Classroom activities

Below are some class activities for groups of three or four students. Discuss the questions for each activity and make notes. When you have completed an activity summarise your findings and prepare a brief report for the class.

1. Analyse a profile

Choose a profile that interests you from an edition of Australian Catholics.

a) What makes the profile interesting to you? Here are some starting points:
•    you have heard of this person and would like to know more about them
•    the profile has human interest
•    you have something in common with this person
•    this person inspires you to do something
•    the profile is about a topic you are interested in

b) What do you think was the writer’s main purpose in this article?

c) Was this article based on an interview or other research? 

d) What questions might the journalist have asked the interviewee?

e) How have the interviewee’s words been used? Are they quoted or paraphrased by the interviewer?

f) What information has the writer chosen to include? What information may have been omitted?

g) Choose a quotation used in the article and discuss why the journalist might have decide to include it.

h) Has the writer used information that did not come directly from the interviewee; for instance, another person’s quotations or information from other sources?

2. Planning an interview

a) Make a short list of people you might interview.

b) What information will you find out about the interviewee in advance? How will you find it?

c) Write 5 or 6 questions might you ask the interviewee.

d) Suggest a title for your article.

3. Researching your topic

List the types of research you will undertake; for example, organisations or experts you could contact.  

Compiled by Mary Manning for Jesuit Communications, 2008.