately describe the content. All articles have a byline. Most graphics have captions. Articles are missing bylines OR many articles do not have adequate headlines OR many graphics do not have captions. Articles - Purpose 90-100% of the articles establish a clear purpose in the lead paragraph and demonstrate a clear understanding of the topic. 85-89% of the articles establish a clear purpose in the lead paragraph and demonstrate a clear understanding of the topic. 75-84% of the articles establish a clear purpose in the lead paragraph and demonstrate a clear understanding of the topic. Less than 75% of the articles establish a clear purpose in the lead paragraph and demonstrate a clear understanding of the topic. Articles - Supporting Details The details in the articles are clear, effective, and vivid 80-100% of the time. The details in the articles are clear and pertinent 90-100% of the time. The details in the articles are clear and pertinent 75-89% of the time. The details in more than 25% of the articles are neither clear nor pertinent. Graphics Graphics are in focus, are well-cropped and are clearly related to the articles they accompany. Graphics are in focus and are clearly related to the articles they accompany. 80-100% of the graphics are clearly related to the articles they accompany. More than 20% of the graphics are not clearly related to the articles OR no graphics were used. Articles - Interest The articles contain facts, figures, and/or word choices that make the articles exceptionally interesting to readers. The articles contain facts, figures, and/or word choices that make the articles interesting to readers. The article contains some facts or figures but is marginally interesting to read. The article does not contain facts or figures that might make it interesting to read. Contributions of Group Members Each person in the group has contributed at least two articles and one graphic without prompting from teachers or peers. Each person in the group has contributed at least one article and one graphic with a few reminders from peers. Each person in the group has contributed at least one article with some minimal assistance from peers. One or more students in the group required quite a lot of assistance from peers before contributing one article.    Choice C:  The Obituary of Injun Joe Story Writing: Injun Joe's Obituary Teacher name: Student Name ___________________ CATEGORY 4 3 2 1 Writing Process Student devotes a lot of time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works hard to make the obituary wonderful. Student devotes sufficient time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works and gets the job done. Student devotes some time and effort to the writing process but was not very thorough. Does enough to get by. Student devotes little time and effort to the writing process. Doesn't seem to care. Focus on Assigned Topic The obituary is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic. Most of the obituary is related to the assigned topic. Some of the obituary is related to the assigned topic, but a reader does not learn much about the topic. No attempt has been made to relate the obituary to the assigned topic. Accuracy of Facts All facts presented in the obituary are accurate. Almost all facts presented in the obituary are accurate. Most facts presented in the obituary are accurate (at least 70%). There are several factual errors in the obituary. Requirements All of the written requirements (# of pages, # of graphics, type of graphics, etc.) were met. Almost all (about 90%) the written requirements were met. Most (about 75%) of the written requirements were met, but several were not. Many requirements were not met.
Conclusion      You have successfully completed the assignment the                    editor of the paper has given you.  She is so proud of                    your work, you have received a raise and a promotion.
Teacher Notes     This Webquest is to be completed after finishing the                   Tom Sawyer Unit.  Students will be assigned the                   Webquest at the beginning on the unit and will have                   until one week after the unit to turn in their completed                   project. Goals and Standards Ø        1.B.3d      Read age-appropriate material with fluency and accuracy Ø        1.C.3c      Compare, contrast, and evaluate ideas and information from various      sources Ø        1.c.3d     Summarize and make generalizations from content Ø        2.B.3a     Respond to literary material from personal, creative, and critical point of view Ø        3.A.3      Write compositions that contain complete sentences and effective paragraph Ø        3.B.3b    Edit and revise for word choice and organization Ø        3.A.3a     Produce documents that convey a clear understanding Ø        3.C.3b     Use available technology, produce compositions for specified audiences Ø        5.A.3a     Identify appropriate resources to solve problems or answer questions through research Ø        5.C.3a     Plan, compose, edit, and revise documents that synthesize new meaning gleaned from multiple sources Ø        5.C.3c     Take notes, organize and report information in oral, visual, and electronic formats