Welcome Class of 2021: Introduction, Interview, & Human Interest

Welcome class of 2021!

This morning, after covering our course criteria, complete this in-class activity: 

With a partner, discuss and create: 

A. a list of ways in which humans communicate (humans communicate through...) 

B. Reasons why humans communicate

This begins our first step as creative writing majors. It is important for us to examine how and why (and when), as human beings, we decide to communicate. Of course, communicating through writing is only one way we, as humans, communicate with one another. This course will cover areas of communication, the communication process, techniques of effective communication, along with performance skills, public speaking, and various writing projects (fiction, poetry, scripts, personal narrative, essays, etc.) If you go on to study the arts, literature, political science, divinity, history, business, advertising, marketing, teaching, law, journalism, communication, or media, you will definitely need a basic understanding of these concepts.

Our first speech will be rather short. On your index card, jot down any of the following answers to these personal questions:

• What is one thing you want other people to know about you?
• What do you want to do after you graduate?
• What is one event that happened to you that changed your personality/outlook on life forever?
• What is one thing you're proud of that you never told anyone?
• What single event in your life has made you a better person?
• If you could accomplish one thing in your life, what would you like it to be?

Answer some of these questions (at least one) and jot down at least 3 main points you would want to share with the class about your answers. When you are called, come up to the front of the room and share your answers in a short introductory speech. 

Start with an introduction: who are you? (what's your name, etc.) then hit your 3 main points. Try to sustain your short speech with some details. End your speech after your details...you can thank us for listening, or leave us with something to remember, or inspire us with an image or detail that helps summarize your main points. 

Conversation is one of the most obvious processes of communication. Today you are going to "interview" a class member, then use your notes to write an expose (or human interest article) using this character sketch.  The notes you take in your journal will also be used to create a "fictional" character based on a real person during our next class. More information about that assignment will be discussed later.

Activity:

1. Please follow my verbal directions to pick a partner for this exercise.

2. Once you have a partner, take 5 minutes to ask any of the following questions (see below) and record what your partner says in your journal. 

TIP: Don't worry about long quotes or trying to write down everything your partner says. Instead, jot down only the KEY POINTS of what your partner discussed. Try effective listening techniques to comprehend what your partner is saying. Synthesize or summarize these key points when you take notes. 

3. At the end of 5 minutes, switch places and take another 5 minutes to be interviewed by your partner.

4. When time is up (about 10 minutes or so) you will be asked to quickly organize your notes and write an expose or human interest essay (see below).

Sample Questions to ask (use some of these if you have no better ideas):

A. How were you shaped by your environment or cultural background as you grew up? 

B. Name a friend, relative, or childhood friend or hero figure that had an impact (positive or negative) on your life. Describe how this person influenced you. 

C. Describe a personal experience that had a major impact on your life and/or creating the person that you are today. 

D. What activities or hobbies or interests bring pleasure and meaning to your life? 

E. Name a goal that you have set for yourself. How are you going to achieve that goal? 

F. What value or philosophical belief do you hold dear? Why do you hold this belief or value so highly? How does it affect your life? 

G. Any other question you wish to ask within the time limit of this exercise.  

Again, please note:     

You do not have to write down everything your partner says. Part of communication is listening to what is being said, then remembering and retelling what you heard in your own way. Use your notes and ask follow-up questions to develop your partner's answers. (see below)   

5. Keep your notes for our next writing assignment (more details to follow). 

INSTRUCTIONS: A human interest article is an article about...wait for it...yes! A human. It usually highlights a subject who has overcome an obstacle or difficult event, or how these events affected the subject. In other words: Your human interest article/essay should reveal something about the nature or character of the person you interviewed. Use your notes to help guide your essay. 

Let's read a model article together. We often see human interest stories on the news. Here's a sample student documentary: Human Interest Story: Yesenia Ramirez. Now it's your turn.

• Start your expose/human interest essay by adding a short introduction sentence. 
• Stories, speeches, and essays usually open with an interesting statement or lead-in. This is called The Hook. 
• Begin your essay/article with a clever hook or attention-grabber. Write an interesting opening line to introduce your subject matter (your partner).
• Human interest stories are generally positive in tone. The ending usually reports how the subject persevered or became stronger or better or wiser, or survived a difficult experience.
• You may need to ask your partner some follow up details as you write.
• If you get stuck or need more guidance check out the following link: How to Write a Human Interest Story.

Try one of these approaches to structure your essay:

• Chronological approach. A popular defining style for beginning writers, this usually trails off based on the information you are able to gather. In a nutshell, this approach involves telling a story by detailing it from beginning to end, exactly in sequential order. Simply arrange the events according to how they naturally flow and you should be fine.
• Suspended interest approach. This is a pyramid style of organization, where the lead fires off with a partial summary of the major facts.  The human drama’s resolution, however, is reserved for later in the piece, unfolding as you work towards the outcome and the conclusion.  Obviously, the suspense should compel the reader to stay with the piece, giving an immediate incentive to follow the story.
• Narrative approach. As the name suggests, you tell the human interest feature like a short story, using narrative elements (setting, plot, rising action, climax, falling action, characters, conflict, etc.) to lure and engage the reader’s interest. It’s considered one of the most flexible forms.

We will conclude our writing next class. This assignment is due next class (we'll be using it for other purposes) and the assignment is worth participation credit.

HOMEWORK: Feel free to work on your article, particularly if you did not get far writing it in the lab. Get your course criteria sheet signed and return it.