Before the Interview: 1.Write your questions ahead of time. ·You must do research before the interview so that you can ask intelligent questions about the topic. ·Gather as much information as you can before the interview. ·Look for reputable sources.Government and school sites (.gov, .edu) ·Outline important information and use it to write interview questions. ·The more you know walking into the interview, the better! 2.Set up a time and place for the interview. 3.Get together everything you will need to do the interview (camera, paper, pencils, etc.) During the Interview: 1.Welcome the interviewee with a warm greeting. Remember s/he is a guest and should be treated like one. 2.RELAX!If you are nervous, your interview subject will be nervous, also. 3.Make sure the interviewee is comfortable (you might ask them if they are).Put them at ease!Explain the purpose of the interview.Tell him or her about your topic, what you have discovered so far, etc. 4.Get the person involved in the interview as soon as possible.Ask one question at a time. 5.Do not ask yes-or-no questions!Ask open-ended questions that encourage the subject to tell his or her story. Ask probing questions that require an in-depth answer (such as, “why?...” and “how often?...”). 6.Don’t interrupt or correct the person you are talking to.People sometimes remember things wrong.That’s okay-you can check dates and facts later.The important thing is to hear about the person’s impressions and feelings. 7.Listen carefully!Something the person says may inspire you to ask a question you hadn’t planned. 8.Let the person have plenty of time to talk.But if they start to ramble, try to get them back on the subject by asking one of the questions you brought along. 9.Encourage responses with occasional nods of the head, “uh huh’s,” etc. 10.The best interviews flow smoothly when both people take part in exchanging information. 11.Be an active listener!Maintain excellent eye contact. After the Interview: 1.Thank your subject at the end of your meeting.Afterward, write a thank-you note. 2.Look back over the questions you prepared before the interview. ·Did the interview help to answer them? ·Think about how you will present your information. ·What did you learn from the interview? ·What parts of the interview will you include in your documentary?
Content of the Interview
Segment 1: For the Record For this segment the interviewee is introduced. Important information regarding location and the interviewee is shared. ·Date and place of the interview ·Name of the person being interviewed ·Veteran’s birth date ·Names of people attending the interview ·Organization you are working with ·War and branch of service, what his or her rank was, where he or she served Segment 2: Jogging Memory In this segment the interviewer is making the subject feel comfortable answering questions. Ask questions that will facilitate bringing back early memories of their military experience. Segment 3: Experiences In this segment the interviewer is getting more specific and narrow with the questions. This is where you want to allow the veteran to begin to tell stories. Segment 4: Life In this segment you want to ask the veteran about what life was like in the military. These are the personal stories that make each veteran’s stories unique. Segment 5: After Service In this segment the interviewer will need to ask what the veteran decided to do after the war. Did they stay in the military as a career or did they move on to another career? Segment 6: Later Years and Closing In this segment the interviewer will need to ask what the veterans feelings are about his/her years of service.
Open and Closed Questions
Using closed questions· They give you facts. ·They are easy to answer. ·They are quick to answer. ·They keep control of the conversation with the questioner. ·They often result in yesor no responses. Using open questions· They ask the respondent to think and reflect. ·They will give you opinions and feelings. ·They hand control of the conversation to the respondent.
Open questions begin with words such as: what, why, how, describe, explain