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Informational Interview Paper
The selected interview for the assignment is “Informational Interview” involving an interviewer exploring the reasons for success of the interviewee as an established person in the film industry. One of the things that make the interview informational is the skillful probing of answers by the interviewer and the directional insight given by the interviewee. In addition, the interview is information-seeking. For instance, after the interviewer asks about how the filmmaker got successful, he takes time to explain how he started with filming (Informational Interview, 2010). He expounds and narrates how his passion for filming grew from the time of his childhood to the time he started the career.
One of the concepts of from this week’s material that applies in the interview video is the preparation for the interview. From the week’s learning, a key element of preparation is the setting of the goal that defines the purpose of the interview. In this video, the interviewer had a well predetermined plan on how to execute the information-seeking dialogue. She had pre-created questions and the purpose of her interview was clear from the beginning. This promoted the rhetorical situation by having clear questions that were simple to address by the interviewee.
Another concept is the nature of questions, especially the open-headed questions. According to this week’s learning, asking open-headed questions motivates an interviewee to more information by talking extensively. In this interview, the interviewer asks such questions and opens the room for the interviewee. The open-headed nature of her questions allows the interviewee to not only answer, but also provide more information. The open rhetorical situation appeals the interviewee to open up his personal story and explain his passion for the filming industry in a way that inspires anyone who listens and watches the interview.
Reference
Informational Interview, 2010, YouTube Video, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTbbrpiA8F8> September 23, 2016