Interview Assignment

Your task is to write an 800-1000 word essay, incorporating information you learn from an interview. You will be graded on your ability to accurately write up the information, compose a coherent, organized essay, sufficiently develop your points, engage your reader and produce a basically grammatically and mechanically correct essay.

1. Find a topic of interest to you.

2. Decide what it is you want to know about this topic.

3. If you do not have a sufficient background in this topic, do a little research before your interview.

 4. Find a person who can provide you with the information you seek (check the handout for all the points related to this step).

5. Write up what you discover.

Tips

1. I do not want an essay that gives your question, then the answer. Next question, answer. Next question, answer, etc.

2. Your introduction should focus on the topic-what is it you were wanting to know? Your thesis should be a summary of what you found out.

3. Be sure to introduce your interviewee. Who is this person? Why was this person selected for your interview? What level of expert knowledge does this person possess? What position, if it's relevant, does this person hold? Give any other relevant details.

4. In organizing your essay, you need to consider what type of information you have. For example, for interviewing a professor about a career in sociology, your essay might be organized in sections-what sociology is, how one becomes a sociologist, why one would want to be a sociologist, what life is like at UCA as a professor of sociology, the negative aspects of being a professor of sociology and perhaps finally, how this interview has affected your decision to become a sociologist.

5. Check the flow. You need to get smoothly from one section to the next.

6. Your voice will be heard. You can comment on any aspect of the interview, describe what you learned, tell me how it has affected your thoughts or behaviors.

7. Use a direct quote or two. Adds some dramatic flair and gives you a device to add some variety to your writing.

Bring in your rough draft on September 25.

Final draft due September 27 along with your rough draft and peer comments.