Composing and Revising

Gaining expert perspective

Interviews and questionnaires can supply detailed and interesting information on many subjects.

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A nursing student interested in the care of terminally ill patients might interview hospice nurses.
A criminal justice major might speak with a local judge about alternative sentencing for first offenders.
A future teacher might conduct a survey on the use of electronic whiteboard technology in local elementary schools.

It is a good idea to record interviews to preserve any vivid quotations that you might want to weave into your essay. Circulating questionnaires by e-mail or on a Web site will facilitate responses. Keep questions simple, and specify a deadline to ensure that you get a reasonable number of replies.

Gaining expert perspective

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