This document provides tips for conducting an interview and writing a profile of the person interviewed. It advises asking open-ended questions to get detailed answers, writing down key words to remember main points, and listening for what is important to the subject. Accuracy is stressed as most important. The document also notes that not everything can be written down, so focus on unusual details or stories few people know. A good quote, particularly at the end, makes for a strong profile.

1. Steps to remember

2.  Remember
to ask open-ended questions to
encourage meaningful answers with lots of
information about your subject.
 Open-ended questions usually begin with
phrases like:
Tell me about…
What do you think about…
Why…?
How…?

3.  Accuracy
is the most important!
 Write down key words to help you remember
main points.
 Listen for what is important to your subject
(the person you are interviewing). This is the
key to telling readers about your subject.
 Find something that few people might know
about this person.

4.  Remember…you
can’t write down everything.
 Zero in on the unusual or listen for a story
that few people know and take notes. These
notes don’t have to be word for word.
 Jot down key words to help you remember
what to write.
 A good quote, particularly at the end of your
profile is always a strong ending, especially if
that quote is something new and fresh about
your subject. This is one time you do write
down your notes word for word!

5.  Write
your profile.
 Post it.
 Comment on a classmate’s post.
Remember, this is the last assignment in Module 5.

6. Have fun getting to know a classmate and
writing their profile!