How to Write an Interview Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

Are you curious about transforming an interview into a captivating essay? You’re exactly where you need to be.

This blog post will help you learn how to write an interview essay that engages your readers and highlights the interviewee’s unique insights.

An interview essay is a form of writing that captures a person’s views and experiences on a specific topic through an interview. This type of essay stands out because it emphasizes the interviewee’s quotes and anecdotes alongside your interpretation and analysis.

The aim is to offer a deeper comprehension of the individual and the subject matter, creating an emotional resonance with your audience.

Penning an interview essay is rewarding and enjoyable, yet it demands preparation and certain skills. We’ll navigate you through every step of crafting a successful interview essay, from selecting the ideal interviewee and questions to conducting the interview and writing the essay. Along with tips and examples, this guide will equip you to produce an interview essay that dazzles your readers and showcases your writing prowess.

People Also Read

• How to Structure an Informative Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Write an Interpretive Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide & an Example
• How to Write a Diagnostic Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide (With Example)

What is an interview paper?

An interview paper is a type of essay writing where the writer conducts an interview with a subject and then writes an essay based on the question and answer format. The interview paper is typically written in an essay format, including direct quotes from the interviewee and paraphrasing their responses. The key points from the interview are summarized to present the interview findings effectively.

What is an Essay Based on an Interview?

An essay based on an interview is a piece of writing structured around an interview’s question-and-answer format. The interview process involves creating an interview with a subject and then using their responses to form the basis of the essay or paper. When you write your essay, you will use the information from the interview to support your thesis or main argument. By incorporating direct quotes and insights from the interviewee, you can add depth and credibility to your writing.

How to prepare for and how to write an interview essay

Before you can craft an interview essay, preparing for the interview itself is crucial. This starts with selecting your subject, delving deep into research, and organizing the interview details.

Here are strategies to effectively navigate through each phase.

Choosing Your Subject

To begin with, you should contact your interviewees to set a place and time to meet. Remember to get permission (written consent) to record their answers.

Initiating the process requires deciding on your interviewee—someone who brings relevant knowledge, experience, or viewpoints to the theme you’re aiming to delve into.

If your essay revolves around a career, choose an individual with noteworthy credentials or success. Also, gauge the potential subject’s availability, accessibility, and eagerness to participate in the dialogue.

Finding the right candidate might necessitate contacting multiple prospects before securing one who consents to the interview.

Be sure to also review our article on How to Avoid Plagiarism in Essay Writing to learn proper citation techniques and ensure your work is completely original.

Researching Your Subject

Subsequently, research both your subject and the interview topic. This groundwork lays the foundation for formulating insightful questions and fostering a connection and authenticity with your subject.

Leverage diverse information sources, including books, articles, websites, social media, and personal recommendations. It’s also wise to review any previous interviews or publications featuring your subject. The more informed you are, the more poised you’ll be for the interview.

Setting Up the Interview

The culmination of preparation involves coordinating the interview logistics. Reach out well in advance to secure your subject’s consent and availability. Clarify the interview’s purpose, format, and expected duration while openly inquiring about any preferences or concerns they might have.

Decide together on the interview mode and venue—in-person, over the phone, via video, or email. Furthermore, confirm the interview date and time and issue a reminder a day beforehand. Ensure you have the necessary materials, such as a recorder, notebook, pen, or camera.

Guideline for Conducting an Interview

Once you’ve prepared for the interview, it’s time to meet your interviewee. This phase is critical, impacting the quality and quantity of information you’ll gather for your essay.

Below are some strategies for an effective interview.

Creating a Comfortable Environment

First, please ensure the interview setting is comfortable: select a quiet, private, and well-lit location to minimize distractions and interruptions. A warm greeting, a clear introduction of yourself and the interview’s purpose, and gratitude for your time and participation set a positive tone. If you plan to record the conversation, please ask for their permission first.

Building rapport and trust is crucial. Achieve this through eye contact, smiling, nodding, and positive body language. Remember to avoid judgment, criticism, or argumentation, and always respect their views and emotions.

Asking the Right Questions

I would say that having a list of well-thought-out questions is essential, but please stay flexible and responsive to the conversation’s flow. Begin with simple, general questions to ease your subject into the discussion, then progress to more specific and thought-provoking ones. Use open-ended questions to encourage detailed expressions of their thoughts and feelings, and steer clear of leading, biased, or offensive queries.

Don’t hesitate to ask for clarifications or further details on intriguing or vague responses.

Don’t begin writing your reflective essay until you’ve reviewed our easy-to-follow guide on How to Write a Reflective Essay for useful tips on structure, content and creating thoughtful self-analysis.

Example questions to ask an interview subject

• What inspired you to get into this field/industry?
• What does a typical day/week look like in your job?
• What would you say are the biggest challenges of your work?
• What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
• What skills or qualifications are most important to be successful in your role?
• How has your job/industry changed throughout your career?
• Where do you see your field/industry heading in the next 5-10 years?
• What advice would you give to someone entering this career today?
• What is one thing you wish you had known in your career?
• Is there anything else you think would be interesting for readers to know about your work/experience?

Recording the Interview

For accurate future reference, ensure the interview is recorded. Whether you use a recorder, a notebook, or both, be prepared. If opting for a recorder, check its functionality beforehand and place it adequately to capture clear audio. Importantly, please secure consent before recording, and let your subject know they can request to stop it anytime.

When taking notes, focus on capturing the essence—key points, quotes, and stories—rather than transcribing verbatim. Employ shorthand or abbreviations to optimize time and space, and review your notes soon after to fill in any gaps.

Writing the Interview Essay

Once you’ve completed the interview, it’s time to transform the raw material of the conversation into a refined and captivating essay. This phase involves converting your notes and the interviewee’s insights into a compelling narrative that engages your readers.

Below are key strategies for crafting an effective interview essay.

Organizing Your Notes and Transcripts

You can start by organizing your notes and transcripts. This crucial step helps you pinpoint essential themes, ideas, and quotes to feature in your essay. I suggest you use highlighting, categorizing, or outlining methods to streamline this process.

It’s also vital to meticulously review your materials for errors, inconsistencies, or missing information. If you need to, please don’t hesitate to contact your interviewee for clarification. you need to

Constructing a Narrative Using Interview Questions

Your next task is to weave a narrative that brings the interviewee’s story and viewpoint to life. Deciding on your essay’s format and structure—narrative, question-answer, or thematic—is paramount.

You can begin with a compelling introduction that sets the scene, introducing the interviewee and the interview’s objectives. This is followed by a clear thesis statement that encapsulates your essay’s central premise. The body paragraphs should then intertwine the interviewee’s responses, quotes, and stories with your analysis and commentary.

Employ transitions, headings, and subheadings to ensure a seamless and logical progression throughout the essay. Conclude by summarizing the main insights and underscoring the interview’s value.

Revising and Polishing

The final step entails revising and refining your interview essay. Rigorously proofread your work to eliminate spelling, grammar, punctuation, or formatting mistakes. Also, scrutinize your essay for logical, factual, or stylistic flaws to ensure clarity, conciseness, and consistency.

Seek feedback from peers, instructors, or professional editors and integrate their insights to enhance your work. Remember to cite your sources accurately, adhering to the appropriate citation format, be it MLA, APA, or Chicago. Through diligent revision and polishing, your interview essay will meet the highest standards of excellence and precision.

Key Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Narrative Essay Based on an Interview

Dos

1. Do plan your essay structure before conducting the interview. Develop a list of important questions that will help make your essay compelling. Tailor your questions to the purpose of your essay.
2. Write in the first or third-person point of view, depending on whether you want to be part of the narrative. Presenting the interview in narrative format allows you to engage readers by bringing them through the interview as it takes place.
3. Cite any supplemental materials from the interview using an approved citation format. You should also cite direct quotes from the interview whenever they are included in your essay.
4. Seek written permission from the interviewee to use any information from the interview for your essay. Request to record the interview if possible, but take thorough notes immediately after the interview concludes while impressions are fresh.
5. You can do basic research on the topic/person you plan to interview so you can ask follow-up questions.
6. Interview in a quiet, undisturbed space where you can speak freely without interruptions.
7. Do transcribe or summarize your original interview notes as part of your writing process. Having the full details will help make your essay clear and concise.
8. Do reference background information about the interviewee/interview context for readers throughout the essay.

Don’ts:

1. Don’t rely solely on direct quotes from the interview in the body of your essay. Please use quotes carefully and instead focus on explaining the thoughts and impressions you got from your talk with care. The essay refers back to but is not a comprehensive retelling of the interview.
2. Don’t make claims or repeat information given to you without a citation if it did not come directly from the interview.
3. Don’t lose sight of the purpose of your essay – the interview content should serve the goal/topic, not be an end in itself.
4. Don’t use first-person pronouns if writing in third-person format or vice versa, as this can confuse readers.
5. Don’t forget to proofread your work carefully to ensure any details that could identify participants are kept confidential if needed.

Interview Essay Writing Examples

Exploring the Future of Artificial Intelligence

Get Help With Your Interview Essay Paper

We are the best in the industry. Look no further if you need help with your narrative interview essay paper. Our expert writers can assist you in crafting a good interview and coming up with questions you can ask to make your paper stand out. With proper in-text citations and a focus on academic writing, we guarantee a compelling essay to impress your readers. Place your order today by clicking the ORDER NOW button above to get our expert writing help.

Conclusion

Writing an interview essay can be fun and rewarding, allowing you to share someone’s story and perspective with your readers. Nevertheless, it involves a degree of planning, skills, and creativity. In this guide, we’ve outlined four essential steps for crafting an engaging interview essay: preparing for the interview, conducting the interview, writing the interview essay, and revising and polishing the essay.

Also, we’ve given you practical tips and examples to help you on this journey. By adhering to this guide, you can produce an interview essay that will impress your audience and highlight your writing prowess.

With the knowledge of how to write an interview essay, why not take the plunge? Seek out an individual with an intriguing story or opinion and inquire if they’re open to being interviewed. Afterward, apply the steps and advice detailed in this guide and create your own interview essay.

You’ll be amazed at the wealth of knowledge and creativity a simple conversation can unleash. Happy writing!

Frequently Asked Questions