An interview essay gives information about a particular subject based on the interview you conducted. Writing an interview essay helps you convey important information about the subject to your target audience. This article contains how to write an interview essay best guide.
Writing an interview essay, requires you to come up with the purpose of the essay, interview someone with expertise in that particular field then write an essay based on the information from the interview. An interview essay also takes the common coursework essay writing format which includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Interviewing for the essay
Below are the steps you should take before writing an interview essay:
- Identify the purpose of the essay
Identifying the purpose of the essay helps you determine who you will interview, how you will interview them, the questions you will ask them, and how you will compose the essay. For example, if your interview essay is about a certain fact, you will interview someone who has expertise in that field.
- Research your subject and come up with questions
After you identify the purpose of your essay, you should research your subject. Go through any previous interviews they have done and read articles written about them. Conduct your research using print and online resources to gather adequate information about your subject.
After you have gathered adequate information about the subject, come up with questions to ask them during the interview. As opposed to asking straightforward ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions, try asking open-ended ones that call for more in-depth responses. Completing this work ahead of time will enable you to collect enough information for your essay during the interview.
- Set up the interview
You will need to get in touch with the interviewee to schedule an interview time and location. You will also need authorization to take pictures and record the interview. Make sure the individual you contact is aware of your identity and the reason for the interview. In addition, it’s advisable to have a backup interviewee if the person you had planned to interview fails to show up.
- Conduct the interview
You should take notes when conducting the interview even though you are recording it. These notes will help you find key points in the recording to include in your essay. Exercise patience and consideration when you ask questions and wait for answers. If you give the interviewee some time to think things through, you should expect more thoughtful responses.
If you are recording the interview, you should ask for permission first. After completing the interview, write down your observations and ideas on the interview and the interviewee. This makes the essay easier to write. After the interview, thank the interviewee.
- Put your findings in order
Examine your notes and reflect on all you have learned after the interview. Determine whether the responses from your topic surprised you or met your expectations. Examine your notes for any patterns, then utilize those to create an essay outline. Writing an outline for your interview essay, helps you to organize your idea for the essay similar to writing an outline for an analytical essay.
Writing an interview essay
Below is how to write an interview essay:
1. Choose an interview format
Before writing your interview essay, you should choose an interview format. This is the interview writing format that you will use when you start writing the essay. Find out from your lecturer what format you should use. It could be questions and responses, lengthy quotes or the interview itself should take center stage or be placed in a larger context.
2. Write an interview outline
Writing an interview outline helps you to properly organize the information from the interview. In the outline, you should write an introduction that begins with anecdotal evidence from the interviewee, followed by your thesis statement, a few supporting reasons for the primary point, and a conclusion summarizing the data offered.
3. Write the thesis statement
The thesis statement describes your interview essay’s main idea. If the sole goal of your essay is to introduce the subject to your reader your thesis statement will probably be a succinct synopsis that introduces the interviewee and details their background, achievements, and credentials.
4. Write the interview essay
a) Introduction
Start the interview essay with a compelling introduction that sets the scene and introduces your subject. Write a thesis statement describing the goal of the essay and what the audience can expect.
b) Body
Write body paragraphs that support the thesis statement and cover the actual interview in great detail. Each body paragraph should have a unique point. You should include the interviewee’s comments as well as your observations and analysis of them. Use transitional phrases to link your thoughts and make it easier for the reader to follow your line of reasoning. When using quotations, make sure you follow the correct format.
c) Conclusion
Write a summary of the main ideas and takeaways from the interview. Determine the importance of the information presented and emphasize any recurring themes or takeaways. Compete the interview essay with a question that gets people thinking or gives a call to action.
5. Proofread and edit
After completing the essay, you should proofread it severally to remove any errors. Examine your interview essay carefully for areas that require further explanation, and think about cutting any unnecessary details. Check for grammar mistakes and spelling mistakes. Spending enough time editing your interview essay is crucial since it can show how competent you are overall based on the attention to detail you put into your writing.
Using the steps above, you will compose a well-written interview essay. You can write your interview essay using the 5-paragraph essay format. If you need more information on how to structure an interview essay, you can check various interview essay examples or student interview essay examples. Always ensure there is a proper flow of information in your interview essay.
How to summarize an interview
Summarizing an interview requires you to go straight to the point. You should ask the interviewee the most important questions and note down the key points from the interview. In addition, sending the question to the interviewee before conducting the interview gives the interviewee an idea of what to expect making it easier to answer the questions.
How to write an interview report
Writing an interview report requires you to follow various steps. Below is how to write an interview report:
- Introduction
Start the interview report by introducing the interviewee and giving background information on the interview’s goal. Give a brief explanation of the topics covered and the purpose of the interview.
- Details of the interviewee
Give background details about the interviewee, such as their name, position within the company, and any relevant qualifications. This material prepares readers to comprehend the interviewee’s area of expertise or point of view.
- Summary of the interview
Provide a summary of the key ideas and subjects covered in the interview. Be succinct but comprehensive. The purpose of this part is to provide readers with a concise summary of the interview without delving into much detail.
- Analysis of the interview
You should provide your thoughts and analysis regarding the interview. Discuss the interviewee’s comments, how they relate to more general themes or patterns, and any personal revelations you made throughout the interview.
- Answering the important questions
If you had particular questions you wanted to cover in the interview, have a section dedicated to those questions. After summarizing the interviewee’s answers to each question, offer your interpretation of their responses.
- Conclusion
Write a summary of the key insights from the interview to wrap up your report. Highlight the importance of the information provided by the interviewee and restate the important points.
- Determine your audience
Consider the intended audience of your report. Whether it is designed for academic purposes, a business presentation, or a journalistic publication, adjust the tone, level of detail, and style to align with the expectations of your target audience. Matching these elements to the specific needs and preferences of your readers will enhance the effectiveness of your interview report.
How to cite an interview APA
When writing an interview essay, make sure to include citations in the body of the text and compile a list of references after the conclusion. Any extra resources you used that were not related to the people you interviewed can also be cited. Below is how to cite an interview using APA format:
- Citation within the text
You should cite the interview in the body of your work by referencing the interviewee’s name and the interview date. As shown below:
Narrative format: According to the interviewee’s last name (year)
Parenthetical format: (Interviewee’s last name, year)
- List of references
You should include more thorough details on the interview in the reference list:
Format: Last name, first initial. (year, month, day). Interviewee
Example: John. D (2023, November, 25). Personal Interviewee
Summary
Writing an interview essay, requires you to document the information you got from the interview. This article provides you with how to write an interview essay best guide. Use it when you are assigned an interview essay assignment. For further help with writing your interview essay, use our help with essay writing and get a well-composed essay.
