Introduction
Hello and Welcome to your first day in travel magazine!
The bosses up top have picked you and your friend to investigate and write an article about the Lone star state (Texas). The tourism authority of the state requested this article since they want to bolster the tourism that goes there from Panama. Therefore, it is up to you and your partner to make the Lone Star State shine in the eyes of people. We encourage you to talk about the history, culture and interesting places to visit. In addition, highlight the fact that Texas is one of the United States’ most successful State in economical and other terms in order to make it even more interesting for the readers.
Task
You and your partner have been selected to create this article. The article has to be enticing for the tourist but it also has to talk about the culture and history of Texas so the tourist get the full package of knowing why this state is so amazing. Since this will take a while, you will divide the article into four tasks in order to make it easy for you. Before we publish the article you have to make a presentation for us about the article and why Texas is interesting to see if we can publish what you have.
Task 1: History of Texas
Task 2: Culture in Texas
Task 3: Interesting Places and the explanation of why is Texas a succesful state
Task 4: Telling Panamanians why Texas is a place to visit
Process
Since you are working in groups of two and we need this piece to be a collaborative contribution. You will divide the work in the following manner. Task one and two for one of you and then task three for the other. Meanwhile task four will be a combined effort of the group since you need each other information in order to make an enticing article and presentation.
Task 1
For task one we want to know about the history of Texas, how did this piece of land become a state of the United States. We want to know what happened before it became part of the union. It relationship with other nations. What battles took place in here. Why it is that Texan are so proud of their rich history. Here are some links that will help you investigate this topic a little better.
http://www.history.com/topics/us-states/texas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas
http://www.infoplease.com/us-states/texas.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Texas
Task 2
For task two, we want to know a little more about Texas culture. Why it is that there is such different cultures in this state. How is the Texan way of living. What traditions Texans hold dear and what sport do Texans love above all others. In these sites you will finds some interesting information to help you with that.
http://www.texasalmanac.com/topics/culture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Texas
http://www.texassegp.org/texas-culture-and-way-of-living.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g28964-s202/Texas:United-States:Culture.html
Task 3
For task three, we want to get a hold of what touristic places we can find in Texas. Why are they interesting? What is important about these places? In addition, we want to know why it is said that Texas is one of the most successful states in the USA. Is it because of their economy, their way of living? Here you can find valuable information that will help you with this task.
Interesting Texan places
http://www.attractionsofamerica.com/attractions/texas.php#.VGbHIjSG-z8
http://www.traveltex.com/things-to-do/
http://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/exciting-texas/
http://keranews.org/post/here-are-39-things-you-should-do-texas-you-die
http://www.allacrosstexas.com/
Succes of Texas as a state
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2010/04/lone_star.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22649624
Task 4
For task four you have to get together to share the information each of you have, in order to create a compelling and interesting story that speak to the Panamanian people of why they should visit the state of Texas. Why it is said is so great and interesting. Remember this task is the most important one since in here you are going to deliver the article and the presentation to us to see if we publish your findings. The presentation have to display the information previously gather in the research of the other tasks. Also, remember that when you write your article you have to include said information additionally to why Texas can be an interesting place to visit for a Panamanian. 
Evaluation
This activity will be evaluted over the presentation that must have a slide show and last at least 10 minutes and also the article that must include information from the four tasks.
| Article Rubric | Acommplished 35 | Developing 15 | Beginning 0 | Score 100 |
| Content | The information depicted in the article includes the things required in the tasks and is presented in a coherent way. | The information depicted in the article includes some of the things required in the tasks and is presented in a coherent way. | The information depicted in the article includes little to anything required in the tasks and is presented in a chaotic way. | |
| Grammar |
Excellent punctuation and proper use of grammar (verbal tenses, noun clauses, adjectives, spelling etc.) |
Regular punctuacion and proper use of grammar (verbal tenses, noun clauses, adjectives, spelling etc.) | Bad punctuation and misuse of grammar (verbal tenses, noun clauses, adjectives, spelling etc.) |
| Presentation Rubric. | Accomplished 15 | Developing 10 | Beginning 0 | Score 100 |
| Content | The information depicted in the presentation includes the things required in the tasks and is presented in a coherent way. | The information depicted in the presentation includes some of the things required in the tasks and is presented in a coherent way. | The information depicted in the presentation includes little to anything required in the tasks and is presented in a chaotic way. | |
| Slides | The slides are well done and include pictures to support the information that is being shared. |
The slides are well done but they do not necessarily support the information that is being shared. |
The slides are poorly done and do not support the information that is being shared. | |
| Team Work | Worked well with your partner. | Generally coperated with your partner. | No cooperation between the partners | |
| Time management | The presentation lasted 10 minutes or more | The presentation lasted between 8 and 5 minutes | The presentation lasted less than 5 minutes |
Conclusion
Congratulations! Your article was excellent and Panamanians are flowing in flock to visit Texas. I hope you have enjoyed doing this research and have learn a lot about this beautiful state and its history. Your article was so amazing that the big bosses are thinking of giving you many other interesting assignments in the months to come. So I hope you’ll be ready for your next assignment.
Credits
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2010/04/lone_star.html
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/sunday-commentary/20130426-erica-grieder-texas-low-taxes-low-se
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/business/big-hot-cheap-and-right-a-new-look-at-texas-review.html?_r=0rvices-success.ece
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22649624
http://www.history.com/topics/us-states/texas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas
http://www.infoplease.com/us-states/texas.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Texas
http://www.texasalmanac.com/topics/culture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Texas
http://www.texassegp.org/texas-culture-and-way-of-living.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g28964-s202/Texas:United-States:Culture.html
http://www.attractionsofamerica.com/attractions/texas.php#.VGbHIjSG-z8
http://www.traveltex.com/things-to-do/
http://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/exciting-texas/
http://keranews.org/post/here-are-39-things-you-should-do-texas-you-die
http://www.allacrosstexas.com/
Teacher Page
This web quest is about Texas. students are put in pairs and then do research about the state in order to learn about it and create a fictional article about it in order to entice other to travel there. Since this activity requires the making of an article and a presentation and it requires researching a lot of information, you have to give at least two weeks to the students to do it. I feel the activity can be applied to any part in the world as a way to knowing more about a definite location in which you or your students have any interest. In addition, it helps the students to think based on the information in how to persuade other people to travel to that location.
If you have any question about it please feel free to ask. I will gladly try to answer it in the shortest time possible
Fernando Garcia
E-Mail address: fernandojosegarcia@yahoo.com[img_assist|nid=18545|title=me|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=33554433|height=33554433]