What is Interview Article Writing?

S2-SA3-0362

Grade Level:

Class 5

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

Interview article writing is when you talk to someone, ask them questions, and then write a story or report based on their answers. It's like being a detective who listens carefully and then tells everyone what they found out, but about a person's thoughts or experiences.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine your school principal gives a speech about new sports facilities. An interview article would be you talking to the principal afterwards, asking questions like 'What new sports will we have?' or 'How will this help students?' Then, you write a short article for the school notice board using their answers.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's say you want to write an article about your favourite teacher, Ms. Sharma, for the school magazine.

1. **Choose your topic:** You decide to write about 'Ms. Sharma's Favourite Books and Why She Loves Teaching'.

2. **Prepare questions:** Write down questions like: 'What's your favourite book and why?', 'What made you want to become a teacher?', 'What's the best part about teaching Class 5?', 'Any advice for students who find reading difficult?'

3. **Conduct the interview:** Politely ask Ms. Sharma these questions and carefully listen to her answers. You can even jot down quick notes.

4. **Organise your notes:** Look at your notes and group similar answers together. Decide what main points you want to include in your article.

5. **Write the introduction:** Start with an interesting sentence to grab attention, like 'Meet Ms. Sharma, our beloved English teacher, who believes every book holds a new adventure.'

6. **Write the body paragraphs:** Use Ms. Sharma's answers to write paragraphs about her favourite books and her passion for teaching. Use her own words (quotes) where appropriate, like, 'Ms. Sharma shared, "The best part of teaching is seeing a student's 'aha!' moment."

7. **Write the conclusion:** End with a summary or a thought-provoking statement, like 'Her words remind us that learning is a lifelong journey, much like turning the pages of a good book.'

8. **Review and edit:** Read your article to check for any spelling mistakes, grammar errors, or sentences that don't make sense. Make sure it flows well and clearly tells the story of your interview.

**Answer:** You now have a complete interview article about Ms. Sharma for your school magazine!

Why It Matters

Interview article writing helps us understand people's stories and share important information. It's crucial for journalists who report news, historians who document past events, and even lawyers who gather facts for cases. Learning this skill can open doors to exciting careers in media, communication, and research.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Asking only 'yes' or 'no' questions. | CORRECTION: Ask 'open-ended' questions that encourage the person to share more details and stories. For example, instead of 'Do you like teaching?', ask 'What do you enjoy most about teaching?'

MISTAKE: Forgetting to listen carefully and just focusing on your next question. | CORRECTION: Actively listen to the answers. Sometimes, the best follow-up questions come from what the person just said, not from your prepared list.

MISTAKE: Writing down everything the person says word-for-word without making sense of it. | CORRECTION: Take notes of key points and interesting quotes. When writing the article, organise these points logically and use your own words to connect them, adding quotes only when they are powerful or important.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: You are interviewing your neighbour about their favourite festival. What is one open-ended question you could ask? | ANSWER: What is your favourite festival and what makes it special to you?

QUESTION: You interviewed your local shopkeeper about how their business changed during the pandemic. You have notes about fewer customers and new online delivery options. How would you start a sentence to include a direct quote from them about the challenge? | ANSWER: The shopkeeper shared, "It was tough when..." or "According to the shopkeeper, the biggest challenge was..."

QUESTION: Imagine you're writing an article about a local hero who helps stray animals. You interviewed them and noted: 'loves animals since childhood', 'started a small shelter', 'needs donations for food'. Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) for your article using these points, including one short, imaginary quote. | ANSWER: Our local hero, Mrs. Devi, has loved animals since she was a child. This passion led her to start a small shelter in her backyard, providing a safe home for many stray animals. She told us, "Every animal deserves love and care." Mrs. Devi is always looking for donations to help feed her furry friends.

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of these is NOT a good step in writing an interview article?

Preparing a list of questions before the interview.

Asking only 'yes' or 'no' questions to get quick answers.

Listening carefully to the person's answers.

Organising your notes before writing the article.

The Correct Answer Is:

Asking only 'yes' or 'no' questions (Option B) is not a good step because it limits the information you get. Open-ended questions encourage the interviewee to share more details and stories, which makes for a richer article. The other options are all good practices.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

Journalists in India constantly write interview articles for newspapers like The Hindu or Dainik Bhaskar, and online news portals. They interview politicians, celebrities, scientists from ISRO, or even everyday people affected by floods or festivals, to bring their stories and perspectives to the public. Even social media influencers often 'interview' their followers or experts to create engaging content.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

INTERVIEW: A formal meeting where one person asks questions of another to gather information | ARTICLE: A written piece of non-fiction that provides information or discusses a topic | OPEN-ENDED QUESTION: A question that cannot be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no' and requires a detailed response | QUOTE: To repeat exactly what someone else has said or written | JOURNALISM: The activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information.

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you know how to write an interview article, you can explore 'Feature Writing'. Feature writing builds on interview skills but focuses on telling a more in-depth, creative story about a person, place, or event, often using multiple interviews and research.