News of the Nation [microform] : A Civil War Newspaper Project / Lynn Parisi

Guidelines for two group activities are presented, one for high school and one for junior high school. The purpose of the activities, both of which follow the same format, is to introduce or review causes of the Civil War while reviewing and applying previously acquired skills and information about the newspaper. The procedure is described as follows: (1) classes review newspaper format and writing; (2) classes are divided into groups of four to six students, each assigned to represent a northern or southern newspaper from 1860; (3) groups choose a city and newspaper name; (4) directions are distributed and reviewed; (5) newspapers are created using the library, in-class research, and group work; and (6) groups write letters to the editor of opposing newspapers or discuss differences in presentation of the same event as possible follow-up activities. This guide includes student directions and an outline of the contents of the newspapers which must contain news coverage, interviews, two feature articles, two editorials, a letter to the editor, and a political cartoon. A 24-item bibliography of suggested resources is appended. (DC)