Macbeth Newspaper Article | Quick Homework Help

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NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: DUNCAN’S MURDER

You will be writing a newspaper article about the murder of King Duncan. Follow each step below.

• Using a Map of Scotland, pick a city and create a name for your newspaper. For example, The Dunsinane Daily Journal (you are NOT allowed to use this example) http://www.scotland.com/maps/

• You must have a headline that includes a “hook” (something that grabs the reader’s attention and practically insists that he or she read the whole story). “King Duncan’s Dead!” is NOT an effective headline. It does nothing to draw the reader in, it simply states a fact. “Duncan Murdered, Macbeth Seizes Throne!” IS an effective headline (and one that you are NOT allowed to use).

• You must include a picture with a caption. Example: a picture of a bloody knife with the caption, “One of the bloody knives found at the scene of the crime. Macbeth, Thane of Cawdor, executed the two men believed to have committed the crime, Duncan’s guardsmen.” Again, you are NOT allowed to use this example (you can have a picture a bloody knife but the caption must be different).

• The key elements of a newspaper report involve Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How (in this case, the “Why” and “How” are not known clearly, so you should include guesses as to the reason(s) for both). Remember you are writing this from the perspective of a reporter. You are reporting speculations only. You are not writing from the perspective of someone who read the play and knows the entire story. You must have a statement (or statements) that details the facts of the murder. You must mention King Duncan, his guards, Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth.

• Remember: only Lady Macbeth and Macbeth know what REALLY happened. Therefore, your article should NOT include facts such as “Macbeth killed Duncan” or “Lady Macbeth smeared Duncan’s blood on the faces of his guardsmen.” Instead you could write something like, “blood was smeared on the guardsmen. Officials are currently testing for finger prints to identify for a lead.” You are reporting on what everyone believes to be the events of the evening.

• The assignment is to be typed, single-spaced, in newspaper-style format (two columns). You must have a minimum of 3 newspaper-style paragraphs of information.

Newspaper Style:

• Your article should be a serious front-page article from a well-respected newspaper like The Philadelphia Inquirer. Your article will detail (in a straightforward manner) almost all of the facts of the murder that were known to the general public. It will professionally address some of the rumors surrounding the murder by using a phrase such as: “A confidential source believes that…”

The language of all articles must be appropriate for school. The inclusion of foul language or other inappropriate material will result in points being deducted from your grade.

The assignment is worth 50 points.

GRADING RUBRIC FOR NEWSPAPER ARTICLE:

THE MURDER OF KING DUNCAN