G8 'OF MICE AND MEN' NEWSPAPER TASK

Writing to inform, explain & describe

This newspaper project is an opportunity to present a collection of written works that you will be producing as
our class moves through John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. You should
present these works in a local newspaper designed to be read by people living
in the 1920s or 1930s in the vicinity of Soledad/ the ranch/ surrounding towns.
Included in your newspaper will be the following items:

1) Two work wanted ads: one for George, one for Lenny
2) One letter-to-the-editor (written by a character)
4) One obituary
5) One front page news article (detailing a key event at the ranch)
6) One opinion column (expressing and supporting an opinion about a
key societal issue)

Adding small extra items (sports results, photos, etc.) will add to the overall
effect of your presentation. This project must be word-processed and should
fit on two double-sided sheets of A4 paper. Further instructions will be given
about each individual news item later.

Level Ideas Structures Style & language

Questions to help you: Questions to help you: Questions to help you:

How perceptive and
focused are the ideas in my
newspaper?
How effectively does my
newspaper deal with the
main themes and issues of
the novel?
How skillfully have I structured
my newspaper and the
individual items?
How well have I used
sentences, paragraphs and
titles?
How accurate, varied and
effective is my use of
language?
Have I used language
appropriate for my
(imagined) audience?

9-10 Imagination and depth of My newspaper is purposefully My style and language

thought are clearly evident organised achieves desired effects
S in my work appropriate to each style of
T I use a variety of sentence writing.
R My ideas show a perceptive types and styles to achieve
O understanding of the stylistic effects I use punctuation skillfully.
N themes of the novel.
G I use paragraphs and My tone and voice add to the
I use numerous well- transitions carefully and impact of my writing as
chosen relevant details that effectively appropriate to the task
support and help my
audience I use titles and layout skillfully
7-8 Imagination and depth of I use a variety of sentence My style and language are
E thought are evident in my types and styles to achieve accurate and somewhat
F work stylistic effects varied according to the needs
F of the item being written.
E
C My ideas show a good I use paragraphs and Errors in spelling, punctuation
T understanding of the transitions carefully and and word-use are infrequent
I themes of the novel. effectively and never impede
V understanding
E I use well-chosen I choose effective titles I use the appropriate tone and
relevant details that voice for each item
support and help my
audience

5-6 Imagination is evident in I attempt to use a variety of My style and language are
D my work sentence types appropriate to task and
E audience
V I use paragraphs and transitions
E My ideas show an reasonably well There are only a few errors in
L understanding of the There is an attempt to spelling, punctuation and
O themes of the novel. sequence my ideas word-use
P I generally use the appropriate
I I use relevant details that tone and voice
N support and help my
G
audience

3-4 My ideas show a basic I attempt to organise my work My use of language is not
E understanding of the task always effective
I use basic paragraphs
M I develop some ideas There may be regular and
E errors in spelling and
R punctuation
GING

1-2 My ideas show a limited I am unsuccessful in organising There are significant

NOT understanding of the task my work weaknesses with the style and
YET I attempt the task language I have used

Student 7 7 7
Teacher 5 5 5

Student comments (What are you pleased with? What do you need to work on?)
I think i need to work on making my projec longer instead of just sqeezing everything in too a tight
space.
Teacher Comments

I agree that the project needed to be more detailed. I think the problem was also that you did
not manage your time well in class. We spent a lot of time building up to this deadline so with
more careful planning you could have written longer, better and more accurately written pieces
for your newspaper. You missed out an important element and also needed to proofread more
carefully, formal writing should avoid using contractions, there are also some words missing
and careless errors with capital letters e.g. "i". David, your good ideas and understanding in
English will only be reflected in a piece of writing if you put the work in, it is really that simple.

Dear parents,

To support the students technology skills we are trialling a fully digital method of
communication for this assignment. An e-mail will be sent to you to explain how to leave
comments on the students blog/ digital portfolio. Please make sure you do acknowledge that
you have seen the assessment information.

Please e-mail me at campbellc@yis.ac.jp of you have any questions about this process.

Thanks,

Colin Campbell