Curiosity

Interview someone you don't know very well, someone who is at least 30 years older than you. Record the interview. Then write an expository piece about a topic you discussed. Cite at least three sources.

Interview questions... These are conversation STARTERS... follow up. Notice what doors open, and walk BOLDLY through them!

What were the circumstances of your birth?

What was different about growing up when/where you did? Your family?

What was your relationship with school?

How did you decide what do do with your life?

What were some of the most satisfying experiences of your life?

What were some of the most challenging moments of your life?

How satisfied are you with your life right now? What goes into that?

What do you regret?

What is really meaningful to you today? and what makes it meaningful? How has that changed in your lifetime?

What's fun in your life? What makes you happy?

What makes you angry? What worries you?

Once you have conducted your interview, comb through it. What intrigues you? What do you want to find out more about? Write a one-two page abstract describing the interview, the way it's leading you down an intellectual road, and the resources that you suspect might be useful in exploring it further.

Then read. Talk to people. Present your ideas to us. Take notes. At least one of your sources must be from the realm of scientific research. Read more. Think. Prewrite. Refine. Consider. Research. Talk more to your new friend, if you like.

Then write your paper. Explore the topic in some way that will fascinate us. 3-6 pages.

A guide to APA format, which is also treated in your Hacker guide, pages 163-206.