Investigative Reporting – The Triangle Factory Fire
You are taking on the role of an investigative reporter who is
looking in depth into the causes, events, and effects of the
Triangle Factory Fire in 1911. As an investigative reporter, you
need to dig deep into the story to expose what really
happened, what led to it happening, and the true legacy of the
tragedy.
Questions to keep in mind as you research and write…
 What led to this happening?
 What happened that fateful day?
 What were the effects, both immediate and long term, of the fire?
Steps
In news teams…
1. Evaluate and research the evidence online
2. Determine types of investigative articles
that would be of interest in your newspaper
3. Generate an online newspaper with your
group, including illustrations, pictures, and
sources (a bibliography).
4. Submit newspaper to an evaluating team
(another class!) who will award recognition
in Creativity, Investigative Reporting, and
Feature Writing.
Individually…
After Step 2, you will write your own article to be
included in Step 3.
Summary of Requirements
1. An article for your online newspaper:
A 1 ½ to 2 page article on some aspect
of the Triangle fire submitted to your
senior editor (me).
2. Production of an online newspaper:
With your news team (your group),
create an online newspaper. Your
articles will consist of the articles
submitted to me, put together in a
news format.
3. A bibliography or works cited page is
required for your newspaper.
4. Successful, on task collaboration with
your news group (partners) to be
evaluated both by you and by me.
Learning Objective: understand the causes and effects of the Triangle Fire, and its place in our economic history
Skills practiced: internet and print research, analytical writing, use of technology, evaluation of historical data,
collaborative skills
Detailed requirements
Independently…
1. Your proposed article:
This two page article is an article based on the causes, events, and/or consequences of
the Triangle Factory Fire of 1911.
You will be using both primary and secondary sources for your article.
This article should include the following information:
 Quotes from the primary sources you have read – from firsthand accounts,
newspaper articles of the day, etc.
 It should be typed in final form, submitted to me as a proposed article for your
newspaper. As your editor, I’ll give you feedback and editing suggestions.
 Final form means a traditionally formatted paper, with MLA formatting.
 An attached bibliography in MLA format
In your news team…
2. An online newspaper: In your news groups, put together your online newspaper. Use
the models we looked at in class as a pattern to follow. Your complete newspaper
should include the following:





A banner with your newspaper’s name and date
All articles from your news group
Embedded illustrations or photographs
Links for interesting information
A compiled bibliography
Walnut Creek Patch https://walnutcreek.patch.com/
New England Center for Investigative Reporting http://necir.org/
“What is Investigative Journalism?” The News Manual. David Ingram and the Peter Henshall
Estate, 2008. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
http://www.thenewsmanual.net/Manuals%20Volume%202/volume2_39.htm
“Remembering the Fire” Kheel Center http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/
Primary and secondary sources from Gilder Lehrman https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-byera/politics-reform/resources/textile-industry-and-triangle-factory-fire