Oregon Trail

In the early 1800’s many people traveled west to start a new life. The Oregon Trail was not always a safe trip. Many important decisions needed to be made to survive. You are a writer for a newspaper in Boston. Your task is to brave the elements and take the trip to Oregon Country. Then write a story for your newspaper. In your story you are to list the supplies needed, the dangers you faced, the time it took you to travel, the locations you traveled, and any other things important to your journey. Also make a title for you journey, with your name at the bottom. As a newspaper writer you should either write for people traveling the trail or against people traveling the trail.

In the journal you should have:

1. Time period of the trip

2. The more important events that took place

3. Important decisions to be made

4. A map showing the route you took

Reason for taking the journey or avoiding the journey

CATEGORY		4			3		2	1
Articles - Interest		The articles contain facts, figures, and/or word choices that make the articles exceptionally interesting to readers.			The articles contain facts, figures, and/or word choices that make the articles interesting to readers.		The article contains some facts or figures but is marginally interesting to read.	The article does not contain facts or figures that might make it interesting to read.
Articles – Purpose, written as persuasive not just here is what I did		90-100% of the articles establish whether the trip should be taken. After reading the article I clearly know whether I should take the trip or not.			85-89% of the articles establish a whether the trip should be taken. After reading the article I clearly know whether I should take the trip or not.		75-84% of the articles establish a whether the trip should be taken. After reading the article I clearly know whether I should take the trip or not..	Less than 75% of the articles establish whether the trip should be taken. After reading the article I clearly know whether I should take the trip or not.
Spelling and Proofreading		No spelling or grammar errors remain after one or more people (in addition to the typist) read and correct the newspaper.			No more than a couple of spelling or grammar errors remain after one or more people (in addition to the typist) read and correct the newspaper.		No more than 3 spelling or grammar errors remain after one or more people (in addition to the typist) read and correct the newspaper.	Several spelling or grammar errors remain in the final copy of the newspaper.
Requirements	All of the requirements (# of pages, map is completed and neat, etc.) were met.			Almost all (about 90%) the written requirements were met and map is completed			Most (about 75%) of the written requirements were met, but map was done sloppy.		Many requirements were not
Content Accuracy	The article contains at least 5 accurate events of the trip		The article contains 3-4 accurate events of the trip			The article contains 1-2 accurate events of the trip		The article contains no accurate events of the trip
Accuracy of Historical Facts	All facts presented in the story are accurate to the time period		Almost all facts presented in the story are accurate to the time period.			Most facts presented in the story are accurate (at least 70%).		There are several factual errors in the story.