Using Interviews in Writing

Part 1:
What will the topic of your article be? List three different ideas that you would like to write about. Tell me what each idea is, and why you want to write about it. You should have at least 50 words to describe each topic. Once a topic has been accepted you may move on to part 2.

Part 2:
Now that your topic has been accepted, whom do you plan to interview? What is their connection to the topic? Try to find at least 3 people to interview for the topic you’ve selected. What are the questions that you plan on asking? Submit the names of who you plan to interview, their relationship to the topic you’re writing about, and a list of at least 10 interview questions for approval. Once this has been accepted you may move on to part 3.

Part 3:
Send out your interviews, and then use the answers to write your article. Be sure to include your introduction, thesis, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion. Your essay should be at least 600 words in length. It is a good idea to have at least one quotation from your interview in each supporting paragraph.

See the example of a body paragraph below to help you craft your body paragraphs to include quotation(s).

[Topic sentence] For some people, reading is a necessary escape, while for others, it is a way to be sure to earn a paycheck. [introduction of speaker] Kate, a 16 year old from Madison, Wisconsin shared that reading is how she gets to spend a few hours each week away from home. [Quotation from interview] She explains, “I really love reading because it takes me away from Madison. Just last week, I was in Puerto Rico, Italy, and Washington, D.C. because of the books I was reading. It was magical!” [Analysis of quotation] It is clear to see that Kate uses reading as a way to see the world no matter where she is. [Introduction of second speaker] Dan, a 30 year old mechanic doesn’t feel the same way about reading. He mentions, “I read because I had to. My job requires it. It is not some way for me to pretend I am somewhere else. It is how I feed my family.” [Analysis of quotation] For Dan, it is not for pleasure that he reads. It is for an income. [Conclusion tying back to topic sentence] These two could not be more different in their feelings about reading as well as the purposes of why they both read.

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