How to Write a Paper on an Interview

Writing a paper based on an interview, sometimes referred to as an interview essay, may involve creating the paper differently than a typical essay or research paper.  Some see it being similar to an exploratory essay or summary analysis response essay.  Basically, you’ll give a summary of information receive during an interview into a question that will be analyzed through your written data.  You’ll be giving an idea on why the response was given during the interviewing process.

  • Completing the essay can be done by following basic steps: decide on what to write about, determine someone of interest to interview, conduct preliminary research prior to the interview regarding questions to ask, have the interview and take good notes, record it if possible to help maintain focus of the conversation, organize notes, make an outline for your information and write the essay.
  • Take time to research good interview question for the topic. In many cases you can review a list of sample questions online and use them as a guide to help create your own.  The number of questions asked may depend on how long you anticipate the interviewing process to take.  Keep in mind you want to collect good information to help you create a detailed essay.
  • When you conduct the interview you may be asking questions to more than one person.  The topic you choose for the interview should be something arguable or something people often have an opinion about.  When you gather data during interviews keep notes together for each person on a separate page.
  • Study your results after you conduct the interview.  This can help you form the question you need to start your essay with.  Once you have your question, proceed with a summary and data from your interview. It may help to make a chart to show comparisons in reasons.
  • Organize your data and decide how to present it.  For instance, positive information may come first, then negative or the least important to the most.  Your subject matter may help you determine logical order for presentation.
  • Know your outline and plan it in advance.  This can help you display your reasoning’s orderly after organizing details.  An example outline may include an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion that may include your opinion in how the information you collected agrees with your opinion.  Remember to proofread your work for errors.