How to Write an Interview Essay

Co-authored by Diane Stubbs

Last Updated: January 2, 2023 References Approved

An interview essay is designed to give the reader a general impression of the interview subject and to present their thoughts on a select group of topics. It also offers the opportunity to develop deeper insights by analyzing the interviewee's responses within a larger context. Interview essays are a common school assignment, and provide useful skills for those interested in journalism, or just being good writers in general. There are several formats that fit into the category, but a good interview essay of whatever type can make the reader feel as though they were asking the questions.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Interviewing for an Essay

1
Determine the purpose of your essay. This will have an impact on whom you interview, how you will conduct the interview, and how you will write the subsequent essay.^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
University of North Carolina Writing Center
UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process
Go to source}
- If your essay is to be a factual piece, you'll want to interview someone who has expertise in the subject matter you'll be addressing. If your paper is about a science topic, you'll want to interview a scientist in that field. If your paper is about a period of history, you'll want to interview either a historian or someone who's lived through that period of history.
- If you plan to make your essay an opinion piece, you'll likely want to interview someone who has a strong opinion about the topic covered in your essay. Ideally, you want someone who can express opinions articulately, and who also has credentials in the area you plan to write about.
- If your piece will have a narrow perspective, you'll need to interview only one or two people. If your piece will present a general consensus, you'll need to interview more people, probably with varying expertise and credentials.
2
Research your interview subject(s) and draw up questions. In order to conduct an effective interview that can in turn become a successful interview essay, you need to delve into the history and background of your subject(s) and the topic at the core of your essay. You can use this information to determine the best questions to ask in the interview.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- When available, read works about and works written by your subject, both in print and online. At the same time, research the topic associated with your subject. The more you know about both, the more intelligent questions you can ask.
- Look for previous interviews your subject has given, as well. These will give you an idea of what questions the person has been asked before, so you can decide on appropriate subjects for your own questions, including questions that no one else has asked.
- Questions that require "yes" or "no" answers are good for gathering specific factual information; open-ended "how," "why," and "tell me about" questions are great for gathering additional background material not found in your research.
- Draw up a list of the questions you are prepared to ask. Have more questions ready than you will likely use, so that you can make adjustments as the interview takes place. (For instance, your subject may begin focusing on what you thought was a side topic, but turns out to be the key part of your interview.) Rank your questions in order of importance to make sure you ask your best ones, or list them all in the order you'd ask them and color-code the most important ones.
Advertisement
3
Arrange the interview(s). You'll need to contact the interviewee (or their representative) to arrange a time and place to conduct the interview. You'll also need permission to record the interview with either audio or video equipment, or to take photographs. Be sure the person you contact knows who you are and why you want to interview them.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Choose a quiet place with few distractions for your interview site. A library, restaurant, or campus location if you're doing this for a college writing class would be suitable.
- You may want to get the interviewee's consent to use their comments in your essay in writing, as well as permission to record those comments during the interview. By law, if you are recording an interview conducted over the phone, you must obtain written permission.^{[4]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  University of North Carolina Writing Center
  UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process
  Go to source}
- It's helpful to have a backup interviewee in case the person you plan to interview can't make it.
- Be on time at the place you've agreed to meet for the interview.
4
Conduct the interview(s). Even if you are using a recording device, take notes during the interview, as they can help you look for specific points in the recording to incorporate into the essay.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Using a recording device (with permission) is almost always advisable, as it permits you to save your note-taking for jotting down your insights on contexts, themes, how your subject approaches the questions, his/her comfort level, and so on.
- Be patient and respectful as you ask your questions and wait for responses. Give the interviewee time to reflect, and you will likely be rewarded with more insightful answers. A few deeper responses are usually better than many superficial ones.
- Immediately after the interview, write down your thoughts and impressions about the interview and interviewee. They may help you shape the essay.
- Always end the interview by thanking the person.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Writing the Essay

1
Decide what format your interview essay will have. If the essay is a class assignment, the format will likely be pre-determined. Clarify with your instructor whether they expect questions and answers, long quotations, or paraphrasing, and if the primary focus should be the interview itself or in placing it in a larger context.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source
University of North Carolina Writing Center
UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process
Go to source}^{[7]
X
Research source} Generally, interview essays can be in one of several formats:
- Narrative format. This form allows paraphrasing of some information the interviewee says, along with direct quotes for the material you most want to emphasize. This is the most likely format for a class assignment, and offers the most opportunity to add context and analysis.
- Conversational format. This is a looser format than the formal writing style required for most essays. You can address the reader directly and use both first and second person. This format can be suitable for anything from class assignments to magazine articles.
- Question-and-answer format. This form presents your questions to the interviewee, followed by the interviewee's responses. (That is, the text looks something like this: (Your Name): How long have you been in the circus? (Interviewee's Name): About 35 years.) These are always direct quotes, although you may insert explanatory material in parentheses and substitutions, such as a person's name in place of a personal pronoun, in brackets. This format is best suited for essays with only a single interviewee or a closely related group, such as spouses or the core cast of a TV show.
- Informative format. This format usually interweaves the interview with research you've done on the subject, incorporating some of that research in the text to provide background and give it a little more color.
2
Plan an outline of the essay. The outline will depend largely on the essay format you are following, but a strong introduction, which clearly identifies your subject and the goals and focus of your interview, is always important.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Read over your interview notes and listen to any audio / video recordings you have. Utilizing both whenever available will allow you to thoroughly consider both the highlights of the interview and the most significant themes to emerge from it. These, in turn, will inform your outline of what information your essay will cover and how it will appear.^{[9]
  X
  Research source}
- One possible outline could be an introduction that starts with an anecdote about the interviewee and then presents your thesis statement, several key points that support the main focus, and a conclusion that summarizes the information presented. Traditional school essays often utilize a five paragraph format (introduction, three supporting paragraphs, conclusion), and this can often work with interview essays as well.
3
Develop a thesis statement. If the purpose of your essay is only to present your interviewee to your reader, your thesis will likely be a brief summary identifying the person and their background, accomplishments, and qualifications. For instance: "John Doe eagerly volunteered to serve his country in Vietnam in 1967, and is fortunate to still be here to share his story."
- If, however, the purpose of your essay is to use your interviewee's comments to support a position or examine a larger theme, your thesis will probably be a statement of that position or theme, with the interview / interviewee placed within that context. For instance: "John Doe's mixed feelings of pride and betrayal reflect those shared by many Vietnam veterans still with us."
- Regardless of essay format, make your thesis clear and concise, and be sure that the remainder of your essay refers back to it. See How to Write a Thesis Statement for more advice.
4
Flesh out your essay. The body of your essay needs to follow the selected format while supporting the thesis and providing substantial coverage of the actual interview.
- Interviews can sometimes produce a good deal of repetitive answers (even with high-quality questions), so you may need to trim repetitions and unnecessary elements from the body of your essay. Make sure that whatever material you do keep remains true to both the spirit of the interview and the overarching focus of your essay.^{[10]
  X
  Research source}
- A handout from the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina (available at http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/oral-history/) provides a wealth of valuable materials on interview essays. It includes, for instance, examples of how to utilize the same interview materials in a transcription (question-and-answer format), a presentation of individual experiences (quotations and paraphrases), and the placing of the interview / interviewee in a larger context (paraphrasing and quotations with ample explanation).
5
Proofread and revise your work. Any type of essay, including interview essays, should be thoroughly proofread and carefully revised to provide maximum clarity and impact.^{[11]
X
Trustworthy Source
Purdue Online Writing Lab
Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines
Go to source}
- Reading over the essay yourself is a good start, but it is always wise to have another set of eyes look it over as well. Another reader is likely to catch errors, repetitions, and unclear sections that you have glossed over.^{[12]
  X
  Research source}
- Go back to your original interview notes, recordings, and transcripts, and make sure that your essay continues to reflect the actual interview. Layers of editing and revising can sometimes cause the essay to drift away from the original source and intent. You may even want to let the interviewee read it over to ensure that it captures their voice.^{[13]
  X
  Research source}
6
Document your sources. Depending on your assignment, you may not need to explicitly cite the interview itself, but always check to make sure. Always cite any supplemental materials, however.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Any materials you used for research, information about the interviewee, or context for the essay itself should be referenced in the approved citation format for your essay.
- Make sure one more time that any direct quotations from your source are placed in quotation marks, and any paraphrasing is done without quotation marks. Don't put words in your subject's mouth, and respect the words that do emerge from it.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you write an effective interview paper?

Diane Stubbs
Secondary English Teacher
Diane Stubbs is a Secondary English Teacher with over 22 years of experience teaching all high school grade levels and AP courses. She specializes in secondary education, classroom management, and educational technology. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education from Wesley College.

Diane Stubbs

Secondary English Teacher

Expert Answer

Do your research! Let's say you're interviewing someone about a particular time period, like World War 2. Take time to research some of the topics your interviewee mentions—for example, if they mention the Merchant Marines, you could do some basic research on that group and include some background information in your essay.
Question

Is there a way to avoid question and answer sessions during interviews?

Community Answer

Not if the interview is in person! A job interview is by definition a question and answer session. If you really want the job or position and you know your stuff, you should have no problem answering any questions.
Question

How do I write an attention statement?

Community Answer

Pick a catchy title. Use the title as your statement, then explain what you meant by it.

Warnings

If you plan to interview someone over the telephone, permission to record the conversation is required by law.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 15 Not Helpful 3