What Would It Be Like . . .?
For this unit, you'll be conducting primary research. Specifically, you'll be interviewing a person or people to find out what it would be like to be in their shoes. This should be, however, about something of which you have little knowledge. Gather the facts and stories. For instance, what might it be like to:
Be a poet, a cab driver, a bus driver, a student from another country, a police officer? Or, find out what a person might have experienced. Talk to a person who has seen a lot of history--a WWII veteran--and find out that person's view on how the United States has changed since that period.
Getting Started:
Get into groups of 3 or 4 people and make a list of interesting prospects. Help each other identify questions that might be useful during the interview. Find out what the other people in your group would like to know.
Even though I'm asking you to find out information about something of which you have little or no information, that doesn't mean you don't have preconceived ideas that influence your thinking. So, individually, write down some of the things you expect to find out and what you think you already know
Specifics:
Your paper should be 5 to 7 pages long, and if possible, you should also include secondary research. For example, if you interviewed a student from another country, do some research to find out how many international students attend U.S. universities or ISU. Attach your list of interview questions.
Questions for Reflection:
Look back at the writing where you discussed some of the things you expected to find out and what you thought you already knew. Did anything in your interview(s) change your ideas? How and why? What information did you find out that you did not include in this paper? Why? If you were going to revise this paper, what other information would you try to discover? Why? Who might be interested in reading what you have discovered? How would you revise your essay to be as interesting as possible for that audience?