Viewing an Interview

Purpose

To summarize questions and answers from an interview

To classify interview questions as open-ended and follow-up

To create open-ended follow-up questions

Types of Questions

Open-ended question: a question that cannot be answered with a simple ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or with a specific piece of information. This type of question should get your interviewee talking.

Follow-up question: a question that follows up on something the interviewee has said.

Examples

Open-ended question: What was the best thing that happened to you in high school?

Answer: I guess that would be when my boyfriend broke up with me at the prom.

Follow-up Question: That doesn’t sound like a very good thing. Why was it the best thing that happened to you?

Follow-up Question Samples

Why do you think that? That sounds interesting. Could you

tell me more about it? What happened next? How has that influenced your life?

Fill in an appropriate follow-up question on your notes

Q: What kind of friends did you hang out with in high school?

A: Mostly jocks, like me. Follow-up Q: ___________________________

Q: What is your worst memory from high school?

A: A kid I knew was badly injured in a car accident.

Follow-up Q: ___________________________

Viewing the Interview

As we watch the interview(s), take notes in a t-chart on your notes.

Write down all of the questions asked and summarize the answers given.

I will pause after each question so that you have time to write the question down.

Michael Jordan/Letterman InterviewEmma Watson/Ellen Degeneres Interview

What seems to be the focus of the interview?

In one color, highlight the first question and any questions that start a new line of questioning.

In a second color, highlight the follow-up questions.

Write a question you think the interviewee could have asked but didn’t. Why do you think the interviewer didn’t ask this (or a similar) question?

Evaluate this interview by giving it a ranking using the learning scale. Why did you choose the rating you did?

Write a reflection on the importance of asking follow-up questions.

Emma Watson – Follow-up Questions

Michael Jordan – Follow-up questions

How did you feel being cut from your high school basketball team?

Do you think you’re the best player who ever played the game?

What made you try out for your second year of high school basketball?

How does it feel to be named the best player of the game?

Where do you golf? Do you feel pressure to make your shots? Are you as good at golf as you are at basketball? Do your siblings play basketball?

Michael Jordan – Follow-up questions

Do you think you’ll be MVP? What was it like growing up with your

siblings? Why do you play golf in the off season? Do you spend a lot of time with your family? What was the best game you’ve had? Does your toe still hurt from time to time? Can you show us your toe? How were your later years in high school? What other sports did you play during school? How was your head coach in high school?

Why is it important to ask follow-up questions when you do your interview for the interview narrative?