1.6 Learning to Interview Freshman English

Learning Targets and CCSS Learning Targets *Develop open-ended interview questions *Reproduce another person’s voice through direct and indirect quotesCCSS W.9.4--Produce clear and coherent writing with appropriate development organization and style for a specific task, purpose, or audience. W.9.5—Develop and strengthen writing through planning, revising, editing, rewriting, etc.

Before we begin… When you are finished, to demonstrate your full learning, you will have: 1) Completed pages to show me along w/ your progress sheet 2) A finalized, printed copy of your “presentation speech” that includes some annotations for direct/indirect quotations to show me along w/ progress sheet 3) A discussion board post (due Saturday by 11:59 p.m.) of your “presentation speech” that introduces your partner. 4) Two replies to others’ posts

Vocabulary Open-Ended Questions Questions or that require more than a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Direct Quotes Represents a person’s exact words; is enclosed in quotation marks. Indirect Quotes Reports what someone said, but is in your own words. No quote marks used.

First things first… Get a partner from class! Make sure you have a partner. This is virtually impossible to do without a partner. IMAGINARY FRIENDS DON’T COUNT

Step 1: Determine your purpose Always, always, always have a purpose for doing something! In this case, you are getting to know and introduce someone. That being said, turn to page 25 and write your partner’s name after question #1

Step 2: Develop questions Might seem like common sense in an interview, but make sure you have four questions that you could ask to learn important information about your partner. WRITE THESE IN #2 on page 25 (Think: if you want to get to know someone, or you have to introduce someone, what questions would you need to ask? This ties directly to our PURPOSE)

Step 3: the importance of open-ended questions When you interview someone, it’s important to ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions or statements require more than a simple YES or NO response! They give interviewee an opportunity to provide insight or an explanation. Since you need quotes from a person to put in your paper/article/presentation, make sure you ask questions that allow them to give good, long responses!

Step 3, cont’d Look at 3a and 3b on page 25. Circle the question that IS open-ended. Which one gives the interviewee a chance to expound on their answer? Remember, if it can be answered as simply “yes” or “no”, it’s NOT open-ended!! Then, complete #4 on page 25 by revising the closed-question to be an open-ended question! WANT No, Chuck! We WANT open-ended questions!

Step 4: Revising YOUR questions Look back at the questions you wrote in #2 on page 25 Rewrite the questions (if needed) to be open-ended questions in the four boxes that make up question #5. Leave the answer part blank This guy knows what’s up!

Step 5: Interview your partner When your partner is answering, take notes in the answer boxes on #5. Try to write down some parts of the answer exactly, especially if it is a really good answer, and use quotation marks to show that you’re quoting word-for-word Try to get as much down as possible!

Step 6: Draft your “presentation speech” Look back over your interview notes and highlight parts that best capture your partner’s voice and convey a sense of who they are. Now, complete #7 and #8 on page 27. You should end up with between a half-page and a one-page typed “speech” when all is said and done!

Step 7: Add in the juicy stuff Make sure your “presentation speech” has the following: Find a place where you can add in AT LEAST ONE parallel structure Make sure you have no errors—have a peer read it Make sure you have at least 2 direct and 2 indirect quotes Make sure it has a clear opening, and effective conclusion Make sure you effectively capture your partner’s voice and convey his or her personality.

Example I would like to introduce Jalen. Jalen went to Mutaito Training Academy for middle school, and is looking forward to his freshman year here. Some things that Jalen enjoys are running, jumping, and teleporting. He has cultivated his mindset to concentrate his ki and use it for devastatingly powerful energy-based attacks. “I use my Kamehameha like a boss,” he admits, though blushing a little. He went on to describe how he attained the ability to go Super-Saiyan by putting his mind to it. “You can do anything you put your mind to,” he beamed, talking about his success in becoming Super-Saiyan. When asked if he could match Goku and become only the second Saiyan to achieve all known Saiyan transformations, he shrugged, and reiterated that it’s mindset and willpower that can make one achieve even the impossible. In the future, Jalen wants to take on and beat Freeza, but only after he completes all 24 credits. He plans to take all AP classes that LC offers: “I am just a human being, but I can go Super Saiyan, I can dominate these AP classes. Even BC Calculus,” he claims. For now, he’s content to go out for cross country, anime club, film club, GSA, debate, drama, track, and knitting club. Jalen is an interesting person and I’m glad I got to meet him; now I know Earth is in good hands. Jalen really inspired me. (red=parallel structure; yellow=indirect quotation; green=direct quotation)

Step 8: SAVE! Print one copy, and annotate it: Point out your parallel structure, and explain on the side what makes it a parallel structure Show your direct quotes, and explain on the side why you used a direct quote there Show your indirect quote, and explain on the side why you used a direct quote there

Step 9: To the forum! Go to our forum and copy/paste your “presentation speech” Then, view and respond to TWO other presentation speeches!!

Recapping… When you create interview questions, you want to ask open-ended questions. When writing, you use both direct and indirect quotes to capture the voice of the interviewee. Make sure you bring: your progress sheet, your work on pages 25-28, and your printed/annotated copy to Mrs. Gomes to assess!