What issues did Muckrakers expose and how did they bring about reform? Becoming a Muckraker What issues did Muckrakers expose and how did they bring about reform?

You will be taking on the role of a muckraker to investigate growing issues and concerns in Progressive Era America. You will be investigating primary source “field sites” making careful notes about what you find. You will then choose one problem to write an investigative report about for a Progressive Era newspaper.

“We wuz six, and we ain’t got no father. Some on us had to go.”

“I'm not old enough to work, but do just the same.”

Introduction Use the interesting details in your notebook to put your readers into your field site photograph. If the picture was a movie and we pressed play what would you see, hear, experience? Be descriptive and use emotional writing to draw readers in. Ask questions Describe your role as a muckraker – what were their jobs?

Back Alley Princes Sara Gabehart: staff reporter June 6th, 1911 Destitute and alone, these young boys sleep wherever they can in the rotten-smelling alleys of the city. Taking shelter on the steps of a butcher shop, a gang of three boys, ages ranging from nine to twelve, try to stick together when the gloom of night starts to settle on the city. A warm summer wind blows debris against the stoop to cover their thin bodies in a blanket of trash by morning. Who are these young urchins? Where are their parents? Over the course of three months this reporter followed these extraordinary children to bring you this expose on the secret lives of Chicago’s “Back Alley Princes”.

Body Paragraphs Body Paragraph 1: Body Paragraph 2: Describe your problem in general/informational language. (Like a textbook) Statistics? Facts? Use the quote from your field site. Body Paragraph 2: Why is this a problem? What would the long term results be? Why should your readers care?

Conclusion What are some of the ways Progressives are trying to fix this problem? What laws, programs or amendments might help with this issue? How can your readers get involved? What can they do?