Press Pass Teacher Guide Press Pass
Teacher's Instructional Script & Guide
10th Grade ELA
Objective
Students will master the mechanics of the professional interview by differentiating between closed and open-ended questions, practicing active listening techniques, and synthesizing raw dialogue into a cohesive narrative profile.
Pacing (90 Minutes)
00-10: Hook (The Bad Interview) 10 min
10-25: Direct Instruction (Open vs. Closed) 15 min
25-45: Listening Drills (The Art of the Pause) 20 min
45-75: Press Scrimmage (Partner Practice) 30 min
75-90: Debrief & Synthesis Task Setup 15 min
Materials Needed
"Mic Drop" Presentation Slides
"Interview Intel" Worksheet
Audio recording devices (optional)
"Profile Project" Rubric
Instructional Delivery
1. The Hook: The Cringe-Worthy Interview
"Today, we aren't just talking. We are extracting. Imagine you have 5 minutes with a person who holds the key to a major mystery. If you ask 'Yes or No' questions, you've wasted your shot."
Perform a 2-minute mock interview with a student volunteer. Ask only "yes/no" questions (e.g., "Do you like school?", "Is it cold today?"). Then, ask the class: "Why did that feel like a dead end?"
2. Direct Instruction: The Anatomy of a Question
Use the slides to define Closed Questions (information gathering, binary) vs. Open-Ended Questions (story-driven, expansive). Focus on the 'Big 3' stems: "Tell me about...", "How did you feel when...", "Walk me through..."
Guided Practice
3. Active Listening Drills: The 10-Second Rule
Explain that silence is a journalist's best friend. When an interviewee stops talking, wait exactly three seconds before asking the next question. Often, the best information comes in the "extra" space after the silence.
Teacher Tip: Model the "Head-Heart-Hands" listening framework.
Head: Facts and logic.Heart: Emotions and motivations.Hands: Actions and processes.
4. The Scrimmage (Partner Exercise)
Students use their "Interview Intel" worksheets to prep 5 open-ended questions for their partner. They will conduct a 7-minute interview, alternating roles. They must record "Golden Nuggets"—specific quotes or details that reveal character.
Differentiation Strategies
For Struggling Learners
Provide a "Question Menu" with 10 pre-written open-ended stems.
Allow students to use a voice recorder to focus on listening rather than note-taking initially.
Shorten the required "Golden Nuggets" from 5 to 2.
For Advanced Learners
Require "The Pivot": Students must ask a follow-up question based *entirely* on something their partner just said that wasn't in their prep.
Encourage students to identify "Subtext"—what is being said between the lines?
Assessment: The Exit Ticket
Have students submit one "Golden Nugget" they collected from their partner and explain why it is more valuable than a simple "yes/no" fact. This bridges the gap between the activity and the final synthesis project.
Mic Drop Slides Press Pass
The Art of the Interview
The Dead End
Imagine you have five minutes with someone who has a story the world needs to hear.
"Do you like your job?"
Result:
One-word answers.
The interview is over before it started.
The Information Trap
Closed Questions
Can be answered with "Yes" or "No"
Good for verifying facts
Stops the momentum of conversation
"Did you win the game?"
Open-Ended Questions
Requires a narrative response
Encourages storytelling
Reveals character and emotion
"How did the atmosphere change after that last play?"
The "Big Three" Stems
1
"Tell me about..."
Invites a broad overview of an event or experience.
2
"How did you feel..."
Moves from facts to internal motivations and reactions.
3
"Walk me through..."
Forces the subject to describe a process step-by-step.
The 3D Listener
Head
Listen for the logical sequence. Do the dates and facts line up?
Heart
Listen for the vibration. Where is the person excited? Where do they hesitate?
Hands
Listen for the struggle. What did they actually *do* to solve the problem?
"The best journalists listen more than they talk."
The Secret Weapon:
The 3-Second Rule
1
2
3
When they stop talking, wait.
The Scrimmage
30 Minutes
Your Mission
Prep 5 open-ended questions.
Interview your partner (7 min).
Switch roles (7 min).
Identify your "Golden Nugget."
Golden Nuggets
A Golden Nugget is not just a fact. It's a quote or detail that makes the person feel real.
"I didn't just feel sad; I felt like the world had run out of color."
Interview Intel Worksheet Press Pass
Interview Intel
Mastering the Art of the Extraction
Reporter:
Date:
Phase 1: The Question Lab
Convert these "dead-end" closed questions into "open-road" stems that invite storytelling.
Closed Question
"Do you like your hobby?"
Open-Ended Version
Closed Question
"Was the event hard?"
Open-Ended Version
Phase 2: Mission Prep
Draft 5 high-impact questions for your partner. Use the "Big Three" stems: Tell me about... / How did you feel... / Walk me through...
01
02
03
04
05
Phase 3: Extraction Log
Subject Name: _________________________________________________
Head (The Facts)
Heart (The Emotions)
Hands (The Actions)
Golden Nuggets
Record one verbatim quote that reveals the most about your subject's character or experience.
Front Page Project Guide Front Page
The Narrative Profile Project
FINAL TASK
The Challenge
A great interview isn't just a transcript—it's a transformation. Your mission is to take the raw notes and "Golden Nuggets" from your partner interview and weave them into a 300-500 word Narrative Profile.
You aren't just reporting facts; you are painting a portrait using only words. Show us the Heart (emotions) and Hands (actions) of your subject, not just the Head (facts).
The Requirements
Compelling "Hook" Headline
At least 3 "Golden Nugget" verbatim quotes
Sensory details (What did you see/hear during the interview?)
Character arc: How has the subject changed?
Anatomy of a Profile
The Lead
Don't start with: "I interviewed John Doe."
Try: "John Doe doesn't just play guitar; he battles it. In the quiet corner of the band room, his fingers moved like..."
The Meat
Integrate your "Golden Nuggets."
Surround the quotes with your observations. How did their voice change when they said that? Did they look away? Did they smile?
The Kicker
The final image.
Leave the reader with a sense of who this person really is. End on a powerful thought or a lingering question.
The Road to Publication
STEP 1
Sift
Find your best 3-5 notes.
STEP 2
Draft
Write without stopping for 20 mins.
STEP 3
Polish
Add sensory details and subtext.
STEP 4
Submit
Check against the rubric.
Front Page Rubric Assessment Tool
Editor's Scorecard
Narrative Profile Evaluation
Reporter:
Final Grade:
Criterion Professional (4) Staff Writer (3) Intern (2) Needs Revision (1) Extraction & Quotes Includes 3+ "Golden Nuggets" that reveal profound character; quotes are perfectly integrated into the narrative. Includes 3 quotes that provide good information. Integration is smooth but standard. Includes 1-2 quotes. Quotes may be "dead-end" facts rather than narrative nuggets. Minimal or no quotes. Relies entirely on reporter's summary. The Lead (Hook) Headline and opening paragraph are cinematic; immediately grabs attention without using clichés. Clear headline and interesting start. Effectively introduces the subject. Basic headline. Opening is functional but standard (e.g., "I interviewed..."). Missing headline or opening is confusing/disengaged. Sensory Detail Vivid "show, don't tell" descriptions of the subject's actions, tone, and environment (Hands & Heart). Includes 2-3 specific details about the subject's behavior or the setting. Descriptive language is sparse; relies mostly on a list of facts (Head). No sensory details; writing is dry and purely factual. Synthesis & Arc Profile tells a complete story with a clear "kicker" ending that leaves a lasting impression. Clear beginning, middle, and end. Shows a logical flow of the conversation. Organization is a bit jumpy; feels more like a list of questions and answers. No clear structure; ends abruptly or wanders without a point. Mechanics Flawless grammar and punctuation; sophisticated sentence variety. Very few errors; does not distract from the narrative. Several errors in punctuation or grammar that slow down the reader. Significant mechanical errors that obscure the story.
Editor's Notes
Focus on: "What was the most surprising thing you learned?"
Growth Areas
Deepening the Hook
Quote Integration
Sensory Description
Mechanical Precision
"The shortest distance between two people is a story."
Press Pass Exit Ticket Exit Ticket
Press Pass
Reporter
Subject
1. What was the most significant "Golden Nugget" you extracted today? (Write the quote or detail below)
2. Why is this detail more valuable than a basic fact (like age or favorite color)?
Exit Ticket
Press Pass
Reporter
Subject
1. What was the most significant "Golden Nugget" you extracted today? (Write the quote or detail below)
2. Why is this detail more valuable than a basic fact (like age or favorite color)?
