Parent Letter for interview

2008

Dear Parent or Guardian,


During this final semester, your son or daughter will do an interviewing project intended to encourage practice with using people as sources of information and as an exercise in creative non-fiction. The person your child selects needs to be: a good talker, willing to show interest and give the student time, and a non-family member at least one generation older. Your suggestions, guidance and help may be useful in this area.


In school, we will discuss interviewing, write, and role-play interview questions. Outside of school, the student will conduct two face-to-face interviews. The first interview is done to get a whole, but sketchy picture of the person’s life, career and interests (Due ____); the second and final interview (Due _______) focuses in depth on 1-3 subjects of interest to the student and to the subject that will help lead the students to create a work of creative non-fiction regarding the subject. The second interview should be audio taped. Tape recorders are available for check out from their teacher if needed but any help from parents in obtaining this will be greatly appreciated. Creative, interesting writing always results from the project. The writing phase of the project will begin after the first interview is completed. Following the conferences and rewrites, I will see and take a final grade on the writing. The writing will then be followed with a thank-you note mailed to the adult your child interviewed.

How can you help? Encourage whenever it’s needed. You may need to help the initial contact. Tenth graders are skilled users of the telephone and can make the call to set up the appointment themselves. Help with any phase of the brainstorming-- who to interview, ways to make the contact, what questions to ask. Help with the role playing -- role play what to say or request on the phone, role-play and rehearse before the interviews, role-play and rehearse before the interviews, role play to try out wording of questions, role-play with a tape recorder to avoid technical difficulties. Help with transportation if they need it. Keep this letter posted on your refrigerator door as a reminder of the due dates.


Thank you now, in advance, for your help. Please sign and return only the bottom portion of this slip to indicate that you have seen and discussed this assignment with your child. Call or send a note to school if you have further questions.

Caleb Kostechka Due Dates:
10th Grade Literature & the Arts


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Please return this slip by ________________.
This indicates I have seen and discussed the project with my son or daughter.

Student Name:________________________


Parents/guardian signature___________________________