Interview; Human Interest Story Project

Activity:

1. Please follow my verbal directions to find your partner for this exercise.

2. Once you have found your partner, you will have 10 minutes to ask any of the following questions (see handout) 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 verbatim (word for word). 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 deliver your short introductory speech. 

3. When time is called, switch places and take another 10 minutes to be interviewed by your partner.

4. When time is up (about 20 minutes total) you will be asked to quickly organize your notes and give an extemporaneous speech introducing your partner to the rest of the class. Use the index card provided to you for your key or main points.

Sample Questions to ask (use some of these questions 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. What is one thing you want other people to know about you? 

H. What do some things you want to do after you graduate? 

I. What is one event that happened to you that changed your personality/outlook on life forever?  

J. What single event in your life has made you a better person? 

K. If you could accomplish one thing in your life, what would you like it to be? 

L. 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)    

Keep your notes for the next writing assignment--part 2!

Part 2:

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 as well) and the assignment is worth participation credit.

HOMEWORK: None. If you did not get far in the lab, feel free to write your essay on your own time at home.