First, determine what you want to find out through an interview. Are there any questions you are having difficulty answering through library and Internet research? Are there any individuals who, if interviewed, would add credibility to your speech?

Next, decide whom to interview. The person you talk with should be an expert on your subject. If your school has a department focused on your subject, ask the chair or another knowledgeable person to recommend faculty members who would make good interview subjects for your speech.

Off-campus sources—such as high-ranking members of political organizations, government agencies, businesses, nonprofit entities, and community groups or clubs—also can prove useful. Many of these individuals are “people persons” who will appreciate the opportunity to talk about their areas of expertise. If the person whom you would like to interview is too busy, he or she may give you a lead about another expert you might interview.

Students who have not researched their speech in advance sometimes rely on friends, family members, or neighbors for interviews because they can be found at the last minute. Although these sources may be able to provide lay testimony on some topics, they generally are not the type of credible research sources that instructors will expect. Check with your instructor in advance before using this type of interview to obtain evidence.

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