Interview your MorrieTuesdays with Morrie

Interviews are one way of getting to know about a person. Morrie was interviewed by Ted Coppell, but also by Mitch through out the novel.

Class discussion questions:◦ What types of people are usually interviewed?◦ What are some of the topics that Mitch and Morrie

have talked about?◦ Why did Mitch want to know what Morrie’s thoughts

were on these topics?

Read assignment sheet

Relate the reason for the interview. Don’t forget to note the following details, which

you will need to include when requesting an interview:◦ Time of the interview◦ Location of the interview◦ Additional details – questions you plan to ask or the

topics to be covered (don’t list all your questions; just give a preview)

◦ Ask your interviewee if she or he has any questions about the interview.

◦ THE INTERVIEW MUST BE DONE FOR TUESDAY’S CLASS

Contacting your interviewee

Good interviewers make the interviewee feel comfortable and respected. Respectful non-verbal and verbal communication by the interviewer allows this to happen.

Verbal techniques:◦ Begin the interview with casual small talk◦ Ask gentle, empathetic questions.◦ Ask simply phrased questions.◦ Ask questions that are unbiased◦ Sequence questions carefully. Begin with questions that

are easy to answer and that demonstrate that you are prepared for the interview. Sequence questions either from general to specific or so that your interviewee can see where you are going.

Verbal Communication

◦ Sincerely compliment your interview subject.◦ Joke, if appropriate.◦ Accept blame for miscommunication (“I didn’t

make myself clear”)◦ Follow up answers with positive, probing

responses: “Really? How interesting!” Mirror or repeat key details “Tell me more about…” Ask for clarification. “Does that mean that…?” Ash “Why?” or even “Why do you say that?”

Verbal Communication cont.

An interview is only as good as the questions asked during that interview. The purpose of the interview is to gain information, and the way in which to do so is to ask questions that will elicit information. ◦ Ask open ended questions – avoid “yes” or “no”

questions◦ Be specific.

Good luck! It is now time to conduct your interview!

Creating Interview Questions

Split-Page Notes

“Ideally, note-taking should be just words and phrases. You should write the story as soon as you’ve finished your interview, and those words and phrases should just be things to job your memory” (Don Radford)

However direct quotations need to be written exactly as the person has spoken.

Who: Where: When:

Note any background details that you may wish to include in your story. Get any of the 5 W’s and H information that you have not already discovered in your background research.

Left – 1/3 of the page

Right – 2/3 of the page

Questions and main topics

Answers and details

1. Arrive promptly for the interview appointment.2. Explain your purpose for the interview.3. Take notes. 4. Ask your questions, one at a time, listening

respectfully and giving your interviewee plenty of time to answer fully.

5. Confirm spelling of names and places if you are not familiar.

6. As a parting note, ask if there was anything you didn’t ask that he or she thinks is important, or if he or she has anything to add.

7. Thank your interviewee very much for their time and thought given.

8. Put your interview notes in a safe place. These will be handed in with the final product.

To conduct your interview