Creating a 1920’s Magazine Webquest

Edited by Ms. Smith

Idea from

http://www.howhist com/fraser/twenties.htm.

Magazine Requirements

You will choose a magazine format which you will imitate. After analyzing the current magazine's format and describing the relevant style and content of the magazine's creators and the typical reader, you will create a magazine that mimics that format. The magazines you can choose from are (most of these magazines did not exist in the 1920's, but I am more concerned with their format):

First things first…

Magazine is due February 11, 2008 by 3PM. Create a schedule that will help to stay on

track as you complete the assignments. Make sure that each person in the group

understands what they have to do. Make sure each member swaps email

address. Use your Goggle email accounts and Goggle

Docs to edit the assignment as necessary.

Sample Schedule

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Jan. 27

Jan 28. Turn in planning Schedule to Ms. Smth, wikispace discussion tab.

Jan 29. Meet with group members to plan who’s going to do what.

Jan 30. Do research on Flappers. Check blog for information and assignments.

Jan 31. Meet with group members to check progress

Feb 1. Everyone will turn in their 1st drafts to be peer reviewed. Post questions to Ms. Smith’s wikispace.

Feb 2. Check blog for assignments. Make necessary changes to articles.

•Try to point everything your groups need to due each day!

•Post Schedule to: is123x.wikispaces.com

•Click home - then the discussion tab - post under Schedules Due

Magazine Requirements cont’d

1. Time 2. Newsweek 3. Sports Illustrated 4. Vogue 5. McCall’s 6. Vanity Fair 7. Harper’s 8. Ladies Home Journal

9. Life 10. Entertainment

Weekly 11. People 12. Forbes 13. Fortune 14. Rolling Stone 15. Vibe 16. Outdoors

SPECIFICS

If I were from the target audience would I pick it off the shelf in the 1920's?

Group members must select specific jobs

Editor Artist Reporters Designer

Create a Magazine You will create a magazine with the following components

according to the format of one above: Cover Page (Lead story, picture, title of magazine,

editors/contributors, & date) Table of Contents (this has to be created last) Four feature or news articles. Articles must be written as if

they could be in your model magazine during the 1920's (e.g. in a 1920's issue of Time). Each group member is responsible for 1. They can be about any significant event, trend or development during the 1920's.

- Articles should be typed in column format, like a newspaper or magazine

Tasks Keep margins of 1 inch all around The page on which your article is written should be

in magazine format; that is, no large expanses of blank paper. You might wrap the article around a picture or an advertisement.

Your articles must correspond to the date of your magazine and have some perspective of time. For instance, if your magazine is written in 1927, you cannot write about the stock market crash of 1929, and any articles about Babe Ruth must either be about the glorious 1927 season or retrospectives about his still vibrant career.

Supplementary Pieces Four supplementary pieces to the magazine. Each group

member is responsible for two of the following. You may not have more than two of each type in the magazine (These items should be original creations – not a print out from a CD-Rom or a copy of an advertisement you have seen in your research. They should combine your historical knowledge with your imagination. Each should be tailored to your magazine's audience). A graphic (map, chart, etc. with contextual explanation of at least

150 words) 2 Advertisement (by private organizations or the government) You

may copy images but you must create the text yourself. The ads must suit the audience of the magazine and be a popular product of the era.

Letter to the Editor - on a current controversial issue Political Cartoon (must be created, not copied)

Magazine Analysis Magazines usually have a target audience. Of

course, they would like to sell to as many people as possible, but since no magazine can be all things to all people, they will usually target a group large enough to make a profit, but specific enough to be distinctive. (No one wants another LIFE magazine; that niche is already filled.

Your first task is to choose a magazine that interests you, then try to figure out what their target audience is. You will do this by looking at the type of ads, departments, articles, and, if available, the reader responses in such things as "Letters to the Editor."

Magazine Analysis cont’d In this analysis or the audience , consider such

factors as: the education level required to read the articles the hobbies or interests of the audience the political slant (conservative or liberal) the economic class of the reader

You can get hints to these by analyzing: the products advertised (Tide or Godiva Chocolates?) the depth of the articles (superficial, in-depth) the level of vocabulary the tone (lighthearted, serious) what is emphasized in the coverage of a particular

newsworthy event (politics, business, fashion, behavior)

Magazine Analysis cont’d It is often helpful to compare two magazines in the same field (Vogue vs. Cosmopolitan, Time vs.

Newsweek, Rolling Stone vs Vanity Fair) to fine-tune your answers. ------------------------------------- NAME OF MAGAZINE_______________Group Members_______ ______ __________ ________ Describe the general category of magazine (what are the majority of the articles about?) Socioeconomic class of the typical reader __________________ Reason: Educational level of the typical reader ________________ Reason Age and gender of reader_____________________ Reason: Lifestyle and Occupation of reader___________________ Reason: Emphasis of articles (What is concentrated upon in a given news event): Reason: Conservative or liberal reader? Reason: On the back, in one sentence (complex!) describe the profile of the targeted reader, including all

of the above information

Proposed Feature Article and Slant Author's name (that's you)_______________________________ Topic of your feature

article_______________________________ The magazine you will be

imitating___________________________ Briefly explain what “spin” or angle you plan to take with your

topic in order to make it fit the type of magazine you are creating: Example: TOPIC: Model T Ford FOR VOGUE MAGAZINE: Since Vogue tries to appeal to the

status-conscious independent woman, I will write about how owning an automobile will increases their power and prestige. I will give some background on the car, have pictures of “classy” car models, and reveal the impact the car has on a woman's lifestyle.

Preliminary Ad Analysis

Ad Magazine Analysis Step One: As preparation for the Twenties Magazine you will create, today you will

analyze the magazine you have chosen to imitate. Using one of the ads included in your magazine, you will write an analytical paragraph in which you describe the TARGET AUDIENCE of the magazine. Consider and include as many of the following components as possible:

1. The age range of the target audience 2. The economic group targeted 3. The lifestyle of the group targeted 4. Anything you can tell about the values or major concerns of the group

targeted FORMAT: A) ONE EXTENDED PARAGRAPH B) CLEAR TOPIC SENTENCE ESTABLISHING THE PURPOSE OF

THE PARAGRAPH C) SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THE AD (TEXT AND PICTURE) THAT LED

YOU TO YOUR CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE AUDIENCE

Preliminary Ad Analysis

CRITERIA EXCELLENT ADEQUATE NEEDS WORK MISSING

TOPIC SENTENCE        

TEXT DETAILS AND ANALYSIS        

PHOTO DETAILS AND ANALYSIS

       

MECHANICS

Internet Research At this point, you should have: ..........1. Analyzed the contemporary magazine whose style you will imitate. ..........2. Decided what its target audience is by examining its table of

contents, letters to the editor, ads, and articles Your next task is to research the era to decide what articles and

supplementary pieces you will create for your magazine that will adequately reflect the era and your magazine's style.

------------------------------- #1 View at least two of the general sites below for an overview of the

events and personalities of the era:   Great overview of the era with specific events in various fields (science, sports,

etc.) Timeline of all events year by year A REAL MAGAZINE FROM THE TWENTIES St. Nicolas Magazine will give you

an idea of the drawings and subject matter of a popular magazine from the era.

Internet Research cont’d #2. Below are some more narrowly-focused sites for special

topics Clara Bow, the "It Girl" ANTIQUES AND OBJECTS FROM THE JAZZ AGE Creating an

ad? Look here for articles from the era. JAZZ MUSIC A popular jazz site: songs, performers, etc. Flapper culture and fashions, famous women of the era Sports: Baseball Clothing and costumes Flapper home decor Twenties music and club scene Popular music

Internet Research cont’d

#3. After viewing the sites, taking notes, etc., you might want to further research by trying the mega-search engine

http;//www.google.com   Try typing in a particular area like THE JAZZ

AGE- POLITICS

Due Dates

Friday, Jan 19: Preliminary ad analysis: Choose an ad from the

magazine Ms. Smith brought into class. Analyze its content to determine the target audience of this magazine.

Analyze the target audience by looking at ads, letters to editor, table of contents. Analyze magazine for conservative (resistant to change) or liberal (tolerant of change) leanings.

(Analysis due at the end of the period)

Due Dates cont’d Articles due Wed., Jan. 23, Write major magazine articles, bring articles to

school for group critiquing. Research and write supplemental articles, bring to

school for critiquing. Editor will check that all components are complete.

She will type a table of contents and assemble the magazine over the weekend. Fill out all grade sheets with titles of articles/supplements.

Artist will create cover of magazine EACH PERSON MUST WRITE ONE ARTICLE

FOR THE MAGAZINE.

Grading Standards I expect the following:

Content: 1. Accuracy in reporting. 2. Accounts that are rich in detail, factual evidence, and

that are interesting to read. The person who reads your magazine should learn much about the era!

3. Each group member will fulfill his/her responsibility Style:

1. Imagination and creativity, both in writing and presentation

2. Well-written articles including proper grammar and spelling. Use rich details in a logical order.

3. A neat, professional, aesthetically pleasing magazine that is consistent with the model magazine you have chosen.

Grading Guideline 1920’s Magazine Project Student's Name_____________ Feature Article Title:________________Supplementary Piece Title:_______________   Grading Guideline – 1920's Magazine Project General Guidelines – We expect the following: Content: 1. Accuracy in reporting. 2. Accounts that are rich in detail, factual evidence, and that are interesting to read. 3. Each group member fulfills her responsibility Style: 1. Imagination and creativity, both in writing and presentation 2. Well-written articles including proper grammar and spelling. Should have rich details in a

logical order. 3. A neat, professional, aesthetically pleasing magazine that is consistent with the model

magazine you have chosen. If I were from the target audience would I pick it off the shelf in the 1920's?

Point Values:

Grading Guideline 1920’s Magazine Project Point Values: News/Feature Article: (5 for highest mark) Research quality and analysis of historical data;

1 2 3 4 5 (possible points of 5 x 4 articles =20) Is the article appropriate for the 1920's?

Quality of writing – appropriate style + grammar/spelling 1 2 3 4 5 (possible points of 5 x 4 articles =20)

Does the magazine fit the type chosen (Time, etc.)? Bibliography?

1 2 3 4 5 (possible points of 1 x 5 articles =) Point Value /45 Supplementary Piece (graphic, ad, letter to editor or political cartoon) Research quality and analysis of historical data; - Is the article appropriate for the 1920's?

1 2 3 4 5 (possible points of 5 x 4 articles =20) Quality of writing – appropriate style + grammar/spelling

1 2 3 4 5 (possible points of 5 x 4 articles =20) Does the magazine fit the type chosen (Time, etc.)?

Bibliography? 1 2 3 4 5 (possible points of 5 x 4 articles =20)

Point Value /45 Group Grade: Overall quality of writing, research, presentation, including magazine and organization. Point Value /10 Total: /100

Point Schedule 100 points total for each person (recorded History class) 45 points for your news/ feature article:

Graded on quality of research, writing and analysis. Must be appropriate to time period and interesting to read. Article must fit the style of the magazine type chosen (Time, People etc.)

45 points for each supplementary piece: Quality of artwork or writing essential. Appropriate analysis of

1920's should be evident in piece. Must fit the style of the magazine type chosen.

10 points for overall group/magazine grade: How well do the articles fit together? Does the magazine feel like

an issue of Vogue or Time? Does the cover and table of contents give a good sense of the magazine? The editor and cover page artist will earn 5 points each for their efforts.

Resource Links

Ideas http://www.howhist.com/fraser/ideasand.htm

Internet Research http://www.howhist.com/fraser/ideasand.htm

Bibliography

Include a properly formatted bibliography at the end of your article. For each article, you must use at least four sources of information – Other magazine articles Textbooks Websites (that are credible)