An interview article is a student’s way of reporting on something that interests them. It’s a kind of narrative, not just a list of answers to questions.
The writer may discuss the process of getting the information, and then quote what the interviewee had to say about it. Or the interviewer might do all the talking; interviews often go that way because the people being interviewed are experts on their subject or because they are busy.
But in either case, the interview should not be a simple Q&A transcript; instead, it is an opportunity to turn a real conversation into a clear, organized, engaging piece of writing. In my classes, I work with students as pairs, so when I was pairing up with another classmate to try out these new techniques, we chose Mary Fowler as our interview partner.
Preparing for the interview
Before you begin your interview, you need to decide who to interview and why. If possible, pick someone who is familiar to you or has a close relationship to you. That will make it easier to get the information you want.
But before you start the interview, research the subject area enough to know what sources you can approach and what to ask them. Think through the subject from different angles. What would you want to know if you were going to write about this topic? Ask yourself the question starters: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
Once you have an idea of what you’d like to talk about, you’re ready to start your interview.
Conducting the interview
When starting an interview, remember that it’s important to keep your conversation moving forward. Begin by asking a broad topic sentence question such as, “Tell me about a game you played when you were in 2nd grade.”
As you move through the interview, don’t jump from one subject to another. Keep your eye on the main topic and follow up with specifics. For instance, if your opening question is about a favorite childhood game, ask next, “Who did you play with?”
One way to open your interview is to use a feature opener—like those you see in magazines—and frame your story with that. Instead of saying, “Tell me about a game you played when you were in 2nd grade,” you might say, “Why is this thing important?” or “Why did you want to study this in the first place?” Then, let the interviewee lead you through their experience.
As you conduct your interview, take notes on key points. You can do that by writing down keywords and doing quick sketches, rather than writing full sentences.
Don’t forget to thank your interviewee when your interview is done. You might also find that your interview ends earlier than planned, but if you’ve asked your best questions early in the interview, you can return to them at the end.
What students learn from interview writing
Through conducting an interview, students learn higher-order thinking skills that extend beyond simply recalling facts and details. They learn how to compare and contrast, synthesize their ideas with those of others, and evaluate information presented in interviews.
In social studies, students examine history, geography, government, economics, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Interviews help them connect with each other as they explore commonalities and differences.
In science, students engage in scientific inquiry and investigation. Interviewing helps them practice questioning, hypothesis development, and drawing conclusions based on what they hear.
And in literacy, students develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Conducting an interview gives students meaningful contexts to share what they learn with their peers.
Turning notes into a finished article
After your interview is complete, convert your interview notes into a written article. To begin, organize your keywords and notes into the structure of a written piece. Then, combine your own prose with some selected quotes. Try to avoid making it sound mechanical by keeping a narrative rather than a purely mechanical approach: “An interview is a conversation,” reminds a high-school journalism teacher.
For example, Ana converted her notes about her mother's experience during a weather event into a finished article. After she completed it, she brought her interview back to class and shared what she had learned.
Interview articles are a good tool to teach students how to gather information and to use it creatively. As Ana said, “It really helps me think more.”