How to Conduct a Good Interview 8 th Grade Language Arts

Tips for Conducting a Good Interview: #1 Do your research #2 Don’t be too intimidated #3 No Question is too stupid #4 Don’t give up too soon

#1 Do your research You need to know what to ask going into the interview, and doing your research also helps with follow up questions

#1 Do your research Look at websites, videos, newspaper articles, library books and any other content you can find that might be related to your Veteran’s war, time of service or branch of military. This will give you a good basis of questions to start with Go in with a list of effective questions already written down, then ask follow up questions based on their response

#2 Don’t be too intimidated Remember, they agreed to be interviewed, and are probably honored that you thought of them. As long as you come prepared, you should not feel nervous. Doing background research will help you to be prepared. Take your time asking questions, don’t rush. If you mess up a question, rephrase it

#2 Don’t be too intimidated Be conversational with them. Don’t think of it as you asking questions for an interview, think of it as you having a conversation with them. What would you say to them if you were just talking?

#3 No Question is too stupid Consider this: displaying your ignorance makes for a better interview. Go into the interview trying to answer questions your audience might have. Ask deeper level questions. We don’t want to know what they would eat for lunch. Ask questions that you think your audience would be interested in hearing about. You want to teach your audience something

#3 No Question is too stupid Ask questions about things like: Boot camp/training/taking orders Uniforms/inspections/weapons Enlisting/being drafted Interesting stories they have to tell/specific memories How they feel they bettered their country Best/hardest part of being in service What made them join the service Etc.

#3 No Question is too stupid Start with basic questions, then lead up to more in depth questions Avoid questions that will bring up emotional experiences Be aware of the sacrifices they have made as veterans. Avoid questions that might make them uncomfortable.

#4 Don’t give up too soon Ask follow up questions! Don’t just stick to the questions you have written down in front of you Questions that can be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’ are not good questions. Ask questions that can lead to other questions Ask ‘why’ or ‘can you explain that more’ or ‘how did that make you feel’ etc.

Thanks! Be sure to thank the veteran you have chosen to interview for their time. Be sure to give them the invitation to our Veteran’s Day Assembly on Friday, November 11 th 2013 at CCMS.

Examples of good interviews In the next clips, write down good and bad interview strategies that you see: background information given before interview Was the interviewee and their position explained/introduced research the interviewer did beforehand types of questions asked asking the 'hard-hitting' questions

Things to look for Cont. the tone used relationship the interviewer/interviewee build how the interviewer responds to questions Did they ask appropriate/inappropriate or outrageous or unrelated questions? How were difficult topics or questions handled?

Examples of good interviews - ESPN Interviews Lebron James -Bill O’Reilly’s interview with President Obama (example of what not to do – interrupt!)