8th Grade Social Studies Culminating Activity
Overview: In this assignment you will be required to demonstrate your understanding of the major topics
covered in second semester social studies. This assignment will be worth 100 points and will serve as your
final exam. You will be given approximately two weeks in class to work on the assignment but
the final product will need to be completed at home.
Objective: Use your knowledge of U.S. history to replicate a Union
newspaper that represents the events leading up to, the causes of, and the
significant events of the U.S. Civil War.
Process: You will create: articles, charts, maps, and letters to the editor to demonstrate
your understanding of the events. You may use your knowledge, workbooks, textbooks, and
online research to help you. You may work with your classmates on the research but you must
do your OWN writing. Each student will be required to turn in an original assignment.
Plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment and a referral to administration.
Directions: For each of the six chapters below, complete the task. When you are done with your
research, create a final version for each chapter and organize the information on a sheet of
12” x 18”construction paper.
Chapter 7 Divergent Paths:
o
In the form of an article, summarize the impact the Industrial Revolution had on the Northern
states and explain the Southern economy and its dependency on slave labor. Key words:
urbanization, factory, immigration, slavery, cotton gin, plantations, cash crops
Chapter 8 The Fight Against Slavery:
o
Using an Editorial format, describe the ways in which people took part in the
abolition movement. Include notable participants and their roles. Key words:
abolition
Chapter 9 Conflict with Mexico:
o
In the form of an article, explain the differing view on potential war with Mexico. Summarize
how the war began. Explain the impact the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had on achieving
Manifest Destiny. Key words: Manifest Destiny, President Polk, Mexican Cession
Chapter 10 Failed Compromises:
o
Recreate this chart and fill in the appropriate information. This
chart will be used in your newspaper to illustrate how compromises failed to
prevent the Civil War.
Name
Missouri
Compromise
Year
Failed Compromises Chart
What it said…
Why needed…
Why failed…
Wilmot Proviso
Compromise of
1850
Kansas-Nebraska
Act
Chapter 11 Decisive Battles:
Create a timeline that lists the: names, dates, and significance of the
following battles/events. Make sure you put your chart in chronological
order. Your chart does not need to be in complete sentences.
o Ft. Sumter / Shilo / Sharpsburg-Antietam / Gettysburg / Sherman’s March
o
to the Sea / Appomattox / Assassination of Lincoln
Chapter 12 Reconstruction (Amendments, Life of Free Blacks):
o
#1 In the form of a Letter to the Editor, comment on the amendments added to the
Constitution at the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War.
o
#2 Create a fictitious biography that describes what life was like in the South, for former
slaves, after the Civil War. Key words: Freedmen, Jim Crow Laws, Sharecropping
Areas of Interest:
o
Your final project must include of the following: original political cartoon or cartoon strip, 1
additional Letter to the Editor, 1 map, 2 advertisements (original products only), and an original
title for your newspaper (including a byline).
RUBRIC: Attach this page to your final project.
Name _______________________________________________________________________________ Per __________
10
Section thoroughly
answers all of the
prompts.
7
5
Section answers most of
the prompts but lacks
details and thoroughness.
Writing is related to, but
does not attempt to
answer the prompt.
Writing is unrelated to
the prompts or is
missing.
Details are given and wellorganized.
Writing is done in
student’s own thoughts.
Writing is too similar to
reference material and is
not in student’s own
words.
Writing is plagiarized
from a reference
material.
Writing is done in
student’s own thoughts.
0
Chapter 7 Divergent Paths: In the form of an article, summarize the impact the Industrial Revolution
had on the Northern states and explain the Southern economy and its dependency on slave labor.
10
10
10
7
7
7
5
5
5
0
0
0
Chapter 8 The Fight Against Slavery: Using an Editorial format, describe the ways in which people took
part in the abolition movement. Include notable participants and their roles.
10
10
10
7
7
7
5
5
5
0
0
0
Chapter 9 Conflict with Mexico: In the form of an article, explain the differing view on potential war
with Mexico. Summarize how the war began. Explain the impact the Treaty of Guadalupe had on
achieving Manifest Destiny.
10
10
10
7
7
7
5
5
5
0
0
0
Chapter 10 Failed Compromises: Recreate this chart and fill in the appropriate information. This chart
will be used in your newspaper to illustrate how compromises failed to prevent the Civil War.
10
10
10
7
7
7
5
5
5
0
0
0
Chapter 11 Decisive Battles: Create a timeline that lists the: names, dates, and significance of the
following battles/events. Make sure you put your chart in chronological order. Your chart does not need
to be in complete sentences. Ft. Sumter / Shilo / Sharpsburg / Antietam / Gettysburg / Sherman’s
March to the Sea / Appomattox / Assassination of Lincoln
10
10
10
7
7
7
5
5
5
0
0
0
Chapter 12 Reconstruction (Amendments, Life of Free Blacks): #1 In the form of a Letter to the
Editor, comment on the amendments added to the Constitution at the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War.
#2 Create a fictitious biography that describes what life was like in the South, for former slaves,
after the Civil War.
10
10
10
7
7
7
5
5
5
0
0
0
Areas of Interest: Your final project must include of the following: original political cartoon or cartoon
strip, 1 additional Letter to the Editor, 1 map, 2 advertisements (original products only), and an original
title for your newspaper (including a byline).
10
10
10
7
7
7
5
5
5
0
0
0
10
Layout/Grammar/Attractiveness:
Newspaper is neat, and
looks well-prepared.
All sections are legible
and clearly identifiable.
It is evident that the
student took time to
assemble.
It is free of grammatical
errors that distract the
reader.
Student used up most
available space on paper.
7
5
Newspaper is organized.
Most sections are
identifiable.
There are several
grammatical errors that
distract the reader.
The student failed to use
up most available space
on the project.
Adequate effort was put
into project.
0
Newspaper is
disorganized and lacking
identifiable sections.
Newspaper is most
illegible.
There are numerous
grammatical errors that
distract the reader.
Sections are
unidentifiable and
contain significant
grammatical errors.
Student did not layout
the project effectively.
Sections are
disorganized.
Little time and effort
was put into project.
Student seems to have
put much time and effort
into the project.
10
10
10
7
7
7
5
5
5
0
0
0
Peer Evaluation #1…..Total Score ____________ / 80
Peer Evaluation #2….Total Score ____________ / 80
Peer Evaluation #3….Total Score ____________ / 80
Self-Evaluation………..Total Score ____________ / 80
This section is for teacher use only.
10
7
5
Student used 90% or
more of classroom time
effectively.
Student used 70% or
more of classroom time
effectively.
Student used 50% or
more of classroom time
effectively.
Student was not a
distraction to classmates.
Student was at times a
distraction to classmates.
Student was often a
distraction to classmates.
When not working on the
assignment, student made
valuable use of time.
When not working on the
assignment, student made
valuable use of time.
When not working on the
assignment, student made
poor use of time.
0
Student rarely worked on
the assignment in class.
Student was unprepared
and was a distraction to
classmates.
Teacher Evaluation………..Total Score ____________ / 90
Name _______________________________________ Period _______
Self-Reflection: Answer the following journal questions in complete sentences. (10pts)
10
Self-Reflection
Student wrote
thoughtfully about
his/her work on this
project.
Writing reflects both
strengths and
weaknesses.
Free of serious
grammatical errors.
1.
7
Student fully completed
self-reflection but did
not write in details.
Writing may be missing
either strengths or
weaknesses.
May contain minor
grammatical errors.
5
0
Student wrote a
reflection but does not
specifically list strengths
or weaknesses.
Self-reflection is missing
or unrelated to the
assignment.
Has several grammatical
errors that distract the
reader.
Has significant
grammatical errors that
distract the reader.
Describe one thing you were most surprised to learn about second semester.
2. Think about the work it took to complete this assignment. What did you do well that helped you complete
it? What is one area in which you could have performed better? Explain how you would improve this area.