Industrial Revolution and Progressive Era

Newsletter Instructions
DIRECTIONS:
In small groups, you will research and create a newsletter during the height of the industrial
revolution and progressive era; 1880-1910. You must work as a group to complete this
assignment. The group is responsible for the complete project. Each member must participate
equally and are responsible for one article and create one visual each. Each student will receive
an overall group grade and an individual grade based on peer/teacher critique. You will be given
some class time to work on this assignment but will need to work on it outside of class (plan
accordingly). Research the information using the textbook, cromebook web sources and library
books.
OVERALL REQUIREMENTS:
Typed in Newsletter style format (Try looking at Microsoft Word Templates)
All articles and visuals need to be pre-approved by the teacher.
First Page Information
o Creative title
o All Group members names
o An overview or Table of Content for what is in the newsletter,
o One illustration and One article.
Must include a works cited page near the end of the magazine for all sources used. NO
Wikipedia!
Articles
o Each article must be titled and have the author(s) name on it.
o Minimum page length of 200 words or one page for every article
o In text parenthetical citations must be used in all articles. Failure to include the
proper citations will result in a score of 0!
Visuals
o Each visual must be titled and have the author(s) name on it.
o One graphic per-visual (may be either hand drawn or computer generated but it
must be original) (only exception may be for the advertisement but must be cleared
with the teacher.
o Be Creative.
Design Elements
o Clear distinctions between different elements. (i.e. titles and clear organization)
o Subtitles before each section of your newsletter.
o Color coordination through out needs to be used
Must proofread!
Required Elements:
Articles:
1. Human Interest Article
Write an article about a person from the industrial era. Think about all the people who
would have a unique perspective on the industrial revolution (i.e. A farmer who relocated to a
urban city, an immigrant at Ellis Island, a child in the city, a factory owner/worker, ext.) Write an
article about them and their life. For some people, you find a famous quote of their you can
incorporate into your article/expose on their life.

2. Lifestyle Article
Write an article on lifestyles of the industrial era. This article should be about a leisure
activity that people would have participated or done during this time.
3. Political Article
Write a report on the politics of the industrial/progressive era. You should focus on how that
event either shaped politics of the era or reflected the political climate of the era.
Visuals:
1. Wanted Posting
Create a wanted posting that would have existed during this time. It could be about a job, a
apartment for rent, or land for sale where a factory could be built. The posting must include: a
headline that would grab the readers attention, a brief description of what is required/available,
and a small photo or drawing. Remember you are writing about conditions during the early 1900s.
2. Advertisement
Create an advertisement directed at new immigrants in America. It could be about a new
consumer product or a new leisure activity. Remember this is during the height of the industrial
revolution where factories were creating several different products that people had not had before.
Also, these people are immigrating from all over the world, so think of an advertisement that would
catch their attention and make they want to spend the little money they did have. The
advertisement must include an original illustration depicting a new product developed during this
time and a product description explaining what the product does and why people would need it.
3. Editorial Comic
You must create a comic strip (2-3 sequence minimum) with an original illustration and
caption making fun of something that people dealt with during this time. Public figures, events, or
places are always good to poke fun at. You must write a few sentences explaining the cartoon.
Think about some of the editorial cartoons we analyzed for Upton Sinclairs Novel, The Jungle.