The Democracy Times Newspaper

You are a journalist who needs to research and share information about our
democracy with immigrants new to the United States. You need to explain all
about the democracy seen here in the United States. Create a newspaper with
columns that explain the roots of our democracy, how we became free from the
British, the importance of democracy in the United States, and describe the
Branches of Government and the role each one plays in our democracy. Make
sure to include illustrations to help the immigrants make visual connections to what
they are learning!
G (Goal)- To research and share information about our democracy with new
immigrants
R (Roll)- To take on a roll of a Journalist
A (Audience)- People from other Countries interested in learning about our
government
P (Product)- Democracy Newspaper explaining democracy in the United States
E (Expectations)- Rubric attached below

Please follow the template below as a guideline for your newspaper:

What are the roots of
our democracy?

How did we become

free from British Rule?:

Why is democracy an
important thing to
have in the United
States?

Possible Illustrations to Include In Newspaper:

What are the

three Branches of
Government What
are the roles that
each branch
plays?

Rubric for The Democracy Times

Criteria
Product:
Newspaper

Below the Standard

The students newspaper
included 1-2 out of the
following requirements:
History of our democracy,
Becoming free from the
British, Importance of
Democracy, and Branches
of government. The student
did not include illustrations.

Approaching the Standard

The students newspaper
included 2-3 out of the
following requirements: History
of our democracy, Becoming
free from the British,
Importance of Democracy,
and Branches of government.
The student also included
illustrations that did not go the
rest of the newspaper.

Meets the Standard

The students newspaper
included all four requirements:
History of our democracy,
Becoming free from the British,
Importance of Democracy,
and Branches of government.
The student also included
illustrations that go along
nicely with the rest of the
newspaper.
The student produces a
written product that is on
grade level.

9-12 points
Content of
Advertisement

0-4 points
The student does not
provide accurate
information related to
democracy, and does not
correctly inform new
immigrants to the United
States about our
democracy.

5-8 points
The student includes accurate
information on democracy,
but does not fully inform new
immigrants to the United
States about our democracy.
The standards being assessed
do not match the task.

The standards being

assessed do not match the
task.

The student creates a

newspaper that would inform
new immigrants to the United
States about our democracy.
The student provides
information that explains the
history of our democracy as
well as our modern day
democracy.
The standards being assessed
match the task.

Exceeds the Standard

The students newspaper went
above expectations by not
only including the four
required sections, but also
adding extra information that
may be beneficial to the new
immigrants to learn about the
United States. The illustrations
included were well thought
out to give the immigrants
even more information about
our democracy by making
connections to the
information.
The student produces written
product that is above grade
level.
13-15 points
The student went above and
beyond expectations when
creating a newspaper that
would successfully inform new
immigrants to the United
States about our democracy.
As part of their content, the
student provides information
that thoroughly explains the
history of our democracy as
well as our modern day
democracy. The student
included explanations of facts
and vocabulary words that
could be difficult for new
immigrants to understand.
The student produces written
and/or oral work that is complex,
purposeful, and organized,
includes relevant supporting
examples and manipulation of
language. The standards being
assessed match the task.

0-4 points

5-8 points

9-12 points

13-15 points

Total

Creativity

Student does not include

accurate information
through illustrations or
information. It is difficult to
understand the newspaper
because of how it is
organized.

0-4 points

The students newspaper

includes an unbalanced
illustration to information ratio.
The information is not
attractive, and is difficult to
understand. Some illustrations
are in the newspaper, but they
do not necessarily relate to
the content.

5-8 points

The students newspaper

includes creative illustrations
and information only. The
newspaper is organized, easy
for the new immigrants to
understand, and attractive to
the readers. The student
included a few text features in
their newspaper to engage
the readers.

9-12 points

The student has original,

attractive way of organizing
their newspaper. The student
includes a balanced amount
of creative illustrations and
text, as well as non-fiction text
features that will help the
immigrants understand the
newspaper. The newspaper is
written in such a way that
includes a writers voice that
hooks in the reader to make
him or her extremely interested
in the topic.
The student, independently
clarifies, illustrates, and/or
elaborates on an idea for
product improvement.
13-15 points