In this project, you'll hone your interview skills and gain insight into the goals and challenges of professionals. You'll interview someone who is a leader in a non-profit organization, the owner or
Major Assignment: Client Interview Report
TECM 4180
Description | In this project, you'll hone your interview skills and gain insight into the goals and challenges of professionals. Interview someone who is a leader in a non-profit organization, the owner or manager of a business, or a professional in a field that interests you. You'll determine the questions to ask, you'll conduct the interview, and you'll write a report that presents information and recommendations to your readers. This project includes these deliverables:
Contact the interview subject early in the semester and schedule the interview during the specified week. When contacting the person, you could say something like this: "I wonder if you would be willing to help me with a class project. I need to interview someone about the problems and challenges of people in your job role/business/nonprofit field. I would like to do a 30-minute interview over the phone. The content will be used only for my class project and won't be published anywhere. It would really be helpful to me if you could spare the time during the week of ______. Are you available for an interview?" Note: You must conduct the interview face-to-face or by phone/video conferencing. Emailed or texted interview questions often result in short, fragmented answers and will not provide the quality of content required for this report. |
Audience | A researcher who wants to identify the top concerns and challenges of people in the same situation as the interviewee, for the purpose of identifying research priorities |
Purpose | The reader is looking for information about the top concerns and challenges of people in the same situation as the interviewee. Your position statement will be something like "my interview with ________ suggest several important topics for further research." Your goal is to explain these topics and their significance, to help the reader to determine research priorities. |
Length | 750 words minimum plus Works Cited |
Suggested Questions for the Interview | Before you conduct the interview, determine what types of information you would like from your subject. Your goal is to learn more about your profession and/or workplace communication, so use the questions below to help guide this preparation. Note: You may find that some of the answers are not interesting and therefore might not make it into your final report. Plan on collecting more information than you will integrate into the final report.
|
Structure and Content | Include these elements (as described in the Spence book):
|
Required Sources | The Essential Background section must include information from at least 1 credible source that was published in the last five years.
|
Format | The report will be created in Word by using a template that conveys professionalism. The text will be a readable size. Headings, sub-headings, figure captions, bullets, tables, etc., will be used to ensure a readable and professional design. The Works Cited list will be properly formatted, as discussed in class. |
Grading Criteria | Purpose/Audience Everything in the report supports the purpose stated in the intro, and it is consistent with the assignment scenario. For full points, it consistently focuses on a clearly stated position and the purpose of helping the specified audience to understand and use this information. Development/Support Descriptive details, examples, explanations, etc., are used to develop the information and the recommendations; there is no redundant or extraneous information. For full points, the document is full of attention-getting and memorable details and as a result is useful, relevant, and actionable. It meets all requirements for sources, which are synthesized and properly cited. Organization/Format The report follows the required structure. It presents the content in well-structured paragraphs and uses transitional phrases to create smooth flow. For full points, it presents information in a manner that makes it easy for the reader to find, use, and understand the information. Professional Ethos The tone is conversational yet professional and serious. The language is characterized by active voice, concise sentences, and correct grammar/spelling/word choice. There are no $20 words and phrases and no wordiness. For full points, the report conveys the information with a strong sense of professionalism and accountability. |
Due Dates | See Canvas for due dates for the preliminary and final drafts of the report. |