IMPROVE YOUR INTERVIEWING AND WRITING

The quotes

Have students use the cards either alone or in pairs to practice asking better questions and following a line of questioning to get better answers.

The front of the cards show bad answers, like ones including “hard work and dedication.”

The backs suggest alternatives to seek better answers.

The assignment

Students will try to answer how they think you want them to answer. They’re trying to be nice. They want to sound like celebrities in press conferences.

Don’t let them!

You have to push them to give a real answer. Keep asking questions until they tell a real story. Then your job of recording the story becomes so much easier.

When you get the answers on the front, flip the card and ask the question on the back. You’ll find the story.

How to print

Find the right paper in the right color. We used yellow card stock. You can pick what’s best.

Print two-sided (left bind).

Cut along the center cut lines.

If you print one copy of the whole document, you’ll have four of each card.

Pass them around. Practice with them, then get to interviewing and writing.