Assignments

1. Research Assignment: Locate and read at least one printed question and answer (Q & A) interview in a popular magazine, a literary journal, or a scholarly journal. Photocopy the interview to include with your final portfolio. Read the appropriate pages on conducting an interview in SFH.

2.Writing Assignment: Draft and revise your second set of topic proposals (minimum of two, maximum of four: 1-2 pages, 500 words each). Use each proposal to write up your plans to conduct an interview (30-60 minutes) with a person of interest.Your subjects can include family members, a professional or co-worker, a peer or friend, someone with a special skill or disability, a stranger or campus visitor, a prisoner or police officer, someone with a disease or special skill. . . .

• Prewriting and Preliminary Research : Be sure to brainstorm a list with plenty of potential subjects upon whom you can rely to cooperate with your project.
  • In addition, use your brainstorming sessions to make notes in anticipation of writing your two topic proposals.
  • Compile a list with contact information for each of your potential interview subjects that includes a snail mail address, telephone, and email.
  • I’ll be collecting your notes.
• Prewriting and Drafting Your Topic Proposals
  • Generate a list of at least a dozen original custom-made questions for each person you plan to interview. Focus these questions on a particular theme.
  • Ask questions that require thoughtful responses. Avoid questions your subject can answer in a few words (like "yes" and "no").
  • Write a paragraph describing your relationship to the person you intend to interview. Include an anecdote.
  • Write several more paragraphs describing the person. Include a physical description as well as personality traits and personal values.
  • If appropriate, write a short biographical paragraph.
  • List your credentials for conducting the interview.
  • Where would you propose the interview take place and when?
  • Create a timeline you can follow and reserve plenty of time for transcribing and editing the interview into a Q and A format.
  • Remember that you will also be including photos in your interview. Plan to arrive early and avoid taking photos while interviewing your subject. Instead, if necessary, arrange for a talented friend to take photos for you.
• Use the activities above to practice various modes of organization including narration, description, classification, and definition. Include at least one direct quotation in your final draft. I may ask to see your notes and your timeline.
• Turn in the final drafts of your topic proposals formatted in MLA style and attatch your questions to the proposals.

3. Conduct, transcribe, edit, proofread, and publish one live oral interview

whether that means taking notes by hand while on the telephone or recording the interview live and in person with a tape recorder or video camera. I will want to see all phases—from raw transcription to final draft—of this interview. I may also ask to view your original document or listen to your recording.

• Submit your drafts to your group for peer reviews and comments and revise accordingly.
• Design your document. Caption and size all photographs.
• Format the interview in MLA style.
• Make sure your subject signs a release form.
• Write a thank you or follow up letter.
• Submit two copies of your final drafts. Place one copy in a plain file folder along with any other materials I call for (notes, recordings, etc.). Place the other copy on reserve in the library.