Profile / Exposition Getting Going on Paper #2

Curious Place – career, community, college Person – career, community, college Some more: That huge church on Tyler they just built / a religion different from your own (mosque, temple) Is poker still big? No child left behind? Find one that is. Are car salesmen crooked? Talk to and observe one. The best subjects tap into existing social concerns and trends. Piercing?

Criteria a subject you are curious about or have some special insight a subject about which (or with whom) you can get access and have time for to conduct an interview/observation a subject readers would find interesting

Preconceptions What do I already know about it? Why do I consider it intriguing? How do my preconceptions with it differ from my readers’? What values and ideas are associated with it?

Planning / Schedule If visit, date and time and how long, and what materials you may need. How long for interview? Observation? Who do you need to talk to? What’s their contact information? When will you call (if you haven’t already)? How will you introduce yourself? If research, when to the library / computer? How long?

Research What background research could you do ahead of time? Going online? Library?

Questions Write down five questions you want answers to. How do families of the deceased view the mortuary business? How did you get into this?

Testing Your Choice Presenters: Identify your subject. Explain your interest in it and why you think it will interest readers. Listeners: Tell presenters what you already know about the subject and anything that would make it interesting.

Discovering a Perspective What dominant sensory impression are you left with? How could I break it down into parts? What about it is most interesting? What’s the most important thing I have learned? What about my subject speaks to some larger cultural issue?

Considering Your Role Detached observer or participant?

Setting Goals for Drafting Your purpose and readers The beginning Description of people and places Information about the subject A narrative or topical plan A perspective on the subject An ending

If Place Place from the outside Background information What you see as you enter People and activities Tour the place Comment on it Reflect on it

If Person Begin with a vivid image of the person Use dialogue to present the first topic Narrate an anecdote or a procedure to illustrate it Second topic Evaluate or interpret what you have heard Third topic, etc Conclude with some action or dialogue

Interview Tips Arrive on time and prepared. Ease into it. Begin with yes or no questions and move into the harder ones, from “closed” question to “open” ones. Listen more than you talk Pay attention to the surroundings. Ask follow-up or to repeat, to make sure you get it right. Invite a final thought Make sure you reserve the right to contact the interviewee with questions