An example of journalistic research at work

Scenario

You are a senior at an urban high school, and you hear word from parents that freshman biology students have been assigned a PowerPoint presentation that appears to support creationism. Some parents and students have complained to the school that the lesson was inappropriate for a science class at a public high school. When you try to interview the teacher of the class, he declines to comment saying only that he was not teaching creationism and that he downloaded the PowerPoint presentation from the district website of approved lesson plans. 

PART ONE -- How would you try to research and report this story if it were assigned to you?

Using what you know about the various types of journalistic research, think about how you might gain background information and reliable information to report the story. Write a paragraph (5-6 sentences) explaining how you might research this story. What types of sources would be most helpful? Who would you try to interview? What primary sources (people and or documents) would you try to obtain and include? Are there any secondary sources that might be helpful?

Post the paragraph explaining your research plan to your blog (use the header RESEARCH SCENARIO, PART 1)

PART TWO -- Evaluate how one student reporter did when they reported this story.

Read the story you'll find at this link: http://thesoutherneronline.com/frontpage/?p=57108

Note the sources found throughout the article. Use your list of the types of journalistic research to consider which types are included in the article, then consider whether or not you think the reporter did a good job of covering the story. What sources in the article do you find the most valid/reliable? Explain why. 

Post your response (a well-developed paragraph) to your blog (use the header RESEARCH SCENARIO, PART 2).