Welcome to Horace Mann Middle School's

You will receive a large 11" X 17" newspaper-sized paper on which you will design a newspaper that tells about events in ancient Rome: 753 B.C. to 476 A.D.

(Actually, a "newspaper" during the Roman era would be on a scroll made of animal skin, not paper. You may format your newspaper as a scroll or as a standard newspaper, however.)

Your newspaper should have these sections:

A. Main Event from History - a report of an actual event (or historical "myth") in the style of a news report.

- Decide on an historical event. Date your newspaper at that time. - You may use B.C.(Before Christ) or B.C.E. (Before the Common Era), or A.D. (Anno Domini) or C.E. (Common Era). You may use Roman calendar dates if you wish: A.U.C. (Year 1 of the Founding of Rome = 753 B.C.); or 1st Year of the Emperor Caligula, for example.

 

Write your newspaper's HEADLINES announcing the news of that event.

Some examples of important events: Choose One or research another:

(These are found on the next page with links to get information on-line.)

 

• Aeneas comes from Troy and Begins a Latin Civilization - circa 1000 B.C.E.
• Romulus Founded Rome on the Palatine Hill 753 B.C.E.
• Taking of the Sabine Women by the Romans circa 750 B.C.E.
• Lucretia Raped! Getting rid of King Tarquin and Starting a Republic 509 B.C.E.
• First Punic War 264 B.C.E. (Rome expanded into Sicily; Rome vs. Carthage)
• Second Punic War 218-202 B.C.E. (Hannibal Attacked the Roman Army)
• Third Punic War 149 - 146 B.C.E. (Carthage was Destroyed)
• Slave Revolt by Spartacus 73 B.C.E.
• Young Julius Caesar and the Pirates (from Plutarch's Lives) 75 B.C.E.
• Julius Caesar and the Conquest of Gaul (58 to 50 B.C.E.)
• Cleopatra and Julius Caesar
• Assassination of Julius Caesar 44 B.C.E. Ides of March (March 15)
• Cleopatra and Mark Anthony
• Battle of Actium and the Death of Marc Anthony and Cleopatra 30 B.C.E.
• Beginning of Roman Empire & Pax Romana by Octavian Caesar Augustus after 27 C.E.
• Birth of Jesus (Coming soon)
• Death of Jesus (Coming soon)
• Crazy Emperor Caligula Assassinated by his Body Guard 41 C.E.
• Saul of Tarsus Converts to Christianity and Spreads the Gosple c. 48 C.E.
• Rome Burned as Nero was Emperor - Christians Blamed for the Fire 64 C.E.
• Romans Take Over Jerusalem and Kick Out the Jews 70 C.E. (coming soon)
• Jewish Resistance Fighters Battle the Roman Army from Mt. Masada 73 C.E. - All Die (coming soon)
• Pompeii Buried by Vesuvius Eruption 79 C.E.
• Emperor Hadrian Built a Wall in England to Keep Out Northern Barbarians (begun in 122 C.E.)
• Caracalla Suspected of Killing His Own Father and Brother! 211 C.E.
• Constantine becomes Christian, then emperor- "In this sign you will conquer" 312 C.E.
• Council of Nicaea - Is Jesus God or Man? Bishops Debate 325 C.E.
• Constantine Moved Capital Out of Italy to Constantinople - "Rome of the East" 330 C.E.
• Alaric, a Barbarian, Takes Rome Hostage! 410 C.E.
• Atilla the Hun 451 C.E.
• Barbarians Invade: Vandals Destroy Rome 455 C.E.
• Fall of the Roman Empire - 476 C.E. (In Progress)
• Empress Theodora Saves the Byzantine Empire (While her Husband was about to Run) 532 C.E.

Or you may choose any other events in Roman history that we have studied.

Grading Criteria:

Style:

• Written as if by a reporter: the first paragraph will tell basic information about the event: what happened, when, where, who? Other paragraphs will give details. More paragraphs will give background information.
• May include interviews and descriptions by eye-witnesses of the event
• No copying from other sources! Use your own words.

Content:

• Answers important questions: What-where-when-how-why-why important?
• Accurate to the time and events.
• Well researched and presents good information

B. Editorial and Letter to the Editor

This part should show two different points of view about the event from page one. One article should be in favor of what happened in the main news, the other should be against what happened.

Editorial - As the editor of the newspaper give an opinion about the news event. Back up the opinion with examples of why you take that side of the argument.

Letter to the Editor: (Dear Editor: )

Write a letter showing the other side of the argument. Give reasons for your opinion. You may give suggestions to improve the situation. Identify yourself in your letter. (You may be an actual person; you may be an eye-witness. You may say if you are a patrician (rich), plebeian (common person), slave, senator, or Christian who has an opinion about the event.)

Grading Criteria for editorial and letter to the editor:

• There is a relationship to controversy in the news (from part one)
• The letter and editorial state a definite point of view and gives an opinion
• The letter and editorial give specific reasons or details to back up the point of view.

C. Sports or Entertainment Section

Do one of the following:

1. Prepare an Advertisement for entertainment (gladiatorial combats at the Colosseum, chariot race at the Circus Maximus, a play at a theater, opening of a bath house, etc.)

Describe what goes on there in detail.

Give an opinion about the place and try to convince the readers to go there (or to stay away from there if you don't like it).

Tell when the next event will be, where it is, and how much it will cost to get in. (Remember: Many of these events were free to Roman citizens as part of "Bread and Circuses".)

-or-

2. Prepare an Entertainment Review Describe a form of entertainment that you saw (such as gladiatorial combats at the Colosseum, chariot race at the Circus Maximus, a play at a theater, the opening of a new bath house, etc.)

As an "entertainment critic" do you recommend it to the audience? (Do you give it "thumbs up" - which means let it live - or "thumbs down" - which means let it die!)

Give details (where, when, who was there); reasons for your recommendation or condemnation (was it exciting, bloody, costumes, acting or lots of action, etc.)

Grading Criteria:

• Does it have a detailed description of entertainment that is accurate according to the time period?
• Does it give an opinion based on criteria with specific examples ?
• Does it give reasons to go or not to go?

D. Want Ads - Two Items for Sale (Advertisements or Classified Ads)

Try to sell some things through the newspaper. Choose authentic ancient Roman items that would be sold in a market: clothing, slave, chariot, food, household item such as an oil lamp or couch for dining, home or villa, etc. Describe the item well. How can the item be used? What's so good about it?

Grading Criteria:

• Does the ad describe the items for sale including use, value, and why a good deal
• Does it tell the cost?
• Does it tell where it can be purchased?
• Does the ad try to convince the reader to buy it? (Such as: Is it a good deal? Is everyone else using it? Does a celebrity endorse it? Does it appeal to a certain class or occupation?)

E. Soothsayer's Prediction - Predictions of the Future

Give a prediction of your own based on certain omens! Give details telling how you learned the gods' will. (Did you sacrifice, open an animal to see the patterns on the intestines or liver, watch the flight of birds, or watch how the sacred chickens ate?)

Grading Criteria:

• Does the prediction tell or an event ? (It may be a real event in history, or something that never happened.)
• Does the prediction tell how the soothsayer determined the future?

F. Optional newspaper articles for extra credit:

Advice column (like "Dear Abby", but perhaps "Dear Venus" - or "Dear Hera")

Comic Strip or Cartoon;

Obituary (report on life/death of a Roman);

Weather report (Remember that the Romans believed weather/seasons were determined by gods. Who threw thunderbolts, caused a stormy sea, etc.?)