This assignment and rubric allows a student to better learn the 1800-1860 period.

1. Magazine Assignment
We will be creating newsmagazines about the early national period
(1800-1860). You will each be assigned to a group and each group will be assigned a
theme for their magazine and news show. Each group will then be expected to
publish the magazine and share them with the class.
The Assignment
The first job of your group is to choose an editor. Choose someone who has
shown themselves to be responsible and who has a good attendance record. Also
choose an assistant editor to help the editor. Each person in the group should then
choose one of the topics listed for your magazine (If your group has less than 5
members, choose who will do more than 1). You will be responsible for writing a 300
word article on that topic AND you are expected to produce one of the following as
they might have appeared in a magazine of the time:
• An advertisement
• A crossword puzzle
• A “Dear Abby” column
• A cartoon
• A recipe
• The cover
• Anything else you can think of that may be in a magazine? Get
approval first!
It will be the job of the editor to make sure each person has an assignment and that
each person hands their portion of the magazine to them in time for the editor to put
all the materials together and create a table of contents. The table of contents should
include every item in your magazine (including ads, puzzles, etc) and the name of the
person who created each item.
Magazines will be graded for content, grammar, spelling and creativity. There
will be an overall grade AND an individual grade for each article.
Presentation of Magazine to class
You will have a copy of your magazine to share with the class (Mrs. Babic will
take care of copies). As a group, you will present a brief overview of your magazine
(think: your table of contents!), explaining what bits of information can be found in
your magazine. Make sure you are clear about where everything is located…we’ll be
using each other’s magazines for our open note test on the early national period!
Computer Lab Schedule (write down so you know your deadlines!)

2. Topics: (Circle the one you have been assigned)
Our Changing National
Government
Jefferson’s election Action Jacksonian Ea
Midnight Judges drama Elections of 1824 and 1828 (the corrupt
Marbury v. Madison bargain)
McCulloch v. Maryland Jackson and the Veto
Chief Justice John Marshall Tariff and Nullification
strengthens the national government Jackson’s wife and scandal
Jackson and the Native Americans
Our Changing Economy Recharter the National Bank
Henry Clay’s American System
Eli Whitney- changes to agriculture Reforms
and industry Horace Mann
Industrial Revolution in the United Seneca Falls Convention
States Abolitionists- Garrison and Douglass
Robert Fulton and the Steamboat Utopian Communities
The National Bank Temperance Movement
Our Expanding Nation Our Westward nation
Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Manifest Destiny
Clark Traveling on the Oregon Trail
Erie Canal Texas Revolution
National Road War with Mexico
Missouri Compromise California Gold Rush
Florida- how it became a US territory

3. Name:
Rubric
Each student turn in a rubric on the day your magazine is due!
Group grade: - 30 points
Group assignment sheet turned in /5
Contents covered all assigned topics /5
Attractive Format /5
Variety of materials included /5
Presented to class /5
Magazine turned in on time! /5
Individual grade- 70 points
Article- Context cover topic thoroughly /10
Article- Contents are accurate /10
Article- Grammar and spelling /10
Article- Creativity and Interest /10
Additional item- on topic /10
Additional item- creative /10
Article is 500 words /10
*Assignment editor receives 10 bonus points!

4. Assignment sheet
Editor:
Group members:
Theme:
Group Member Article title Additional magazine
component (editorial,
advertisement, etc)- what will
be included?