The Superpower Magazine Project

Statement of inquiry


Overview

Interactions between societies lead to changes in power structures



To conclude our year, you will be creating a digital magazine. This magazine will comprise articles and features related to the United State's rise to superpower status. Articles and features in the magazine may be written in 1st person or 3rd person - we can be creative.

You will choose a topic; your magazine will focus on connecting your topic to the statement of inquiry.

Tools

Use MadMagz to create your digital magazine.

    • Use your Baldwin Gmail account to create the account
    • Use the free template
    • Watch a tutorial to learn how to do this

Document your sources in Noodle Tools, including photos

    • Use MLA in-text citations throughout the magazine
    • Include your bibliography as the last page of your magazine
    • Make sure photographs are rights-free


Details

Content

      1. Must be fact-based
      2. Must be your original creation unless using it as a primary source
      3. Must include at least two primary sources which you use as the basis of an article or feature

For All Articles

      1. Include a byline (By *your name*)
      2. Be typed with Times New Roman or Arial 12-point font
      3. Must relate to your topic
      4. Include photographs or other visuals when applicable

Workflow

      1. Take your notes
      2. Write your articles and create your features in a separate program like Word or Google Docs
      3. Create your content pages first
      4. Add a table of contents
      5. Finally create your cover

For Features (must include at least three)

  1. Comic Strip: A series of drawings that depict an event from history in a humorous way *Include a title for your comic *You must draw pictures, color and have at least 3 boxes *May be a primary source
  2. Advertisement: An announcement for a product used during that time period *May be original or primary source *Should include a price
  3. Crossword: Use 5-8 terms *definitions and the actual crossword chart (lots of online crossword generators)
  4. 10 Fact Questions: Have a trivial section using facts you learned about your decade
  5. Help Wanted: Place ads showing job openings


Superpower Research Topics

Superpower topics

Required Sections (should have at least one article per section) - don't forget you must include 2 primary sources in your magazine somehow

Opinion:

    • Letters to the Editor - a reader writes to express an opinion on your topic
    • Political cartoons - may be original or primary source
    • Editorials - the author writes an article expressing his or her opinion on a particular issue *Include a title that grabs the readers’ attention

News

    • Important historical events - these need to be fact-based
    • How are other countries reacting to what the US is doing?

Personal Interest:

    • Interview - written as a back-and-forth conversation between the magazine and an important person. Could be about the person's life or about something important they did.
    • Obituary - an announcement of the death of an important figure *Include details on who they were and their accomplishments *Title: should include the person’s name followed by the word “Dies” *Picture if available
    • Gossip - who are the celebrities? Who are Americans interested in? And what are they doing?

Features:

Arts & Culture of the time:

        • Fashion - what are people wearing? What is trending?
        • Music - important artists or songs
        • Literature - books, poems, and plays
        • Visual and Performing Arts - works of art, dance, theatre, sculpture

Science & Technology

        • Inventions - what's new?
        • Discoveries - are we finding new things during this time?

Getting Started

Taking Notes

Before beginning work on the magazine you must demonstrate basic knowledge of your topic by taking notes from appropriate sources. You will choose which textbook chapters and/or videos are appropriate. Notes may not come only from videos. The resources below are recommended starting points.

See examples of digital magazines here