Editable Newspapers Template

Students To Write Newspaper for

Main Unit Assignment

The War Has

Just Ended…

You and your partner are

editors of a newspaper tasked

with putting together a special

commemorative issue on the

Second World War. This

assignment should be

completed on poster paper,

which I will gladly provide.

The assignment has three main

parts. The first part is a

description of a major battle or

turning point in the war.

The second section is an exposé

on Canada’s contributions to the

war, both military and non-

military. (Hint: this second section

will come in handy when you

study for the test because one of

the essay questions will definitely

be about Canada’s contributions!)

The third part of the assignment is

an Op-Ed on the following topic:

“Is the use of weapons of mass

destruction ever justified?”

Descriptions of each of these

three parts are on the following

pages.

Second World War

Commemorative Issue

September 1945

Part I: Major Event or Turning Point

Some Suggestions:.

• Germany’s blitzkrieg

through Western Europe in

1940

• The Battle of Britain

• German invasion of the

Soviet Union

• Japanese attack at Pearl

Harbor

• Battle of Stalingrad

• The Italian Campaign

• D-Day

• Battle of the Bulge

• Battle of Berlin

• Or another event of your

choice…

Second World War

Commemorative Issue

September 1945

This section should contain

interesting details about the

event you are describing.

Topics to cover in your article

include who, where, what,

when, casualties, what

technologies were used during

this event, etc. An important

part of this article is telling

your reader why this event was

such a significant event of the

war. And be sure to provide

pictures that will really grab

your reader’s attention.

Part II: Canada’s Contributions

Do not focus only on

contributions made by

members of the armed forces.

Many Canadians, both at home

and abroad, made valuable

contributions to Canada’s war

effort.

And don’t worry….I know that

so far in class we have only

discussed Canada’s military

contribution, but next week I

will be sure to discuss other

ways in which Canada

contributed to the Allied

victory.

Second World War

Commemorative Issue

September 1945

This section is a commemoration of Canada’s contributions to

the war. Be sure to describe both military and non-military

contributions. You will not be able to cover every contribution,

so think BIG PICTURE and then choose a few examples to

highlight your article.

In this article, you should consider how significant you think

Canada’s contributions were to the war. This is your chance to

put in your own opinion, but be sure to back it up with

examples!

Part III: Is the Use of Weapons of

REMEMBER!!! You are

writing in September 1945, so

your article must make specific

reference to the bombings of

Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But

you should not be talking about

weapons of mass destruction

that had not yet been invented

in 1945.

Again, I know that we have not

yet covered this topic, but we

will in class on Friday. In the

meantime, read p. 150-151 of

your textbook. This should

help give you some ideas.

Second World War

Commemorative Issue

September 1945

This is an op-ed, which means

“opposite editorial.” Op-eds

are opinion pieces written by

writers who are often not

directly affiliated with the

newspaper in which the article

appears. For example, anyone

can write an op-ed on a given

topic and have it printed in the

Prince George Citizen.

Essentially you are writing a

persuasive article on whether

or not weapons of mass

destruction, such as nuclear

bombs, should ever be used.

There is no right or wrong

answer as long as you can back

up your position.

Mass Destruction Ever Justified?

Minimum word count for you

op-ed is 300 words.

WIKIPEDIA HAS A GREAT

ARTICLE ON THIS

DEBATE. THE ARTICLE IS

CALLED: “Debate over the

atomic bombings of

Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”

IT HAS BOTH PRO AND

CON ARGUMENTS.

CHECK IT OUT!

General Assignment Criteria

Second World War

Commemorative Issue

September 1945

1. I have described the 3

parts that this assignment

must have. However, you

can choose to organize

your newspaper however

you want. In other words,

the Canada’s contribution

section can make up your

front page if you prefer.

2. You may work with a

partner on this

assignment or you can do

it on your own. Choose

your partner carefully,

though, as you will both

receive the same grade for

the assignment.

3. The only section with a minimum

word count is the op-ed (300 words).

For the other two sections, the final word

count will depend entirely on how many

words it takes for you to provide the

required information.

4. The final due date for this

assignment is Tuesday 12

November. Unless you make

prior arrangements with me,

late assignments will be

deducted 10% per every day

late, up to a maximum of

50%.