Jazz Age Newspaper Project
Note: Much of this information I took from a Webquest by Susan Miera of Pojoaque High School. She deserves the credit for creating this resource. The original webquest can be found at http://wapiti.pvs.k12.nm.us/~Computer/jazzage.htm.
Introduction
The 1920's in America was a period of opulence and excess that led to the inevitable consequences of the 1930's and the Great Depression. Our romantic image of the Jazz Age (Roaring Twenties) is hightened by the images of flappers, pin striped suits, Model T's, the Charleston, Prohibition, and Speak Easies.The Task
How were such romantic excesses of the Jazz Age reported at the time? How were they viewed in such delightful duplicity, and how do we today explain the Great Depression to which the Jazz Age led? In order to answer these questions you must know the culture of the day, "live" the times, and "become" the people. As reporters for a Jazz Age newspaper, you and your classmates will be able to assume the identities of 20's correspondants. Your task will be to report the news as it happened.
The Process
1. You and a partner will personally take on the roles of 1920s newspaper reporters/editors/publishers and you will design and publish a mock 1920s newspaper.2. You may either create you newspaper on the computer using MS Word or you may print out your various articles and pictures and paste them onto 11"x17" paper (I can supply this). Your newspaper will probably be two pages in length on poster paper. All articles should be written in a journalistic style. Be sure to use the past tense.
3. Each newspaper should have the following:
A news banner that would be appropriate for the times -- Choose a name and price that would be indicative for the era.
One article dealing with criminal activity in the decade OR prohibition in general.
One article dealing with mass production and credit OR an article on the automobile industry.
One article dealing with women's issues OR race issues during the 1920s.
One article dealing with the Scopes trial OR Sacco and Vanzetti.
One article dealing with movies OR music OR art of the 1920s.
One article dealing with the Harlem Renaissance OR the Lost Generation.
One political cartoon.
3-5 pictures with captions that relate to your news stories.
3-5 advertisements, want ads, advice columns, etc.
You may include up to two additional news stories for extra-credit.
Pick any 12 vocab terns from the Chapter 11-12 vocab list and include them in your various stories. Highlight the vocab terms in bold print so that they are easy to see.
Resources: (Use the resources below to conduct your search.)
Learning Advice:
Be productive and on task. We will only be in the computer lab for two days, so make sure you have a game plan for who will do what. To maximize your computer time, work on different computers.Conclusion:
You now have a better understanding of the role of news correspondants during any era, a better understanding of the power of words, and a better appreciation for meeting deadlines and of team work. The next time you pick up a daily newspaper, perhaps you'll take a closer look at what went into the finished product.
Original Web site creator: Susan Miera
susan_miera@breadnet.middlebury.edu Site modified by: Dave Cialone dave.cialone@adams12.orgThis site was modified with Dreamweaver 4. Thanks to Mr. Faulkner for teaching Mr. Cialone how to use this technology!