This document outlines the agenda and activities for an academic interactions class. It includes instructions for analyzing interview videos in groups and answering questions about the purpose, register, body language, questions asked, and reflections. Students are to complete analysis of 4 videos either in class or as homework by answering questions about the interview content, style, and effectiveness. The goal is to better understand interviews and work collaboratively to examine different examples.

1. Academic
Interactions 130A
Fall 2014
Nikki Mattson
IECP

2. Agenda
O Video Analysis Activity – Video 1 + 2
Discussion (whole group)
O Video Analysis Activity – Video 3 + 4 (small
groups)

3. Interview Analysis Activity – Video 1
1.
Purpose
A. What did the purpose of the interview seem to be?
A. Who do you think the intended audience was?
2.
Register
How formal/informal do you think the interview was?
Why do you think that?
3. Body
Language
What are three examples of body language that you
noticed? (and what time in the video did they occur?)

4. 4.
Listener
Feedback
What are three examples of listener feedback (mm
hmm, yeah, I see, etc.) that you noticed? (and what
time in the video did they occur?)
5.
Questio
n 1
What is the first question that the interviewer asked?
What do you think the purpose of the question was?
”So, before going into the details, I’d like to know about
the research area you are working on.”
6.
Question
2
What is the second question that the interviewer asked?
What do you think the purpose of the question was?
“So, when you are taking a student for your research
group, what particular qualities do you look for?”

5. 7.
Questio
n 3
What is the third question that the interviewer asked? What do you
think the purpose of the question was?
”So, how long have you been working in this graduate student
selection committee?”
8.
Reflection
What do you think the interviewer did to prepare for
this interview?
9.
Reflecti
on
How successful do you think this interview was? Why?
10.
Other
Do you have any other interesting comments or questions
about the video?

6. 1.
Purpose
Interview Analysis Activity – Video 2
A. What did the purpose of the interview seem to be?
A. Who do you think the intended audience was?
2.
Register
How formal/informal do you think the interview was?
Why do you think that?
3. Body
Language
What are three examples of body language that you
noticed? (and what time in the video did they occur?)

7. 4.
Listener
Feedback
What are three examples of listener feedback (mm
hmm, yeah, I see, etc.) that you noticed? (and what
time in the video did they occur?)
5.
Questio
n 1
What is the first question that the interviewer asked?
What do you think the purpose of the question was?
”So, you sit here today as President of PSU. A couple of
years ago, even a couple of months ago, would you have
ever imagined this?”
6.
Question
2
What is the second question that the interviewer asked?
What do you think the purpose of the question was?
”So, you’ve always been a big ten guy, huh?”

8. 7.
Questio
n 3
What is the third question that the interviewer asked? What do you
think the purpose of the question was?
”You’ve been here at Penn State since 1977. Why did you choose to
stay so long?”
8.
Reflection
What do you think the interviewer did to prepare for
this interview?
9.
Reflecti
on
How successful do you think this interview was? Why?
10.
Other
Do you have any other interesting comments or questions
about the video?

9. Video Analysis Activity
O Work on completing the handout for the second 2 videos during
class time today.
O Suggestions
O Even though you have headphones, stay engaged with your
group. Take advantage of the opportunity to discuss your
findings with your group members.
O Don’t wait until you have answered all of the questions to
confer with your group members. You can pause the video to
discuss as you are working 

10. HW
O Complete the questions for video 3 AND 4
for HW
O PSU Student Interview Project – Due 10/24
(Box)
O Group Speaking Task 3 –Due 10/16 (BOX)