This lesson plan is designed to give investigative journalists a checklist of the main areas of research needed in order to carry out a successful investigation.
It’s based on the article ‘Compiling an investigative journalism dossier‘ by Don Ray, which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.
Learning objective
Students will compile a comprehensive investigative journalism dossier by identifying and organising essential information through a structured checklist. They will evaluate the accuracy and relevance of gathered data to ensure a disciplined and precise approach to investigative reporting.
- Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson the student will be able to create a detailed dossier for investigative journalism, using a checklist to gather and verify important information accurately.
- Standards: The student planning a piece of investigative journalism will learn about the essential steps needed in compiling a comprehensive dossier to map their research and fact-finding.
Learning activities
Warm-up
- Begin with a brief discussion on the importance of organisation in investigative journalism.
- Ask students to think about a time when they had to gather information for a project or report.
- Prompt them with questions like: “What steps did you take to ensure you had all the necessary information?” and “How did you verify the accuracy of your information?”
Activity
- Present a simple scenario where students must gather information about a fictional character.
- Provide basic details such as name, age, and occupation.
- Ask students to brainstorm a list of potential sources they could use to gather more information about this character, such as public records, interviews, or online searches.
- Conclude by having students share their ideas and discuss the importance of using multiple sources to verify information.
- This will activate their prior knowledge and prepare them for the lesson on compiling an investigative journalism dossier.
Direct instruction
- Introduce the dossier checklist:
- Present the investigative journalism dossier checklist.
- Explain its purpose in organising and verifying information.
- Highlight key components: identifying individuals, locating them, reviewing existing literature, checking public records, and verifying credentials.
- Use a real example, such as a well-known investigative report, to illustrate how a dossier was crucial in the investigation.
- Demonstrate information gathering:
- Walk through a hypothetical scenario where students must compile a dossier on a public figure.
- Model the process of gathering information using the checklist. For instance, demonstrate how to verify a person’s identity using public records or how to locate their residence using online directories.
- Emphasise the importance of cross-referencing multiple sources to ensure accuracy.
- Analyse a case study:
- Provide a brief case study of a successful investigative journalism piece.
- Break down how the journalist used a dossier to organise their research.
- Discuss the steps taken to verify facts and the impact of thorough documentation on the story’s credibility.
- Encourage students to identify which checklist items were most critical in the case study and why.
Guided practice
Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a structured practice activity using the dossier checklist.
- Think:
- Ask students to individually select a public figure or fictional character.
- Have them use the checklist to identify key information they would need to compile a dossier.
- Pair:
- In pairs, students share their selected figure and discuss the information they identified.
- Encourage them to compare their approaches and suggest additional sources or methods for gathering information.
- Share:
- Facilitate a class discussion where pairs present one key insight or strategy they discovered.
- Encourage students to reflect on the importance of cross-referencing and verifying information.
- Monitor:
- Circulate the room during pair discussions, offering guidance and ensuring students are using the checklist effectively.
- Provide feedback on their strategies and suggest improvements where necessary.
- Connect:
- Conclude by connecting the activity to real-world investigative journalism.
- Highlight how the skills practiced are essential for creating a comprehensive and accurate dossier.
Independent practice
- Dossier compilation exercise:
- Assign students the task of compiling a mini-dossier on a public figure or fictional character of their choice.
- Provide them with a simplified version of the dossier checklist to guide their research.
- Encourage them to use at least three different sources to gather information and verify facts.
- Reflection and self-assessment:
- After completing the dossier, have students reflect on their process.
- Ask them to write a brief self-assessment addressing the following questions:
- What challenges did you encounter while gathering information?
- How did you ensure the accuracy of your data?
- Which sources were most valuable, and why?
- Peer review:
- Pair students to exchange dossiers and provide feedback on each other’s work.
- Encourage them to focus on the thoroughness of the research and the accuracy of the information.
Assignment
Ask students these questions:
- What is one key step in compiling an investigative journalism dossier?
- Why is it important to use multiple sources when gathering information for a dossier?
- What’s one question you still have from today’s lesson?
Suggested answers:
- Suggested answer to Question 1: Identifying and verifying the individual’s identity.
- Suggested answer to Question 2: To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information collected.
Teacher resources
Differentiation guide
- Advanced learners:
- Encourage deeper analysis by having them explore additional sources, such as international databases or specialised industry records.
- Challenge them to identify potential biases in sources and discuss how these might affect the dossier’s credibility.
- Striving learners:
- Simplify the checklist by focusing on fewer, more accessible sources.
- Provide structured templates to guide their research process.
- Pair them with peers for collaborative work, ensuring they receive support in identifying and verifying information.
- Recommended reading: This lesson plan based on the article ‘Compiling an investigative journalism dossier‘ by Don Ray, which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.
Notable definitions
- Dossier: A collection of documents or information about a particular person or subject, used in investigative journalism to organise and verify facts.
- Cross-referencing: The process of checking information from multiple sources to ensure accuracy and consistency in a dossier.
- Public records: Official documents or pieces of information that are not considered confidential and are available for public access, often used in investigative journalism to gather verified data.
Required materials
- Computers: For online research and accessing public records.
- Printed dossier checklist: Simplified version for student use.
- Notebooks or digital note-taking tools: For organising gathered information.
- Access to public records databases: If available, for practical exercises.
- Case study handouts: For analysing real-world examples.
- Peer review forms: To guide feedback during the peer review process.
Lesson summary
- Warm-up
- Direct instruction
- Guided practice
- Independent practice
- Assignment
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
