Power of the Question
Kelly O’Donnell
Name of lesson: Simple, follow-up, devil’s advocate, power of pause
Suggested grade levels: 6-8 (can be adapted for grades 9-12)
Suggested subjects: Language Arts, Social Studies, Journalism, Humanities, Government
Suggested time allowance: five class periods or sessions
Lesson Overview
In these lessons, several types of question are developed, including: follow-up, the last question, devil’s advocate and hypothetical questions. NBC reporter Kelly O’Donnell shares the fine art of reporting. The topics covered include: recognizing the importance of a pause and the fine art of follow ups, being active and engaged listeners and building a repertoire of thoughtful and powerful questions. This lesson also introduces the importance of preparation and simplistic questions and how blogging and tweeting have changed question asking.
Objectives
Students will:
• Understand the needs for different types of questions
• Demonstrate an understanding of follow-ups, devil’s advocate, simple, hypothetical and last
• Understand the purpose of a pause
• Analyze interview questions
• Determine strategies for developing solid questions
• Evaluate others’ questions and determine which are most effective
• Understand the impact blogging has had on reporters’ questions
Resources/materials
• Chart paper and/or white board
• Online video access w/ speakers
• Overhead or computer projector
• Markers
• Index cards
• Kelly O’Donnell biography
• Kelly O’Donnell video
• Resources websites listed in lessons
Lesson Plan
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lessons created by Y-Press journalists and Indiana teachers for its power-of-the-question project
Copyright 2009 Y-Press