English MW2 Tips | 9/29 2/2

Importance of Staying Engaged

  • Emphasis on staying engaged during the last stretch of the semester.

  • Acknowledgment of difficulties in maintaining focus as winter breaks approach.

    • Personal reflection on the increased challenge after fall break.

  • Encouragement to consistently show up for oneself and classmates.

Class Schedule Reminder

  • Clarification that next week's class will only meet on Monday:

    • No class on Wednesday due to break.

    • Importance of attending Monday's class.

Profile Essay Focus

  • Introduction to the topic of the profile essay, particularly interviewing.

    • Today's discussion: Preparation for the interview.

    • Next class: Things to do during the interview.

  • Objective: allow adequate preparation time to conduct interviews outside of class.

  • Teacher queries students on who they intend to interview:

    • Approximately half of the class has subject in mind.

    • Students who haven’t decided are encouraged to think further.

Research in the Profile Essay

  • Differentiation of research types relevant to the profile essay:

    • Primary Research: firsthand accounts.

    • Secondary Research: interpretation based on primary sources.

    • Tertiary Research: typically consists of summaries or collections of secondary information.

Primary Research

  • Definition: Firsthand accounts or unfiltered information sources.

  • Examples of primary sources:

    • Original documents (e.g., Declaration of Independence, handwritten letters, signed contracts).

    • Interviews: direct, unmediated encounters with the subject.

    • Experiments: presenting raw, uninterpreted data.

    • Unedited photos and videos: firsthand visual evidence.

    • Field observations: personal observations in natural settings.

Secondary Research

  • Definition: Information that includes additional interpretation; one step removed from the primary source.

  • Examples of secondary sources:

    • Non-fiction books: written by authors interpreting primary research.

    • Articles: scholarly papers, newspaper reports that analyze or summarize primary research.

    • Documentary films: compiled interpretations of unedited source materials like interviews, photos, etc.

  • Conceptual framework of layers:

    • Each layer provides additional interpretation.

Creating Your Profile

  • Explanation of the process of creating a profile from primary research data:

    • Interviews serve as primary sources.

    • The resulting profile essay transforms these interviews into a secondary source for future reference.

Creating Insightful Content

  • Importance of gaining insights that are beyond a simple Google search or surface-level research.

  • Essential insights must include direct quotes from interviews, personal stories, and observations gathered.

Preparing for the Interview

  • Steps to prepare for conducting interviews:

    • Get Consent: Mandatory to seek permission from the interviewee before proceeding.

    • Conduct Background Research: Gathering existing knowledge about the interviewtee to craft informed questions.

    • Might include personal relationships and history.

    • Defining Interview Angle: Identify focus (essential insight) that will guide the profile content.

Crafting Interview Questions

  • Importance of structured questions for the interview process:

    • Interviews should not be open-ended without direction; have prepared questions is essential.

  • Types of Questions:

    • Open-Ended Questions: Encourage detailed responses and narratives from interviewees.

    • Example: "What made you want to be a fireman?"

    • Closed-Ended Questions: Usually yield one-word answers, limiting elaboration.

    • Example: "Was being a fireman your dream job?"

  • Characteristics of Effective Questions:

    • Use beginnings like "what," "how," "why," "where," and "when."

    • Keep questions specific and avoid leading questions that predict or assume the interviewee’s feelings.

    • Example: Instead of asking "How much did you love the concert?", ask "How did you feel about the concert?"

Tips for Question Writing

  1. Keep questions open-ended to allow interviews to flow and develop content depth.

  2. Maintain simplicity in questions - avoid overly complex queries.

  3. Understand that questions are starting points; adapt and follow the conversation's lead during the interview.

Practice Time

  • Students are given approximately 15-20 minutes to plan and draft their interview questions or perform necessary steps in preparation before interviews.

  • Wrap up session with the final opportunity for questions and preparing for the upcoming interview process.