Interview Story Checklist
Opening too little enough too much
1. Does the opening (first or first few paragraphs) introduce and establish the importance of the interview subject in his/her field?      
2. If the subject is not (yet) doing significant work in the field (e.g., is just starting out or works in a marginal area), does the opening establish why an interview with this person is still of interest?      
3. Does the opening grab and hold your interest (e.g., with a strong image, scene, or anecdote)?      
Content too little enough too much
4. Are the following categories of language present?  
  • Your words (e.g., commentary, description, exposition, summary)?
    		•       
  • The scientist's spoken words (quoted speech)?
    		•       
  • The scientist's spoken words in your words (i.e., paraphrase)?
    		•       
  • The scientist's written words (i.e., quotes from his/her publications)?
    		•       
  • Optional: Other people's words about the scientist (published or spoken)?
    		•       
    5. Are the following areas of interest covered?
    (The interview and exposition should cover at least four of these areas.)    		  
  • Scientific research
    		•       
  • Scientific practice (e.g., what's it like working with a particle accelerator?)
    		•       
  • Professional history
    		•       
  • Personal history
    		•       
  • Teaching
    		•       
  • Extra-scientific views (on politics, culture, life, etc.)
    		•       
  • Professional advice (e.g., for young scientists)
    		•       
  • Jokes and stories
    		•       
    6. Is there description of setting?      
    7. Is there description of the scientist's gestures or other physical actions?      
    8. Is there description of the writer/interviewer's physical actions?      
    9. Is the key scientific knowledge translated clearly?      
    10. Is there background information to help explain the scientist's research?      
    11. Does the interview story present a key theme – either the writer-interviewer's own theme or the scientist's?      
      Remember our two main examples from class:
    • the Watson story advanced the writer's theme that Watson is a wacky individualist;

    • the Wilson story advanced the scientist's theme that we are surrounded by exciting but overlooked worlds of micro-fauna that need to be protected just as the world of macro-fauna does.

    		 
    Quotation Technique too little enough too much
    12. Are the interview subject's quoted words kept brief (i.e., between a phrase and two sentences)?      
    13. Are the scientist's quoted words anchored?      
    14. Is the anchoring various (not just "he says" or "she says")?      
    15. Do the writer's words give context/introduce the scientist's words?      
    Style too little enough too much
    16. Does the interview story show more than tell? (e.g., rather than tell us that X is a kind and intelligent soul, the writer shows us evidence or examples of X's kindness and intelligence)      
    17. Are there helpful analogies (one or so per page = enough)?      
    18. Is there vivid imagery?      
    19. Are there other stylistic devices?      
    20. Is there sentence variety?      
    21. Is the paragraph length relatively short?      
    Ending too little enough too much
    22. Does the ending (last paragraph or so) resonate with the opening?      
    23. Does the last paragraph end with the scientist's words?