Interviews

An interview is when one person asks another a series of questions. Interviews can be carried out
face-to-face, by phone or online.

Interview Feature File

Content/Audience/Purpose  Audience for an interview depends on the subject of discussion

(R1, R2, W1)  Purpose is usually to gather information; could also be to entertain
 Content can be different from basic fact-finding (e.g. a quick call to
find out the bare facts from the emergency services after a car
accident0, to in-depth interview (e.g. quizzing a businessman about
financial irregularities)
Key Features (W2, W3)  Written in a script format, with questions from the interviewer and
answers by interviewee
 Interviewer formulates questions after thorough research and with a
clear purpose
 Uses mostly open-ended questions, with closed-ended questions
only to confirm or reiterate
 Interviewee answers the question at length, staying on the topic
 answers should not be simply factual but also explain the opinions,
feelings and intentions of the interviewee
 Cross questions maybe asked without digressing too much from the
set structure (use sparingly)
Organization, Language and  Predominantly formal register, but conversational informal
Style (W2, W3, W4) expressions maybe used
 A friendly tone can be used
 Expert vocabulary where appropriate
 Use question tags
SPaG Conventions  Mixed sentence structure, but don’t have too many clauses in a
(W5) sentence – maintain a conversational tone
 Conversational punctuation like ‘…’ , ‘?’ , ‘!’, ‘-’
 Speech marks are not needed – write down the name of the
interviewer (or just ‘Interviewer’) and interviewee to the left side,
put a colon and write what they say.
 Use send person personal pronouns (‘you’, ‘your’) to address the
interviewee
 Varied tenses can be used, but usually present/present continuous is
dominantly used based on the issue being discussed.
 Interjections such as oh, wow, well, umm, etc. can be used as fillers

Tenses in Interviews Additional Tips

1 The bullet list on the exam question

specifies the questions you need to
formulate for the interview – do not make
up more questions.
2 Your interviewee should do most of the
talking.
3 Do not overuse fillers, question tags or
conversational punctuation
4 Stage directions can sometimes be used to
make the conversation seem more
realistic.
Interview Writing Frame (W2, R5)
An interview is written like a script, in a question-answer format.

Interviewer/Reporter  Start with short introductory greetings.

(Give a name if  Clearly state the topic of the interview.
known or needed)  Ask a short, open-ended question
Interviewee (Give a Interviewee answers the question. Stay on the topic. answers should not be simply
name) factual but also explain the opinions, feelings and intentions of the interviewee
Interviewer Question
Interviewee Answer
Interviewer Question
Interviewee Answer
Interviewer Closing comments/saluations

Word Bank (W3, W4, W5)

Phrases for Agreeing Phrases for Disagreeing Phrases for emphasis
I’m afraid I agree with you. I’d say the exact opposite. Certainly.
No doubt about it. I’m afraid I disagree. I want your listeners to be in no doubt.
That’s for sure. No, I am not so sure about that. Let me be clear about this
That’s so true. That’s not always true. Let me tell you
Exactly! That’s not always the case. Purely and simply
I have to side with you on this one. Not necessarily.

Question Tags

Negative Tags Positive Tags

Isn’t it? Mustn’t I? Can’t I? Is it? Can I? Should he?
Aren’t you? Shouldn’t he? Won’t you? Have we? Must we? Are you?
Haven’t we? Weren’t we? Do you? Did you?
Don’t you? Wasn’t I? Will they? Will you?

Sentence Openers for Open Ended Questions

Why do you like… What was your What is the most What is the process What is…
best/worst/wierdest… important chance… for…
How did going to …. How important do you What will the future What strategies do you Which techniques/ ways
(place) help…. think… of…. look like? use to make…. to…. have you found
decisions? effective?
If you could …. what What …. do you like? Why do people/ he/ How have the What is your best work or
would it be like? she ….(do something)? standards of school story?
…changed over the
years?
What are the best How would things What would you What did you learn What is the reasoning
things about…. change if… change if… from/about…. behind….
How do you usually…. What lessons can we How has the world How does the value of If the
learn from… changed since… … differ from…. allegation/conspiracy is
baseless, would you say…
How would you How did ….change What situations How has ….shaped the How can …. be
tweak… you? should we dread… course of history? imporoved?
How would you How would you How would …. feel if What could…. do to…. Is …. method in research
compare …. with … describe… ….. considered unethical?
What is the story The must have been Was that the worst What would a How could we prepare
behind… the funniest/nicest…. mistake you made? perfect…. look like? for….
How do you think … How should the What would be the How did you come to What made you look up
will change the future? government fix… effect of… like… to…
What are the How does…. work? In what ways do you Given the resources, What are the most
conditions for think the current how would you go significant
something to be generation can…./is about… advantages/disadvantages
considered… different from… of….
Why do you think How would the world How will …. change in How could we What are some of
human race is so change if… the future? integrate…… with ….. society’s …..
driven to,,,,