Directions: in this activity you will prepare for an interview, conduct it, and then write about the results.

1. prepare for the interview.

determine the purpose of your interview. the interview topic can be anything related to political beliefs and behaviors you have studied in this unit. write the purpose of your interview below.

identify an appropriate adult or fellow student to interview.

prepare your questions. your questions should focus on the purpose of your interview. they should be simple, direct, short, easy to understand, and open ended. your goal is to gather information. a good way to generate questions is to ask questions that begin with the six question words (who, what, where, when, why, and how).

write your questions below

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obtain a notebook, pen or pencil, and (if possible) a tape recorder.

2. arrange the interview.

contact the person in advance to arrange the interview. introduce yourself, explain your project and interview topic, and arrange a convenient time and place for the interview.

3. conduct the interview.

be polite. this includes obtaining permission to tape the interview, respecting the person if he or she declines to answer certain questions, being on your best behavior during the interview, and the person for his or her cooperation.

be a good listener. ask a question and then listen attentively to the response.

be ready to improvise. ask for clarification if an answer is unclear to you. if the person you are interviewing mentions something especially interesting, feel free to ask him or her more about it.

take notes. you should take notes even if you are taping the interview.

leave your contact information. your interviewee may remember something he or she wants to add later.
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4. review the interview.

write the general responses to your questions below.

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5. reflect on your experience.

in the space below, write a paragraph about your interviewing experience.