Micro peer teaching presentation for EDSU 531.

1. The American Revolution: A WebQuest
George Santos
EDSU 531
Brandman University

2. Introduction
The American Revolution, also referred to as the American War of Independence,
refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen
Colonies that became the United States of America gained independence from the
British Empire. In this period, the Colonies rebelled against the British Empire and
entered into the American Revolutionary War between 1775 and 1783. This
culminated in an American declaration of independence in 1776, and victory on the
battlefield in 1781.
There were many key events that lead to the American Revolution. You will take on
the role of a news journalist. It is your duty to gather information on these events
and report them, in the form of a newsletter, to your fellow colonists. It will be up to
you to let the people know of what is happening around them and to help them make
a decision on who to side with in the coming war.

3. TASK
Students will work in groups of 3-4
Groups will use links provided to research information.
Groups will:
-Research the information on the websites
-Analyze the information
-Decide what information will be included in your newsletter
-Create a newsletter of articles/stories reporting these events
-Add your own insights, opinions, values to your newsletter
-Loyalists or Revolutionaries
-Be creative.
The final project will presented to the entire class.

4. Process
Step 1: Inform Yourself
Use the links to research the key events that lead up to the
Revolutionary War. Be sure to take notes as you will be using this
information to write stories/articles to report in your newsletter.
Step 2: Organize the Information
Start drafting an outline of what you want your newsletter to look
like, what stories you want to write and what information you
want to include. Remember to work as a group to come to an
agreement on what you feel is the important components to add.

5. Process (cont.)
Step 3: Creating your newsletter
Using the templates in Microsoft Word, create a
newsletter that will inform your fellow colonists of the
events that have transpired leading up to this conflict. Is
your newsletter just reporting the facts, or are you
supporting the Loyalists or Revolutionaries?
Step 4: Presentation
Your group will present your newsletter to the class.

6. Resources
Your text book
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chro
nicle.htm
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/
http://www.history.com/topics/americ
an-revolution

7. Evaluation
Category Excellent 10 Good 8 Satisfactory 7 Needs
Improvement 6
Research and
Gather
Information
Collects information Beyond the
basics. All information relevant
Collects basic
information. All
information relevant
Collects minimal
information. Some relates
to the topic
Collects very minimal
information relating to
topic
Tasks
Completed
All areas of the project were
addressed and handled with a high
degree of understanding.
Tasks nearly completed.
Project submitted
demonstrates great deal
of thought.
Tasks are only partially
completed.
The project submitted
demonstrates a moderate
level of thought. (Between
50% and 75%
complete)
Tasks are incomplete
apparent that little effort
went into the
development of the
project, and/or project is
less than 50% complete.
Presentation Presentation
exhibited creativity, mastery of
quality and full understanding of
material
Presentation
exhibited near
mastery quality and
understanding of material
Presentation
exhibited basic quality and
understanding of material
Presentation showed
minimal
quality and understanding
of material
Grammar,
Format, and
Spelling
The final body of work was free of
grammar, spelling, and formatting
errors.
The final body of work
had minimal grammar,
spelling, and formatting
errors.
The final body of had
moderate grammar,
spelling, and formatting
errors.
The final body of work had
major grammar, spelling,
and formatting errors.

8. Conclusion
At the end of this WebQuest, you should have
an understanding of the key events that lead to
the American Revolutionary War.
Do you feel that the Colonists were justified in
their actions to rebel against the British?