Researching A Writer Listening Assignment

[John Bailey]

Writer’s Craft 4U

Name:___________________________


Interview With An Author

Instructions: Go to CBC.ca and find the  show “Writers And Company”. Select one of the interviews and listen to it. During the interview take point form notes and and then complete the following questions in full sentences. Submit your notes and a good copy of your report with the assignment. (Point form notes 10 marks; Answers 20 marks)

1. Who is the subject?
2. What is the background of the author (their birthplace, studies, previous novels, past)
3. What is the novel/text that is being discussed
4. How does Wachtel describe that text and what it is about?
5. At point 20:00  of the interview what is being discussed? Why do you think Wachtel has asked this particular question?
6. What is the most interesting question of the discussion? Why do you choose this question? Why did you think it was an interesting question to ask?
7. Find a photo of the author and submit it with this assignment (8x11)
8. Find a copy of the cover of  book and submit it with this assignment (8x11)
9. How does the cover of the book suggest some of the content of the text based on what you have heard in the interview? (For example if the text is about a woman living in a castle, does the cover of the book have a picture of the woman, or the castle?)
10. What do you find interesting about the main character being discussed in the novel? How does the author talk about this character?
11. How does Wachtel end the interview? What is the last question she asks? Why do you think that is important?
12. What did you learn about the writing process and the life of writing from listening to this interview?
13. What question would you like to ask the author? Why?