Reporting the News:
The Salem Chronicle
written by Mrs. Jodie Donner
Introduction Task Process Resources Evaluation Conclusion Reflection Extension Teacher Notes Introduction
As a member of your Puritan community's newspaper staff, you must report the news of the times. Of course, the most important story of the day is the Salem Witch Trials. All of your fellow townspeople want to know each event, each accusation and each word in the courtroom.
You would like to make your newspaper interesting, so you will include the other stories of the day as well. Think about what you see in newspapers today. What makes the news? What are feature stories? What do people find entertaining now? You must find out what the Puritans were involved in, what they did and what they enjoyed. You will include your findings in your stories.
You will work together with the other editors of the paper to create an interesting, accurate and informative newspaper for your readers. You are writing for the credible Salem Chronicle, so remember you must always print the truth.
Follow the steps and directions in the Process and Resources section to assist you as you find your information.
When you have finished researching, write your articles and put them together as a newspaper.
1. Assign positions within your staff.
All positions must be filled so you may work together to finish your task.
- Editor-in-Chief - organizes the issue of the paper, deals with any problems that arise amongst group members, keeps the process and final goals in mind throughout the research, oversees all stories and checks to be sure editors are writing their assigned stories, compiles all stories into a polished, completed issue of the paper.
- News Editor - makes sure all news stories are included, helps to write these news stories, assists other editors as necessary.
- Features Editor - researches events, entertainent, religion, writes or assigns stories located in the feature section of the newspaper, assists other editors as needed.
- Ads Editor - researches information for ads, creates or assigns ads, assists other editors when necessary.
2. After you assign positions, you must start researching. Look for facts and information that will help you write your stories and create advertisements.
Your issue of the newspaper must include the following pieces:
2 Feature Stories on events of the day
2 News Stories about important happenings, the trials, etc.
1 Interview with a person involved in the trials
1 Editorial about an issue of the time
3 AdvertisementsAlso include 3 stories from the following:
Style
Entertainment
Advice or Humor Column
Food
TravelYou must complete and put together a total of 12 pieces (3 per staff member) to make your paper.
3. Research using the links below. The information should provide you with good sources for your newspaper. Use the links and write your stories!
Puritan Beliefs and HistoryEncyclopedia: Puritan
Puritan
17th Century American Puritan Beliefs
Pilgrims and Puritans: BackgroundSalem Witch Trials
Info on the Trials
The Salem Witchcraft Trials
Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Museum
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive
National Geographic: Salem Witch-HuntFood
Colonial Cookbook
New England CookeryLife
Homes
Plymouth Colony
The Colonial GazetteClothing
Sail 1620 - Pilgrim Clothing
Plymouth Colony Clothing
17th Century Costume Links
Assignment Review!! What to do. What to do. This is it!
Each group will complete 1 newspaper that includes 9 articles and 3 advertisements.Each group member will complete one assignment by himself.
Reflection paper
Your group's work will be evaluated using specific rubrics.
Click here to see the process rubric.
Click here to see the presentation/product rubric.
You do not truly live during the late 1600s, but you are all able to travel back in time through the Internet. You have helped create a piece of history. Your newspapers are lasting records of the lives of the Puritans. These people lived in a way different from what you know. They suffered through hardships and great tragedies that you may never know or understand. Still, you are able to relate to them and see the world through their eyes, in their times.
This project will help you understand the characters of The Crucible as we read Arthur Miller's play. By writing articles and developing a newspaper from 1692, you have prepared yourselves for a better analysis of the play. In addition, you will be able to see the significance of Miller's play when considering literature and other events in American history.
ReflectionEach group member must complete the reflection component. This part of the assignment is a separate grade and is not figured into your team's overall project grade.
Write a one-page (typed, double-spaced) reflection. Think about what you learned from the assignment. The following questions may direct your writing:
- What did you find out that you didn't know before the assignment?
- How important were the Salem Witch Trials when considering historical impact?
- How can you remember the suffering of these trials?
- What contributed to the Puritans believing in and accusing witches?
- Could this type of situation happen today?
- Would the witch hunt have happened in a different time or place?
- What did you like about the Internet-based assignment?
- Would you prefer webquests instead of normal assignments?
- How well did your group members work?
- Were you an effective team member? Explain why or why not.
- How would you describe this project to someone outside of school?
- What did you gain from the experience (think about computer skills, knowledge, etc.)? Be specific.
Create a PowerPoint presentation that showcases your newspaper and its information.
Write an essay about the tragedy behind the Salem Witch Trials.
Read a book on the Salem Witch Trials to learn more about the subject and the true stories.
Research McCarthyism and find out how it compares to the witch hunt in Salem, Mass.
Tell someone else about the knowledge you now have on this subject.
Pay attention to current events and write a one-page paper describing how people are still singled out and persecuted today.
This is a suitable WebQuest for high school students. The project will take about one week for completion.
Encouraging students to dye their paper to make their final projects appear aged is an effective idea. Student products will look polished. Students enjoy this part of the assignment.
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