English Assignment | Online Assignment

Discussion 2

Overview

In Module 3 you explored how influential interviews can be in your research. A great interview can give you more relevant information than most print sources. What makes an interview great? First, choose a relevant expert to interview. The more knowledgeable and credible your interview subject, the better the interview will be. However, even if you have the most knowledgeable and most credible expert to interview, if you ask the wrong questions, your interview will fall flat.

In this discussion you will brainstorm and revise your interview questions to help ensure you can conduct the best possible interview.

You should spend approximately 2 hours on this assignment.

Instructions

1. Prepare: Choose an expert to interview. Use the same expert guidelines you used for your Module 3 interview. Choose the most credible, knowledgeable expert you can find for the topic you chose in Discussion 1. Set up an appointment for your interview.
2. Think: Think about what you want to know about your topic. What information is most interesting or significant to you? What lines of thought or argument do you most want to follow? What do you think your interview subject will be most knowledgeable about?
3. Write: List the name and occupation/expertise of the person you will interview. Write at least seven well-constructed, thoughtful interview questions. Create specific questions that are not leading, biased, or confusing.

Discussion 3

Overview

To truly understand the many perspectives on an issue, you need to see how the issue impacts people who have a stake in it. Seeing this impact firsthand is valuable in helping yourself understand the significance of the issue and the importance in addressing it.

For this discussion you will conduct two types of field research to help you better understand your topic.

You should spend approximately 2 hours on this assignment.

Instructions

1. Research: Conduct the interview you planned in Discussion 2.
2. Research: Conduct a second type of field research. Consider creating and carrying out a survey (you should have at least 100 responses to consider your survey effective enough); volunteering at a local place of government or local shelter/charitable organization and observing during your volunteer time; visiting a local museum; attending a rally or political event; or touring a manufacturing or processing plant, correctional facility, courtroom, or hospital. The point is for you to experience your topic firsthand. Be creative! This research must be conducted during the course of this module (you should not draw on prior experience), and you must be actively involved in your topic (conventional text research will not be accepted).
3. Think: What did you learn from your observations and interview? What significant information did you gain? What new questions do you have or what new directions might you want to pursue after completing this field research?
4. Write:
   • Write one paragraph explaining who you interviewed and summarizing the main points you learned from the interview.  
   • Write a second paragraph explaining your field research activity and summarizing what you learned from your observations.  
   • Write a third paragraph analyzing and interpreting the information you gained from this field research. Explain how it will shape or affect your research and what new ideas or questions you have.