The purpose of an interview essay is to give the reader a general impression of the interview subject and to present their thoughts on a few topics.Deeper insights can be developed by analyzing the interviewee's responses within a larger context.Interview essays are a common school assignment, and provide useful skills for those interested in journalism, or just being good writers in general.There are several formats that fit into the category, but a good interview essay of any type can make the reader feel as though they are asking the questions.
Step 1: Determine the purpose of your essay.
This will have an impact on how you conduct the interview and write the essay.If your essay is to be factual, you'll want to interview someone who knows what they're talking about.If your paper is about science, you should interview a scientist.If your paper is about a period of history, you'll want to interview a historian or someone who's lived through it.If you plan to make your essay an opinion piece, you will want to interview someone who has a strong opinion about the topic.Ideally, you want someone with credentials in the area you plan to write about, as well as someone who can express opinions articulately.If your piece has a narrow perspective, you only need to interview one or two people.You will need to interview more people if your piece will present a general consensus.
Step 2: Draw up questions for your interview subject.
In order to conduct an effective interview that can become a successful interview essay, you need to dig into the history and background of your subject and the topic at the center of the essay.This information can be used to determine the best questions to ask.You can read works by your subject in print and online.You should research the topic associated with your subject at the same time.You can ask intelligent questions if you know more about both.Look for previous interviews with your subject.These will give you an idea of what questions the person has been asked before, so you can decide on appropriate subjects for your own questions, including questions that no one else has asked.Asking "yes" or "no" answers is good for gathering specific factual information, as well as open-ended "how," "why," and "tell me about" questions, which are not found in your research.Make a list of the questions you will ask.You can make adjustments as the interview goes on if you have more questions ready.Your subject may start focusing on what they thought was a side topic, but it turns out to be the most important part of the interview.If you want to ask the most important ones, you should rank your questions in order of importance.
Step 3: The interview should be arranged.
To conduct the interview, you'll need to contact the interviewee or their representative.Permission to record the interview with audio or video equipment is required.You want to interview the person if they know who you are.You should choose a quiet place for your interview site.If you're doing this for a college writing class, you should go to a library, restaurant or campus location.You may want to get permission from the interviewer to use their comments in your essay, as well as to record them during the interview.You have to get written permission if you are recording an interview over the phone.If the person you are interviewing can't make it, you should have a backup.You have to be on time for the interview.
Step 4: The interview should be conducted.
If you are using a recording device, take notes during the interview as they can help you look for specific points in the recording to incorporate into the essay.It's advisable to use a recording device as it will allow you to save your note-taking for future reference, as well as how your subject approaches the questions, his/her comfort level, and so on.Wait for responses as you ask your questions.You will be rewarded with more insightful answers if you give the interviewee time to reflect.A few deeper responses are usually better than superficial ones.Write down your thoughts immediately after the interview.They might be able to help shape the essay.The person should always be thanked during the interview.
Step 5: The format of your interview essay should be decided.
The format will likely be pre-determined if the essay is a class assignment.Clarify with your instructor if they expect questions and answers, long quotations, or paraphrasing, and if the primary focus should be the interview itself or in placing it in a larger context.Narrative format is one of the most common formats for interview essays.You can use this form to quote information from the interview, as well as direct quotes for the material you most want to emphasize.The most likely format for a class assignment would be this one.The format is conversational.The formal writing style is not required for this format.You can use both first and second person to address the reader.The format can be used for anything from class assignments to magazine articles.There is a question-and-answer format.The form presents your questions to the interviewer.The text looks like this: "How long have you been in the circus?"The interviewer has been with the company for about 35 years.You can add explanatory material in parentheses and brackets, but these are always direct quotes.The format is best suited for essays with a single interviewee or a closely related group, such as spouses or the core cast of a TV show.
Step 6: An outline is needed for an essay.
A strong introduction, which clearly identifies your subject and the goals and focus of your interview, is always important as the outline will depend largely on the essay format you are following.Listen to any audio or video recordings you have.You will be able to thoroughly consider both the highlights of the interview and the most significant themes from it if you utilize both.Your outline of what information your essay will cover and how it will appear will be informed by these.An introduction that starts with an anecdote about the interviewee and then presents your thesis statement, several key points that support the main focus, and a conclusion that summarizes the information presented is one possible outline.Traditional school essays often use a five paragraph format, and this can work with interview essays as well.
Step 7: A thesis statement should be written.
A brief summary of the person's background, accomplishments, and qualifications will be included in your thesis if the purpose of your essay is to present your interviewee to your reader.John Doe volunteered to serve his country in Vietnam in 1967, and is fortunate to still be here to share his story.If the purpose of your essay is to use your interviewee's comments to support a position or examine a larger theme, your thesis will probably be a statement of that position, with the interview placed within that context.Many Vietnam veterans still with us share John Doe's mixed feelings of pride and betrayal.Make your thesis clear and concise, and make sure the rest of your essay refers back to it.For more advice, see How to Write a Thesis Statement.
Step 8: You need to flesh out your essay.
The body of your essay needs to follow the selected format while supporting the thesis and providing substantial coverage of the actual interview.Even with high-quality questions, interviews can sometimes produce a lot of repetitive answers, so you may need to trim unnecessary elements from the body of your essay.Make sure that the material you keep remains true to the spirit of the interview and the overarching focus of your essay.The oral history handout from the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina can be found at http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/oral-history/.There are examples of how to use the same interview materials in a transcription, a presentation of individual experiences, and the place of the interview in the larger context.
Step 9: You should revise and proofread your work.
Any type of essay, including interview essays, should be carefully revised and thoroughly proofread to provide maximum clarity and impact.It is always a good idea to have another set of eyes look at the essay after you have read it yourself.Errors, repetition, and unclear sections are likely to be caught by another reader.Make sure that your essay reflects the actual interview by going back to your original notes, recordings, and transcripts.There are layers of editing and revising that can cause the essay to drift away from the original source.You may want to let the person read it to capture their voice.
Step 10: You should document your sources.
You don't need to explicitly cite the interview itself, but always check to make sure.It is always a good idea to cite any supplemental materials.The approved citation format for your essay should include any materials you used for research, information about the interviewee, or context for the essay itself.One more time, make sure that any direct quotations from your source are put in quotation marks.Don't say anything in your subject's mouth, and respect the words that come from it.