reflection 3.5

Excuses, Excuses

In unit 3.5, we learned how to write a feature story.
Before beginning the planning process for my feature story, I had to pick one of the 15 prompts given for the feature story. After considering which prompt I thought I could cover thoroughly in a few interviews, I finally chose the question: What are the best excuses faculty members hear most often from students who miss classes, assignments and tests?

Photo from Dai Manuel.

In the past week, I have come up with interview questions for both students and faculty. The questions I created will help me get the information I need to create a correct tone and stance for my feature story. My interview questions are:
Interview Questionnaire – Students

1. How often do you miss class per week?
2. What about the class, or teachers, makes you not want to attend?
3. If you miss class without a legitimate excuse and miss an attendance check, assignment, or test, what excuse first comes into your head to tell your teacher in hopes that you will be able to make up the points?
4. When making up an excuse as to why you missed class (or an assignment) when you know it’s your own fault, in honesty, do you feel bad for yourself or realize that it’s your own fault?
5. What are the most common excuses you hear others use for missing class, assignments or tests

Interview Questionnaire – Faculty

1. How often do you think it’s okay for students to miss your class on a weekly basis?
2. Say a student constantly misses your class, but regularly comes up with an illegitimate excuse as to why. Do you think to yourself: “Oh well, they are just hurting themselves” OR “How disrespectful, they should not make excuses for their mistakes”?
3. Do you find yourself more willing to invest in the students who always attend your class?
4. What are the most common excuses students use to tell you why they missed a class, an assignment, or a test?
5. Do you have any final thoughts regarding being a faculty member who has to constantly hear excuses from students who miss work?

After writing these interview questions, I chose which kind of lead I was going to use and started receive and organize my interview answers.

In this process, I am picking up how to write a feature story from the outside looking in. As a student, it has been hard to keep my opinion out of my story. However, this is necessary in a feature story. Knowing how to structure an interesting and inverted pyramid-style story is important for a PR professional, because this kind of writing is used time and time again. I like this assignment because it is an opportunity to be creative while still being newsworthy. I'd love to know how professionals make feature stories credible and interesting, even in situations where they cannot as easily use interviews or other peoples' opinions!