The National Study of Writing Instruction - University at Albany

Student Interview Schedule: First Interview
School/District:
__________________________________________________________________________
Interviewee/Grade:
_______________________________________________________________________
Interviewer: _________________________________________________
Date________________________
[Note: Relate questions or follow-up questions directly to samples of student work where possible.]
1. Tell me a little about yourself and how you see yourself as a writer.
2. Tell me about the kinds of writing you do in the different classes you are taking.
[List classes and types of writing for each.]
3. Are any of these types of writing required for state or other exams (e.g., AP, college entrance)?
4. Let’s look at the writing you did so far this semester. Of the writing you have done for English,
how much do we have here? (List specific assignments that are missing, and estimate how
complete the collection is for each type of writing. E.g., 4 out of 7 analyses of literature; 3 out of
3 book reports.) Repeat for social studies, science, and math.
5. What were your favorite writing assignments this semester? Why? Which assignments did you
like least? Why?
6. Tell me the steps you took for one of your longer writing assignments in English? [Look for
assignment prompt, introductory activities, planning, drafting, revising, etc. and time spent,
difficulties, computer use, etc.] [Go through this process for one or more of the writing samples
of one paragraph of more in each subject that included extensive writing.]
7. How much writing and what types of writing do you do to prepare for state or national testing?
[Talk about writing in each subject area.]
8. Tell me about your use of technology for writing. [List by subject, adding answers to each
question.] Do any of your teachers use computers or other technology to support
your writing assignments? How? How and how much do you use computers for writing in
various subjects? How and how much do you use the Internet to assist you with writing
assignments?
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