INTERVIEW PROMPT FOR FINAL EXAM
 
The first step in completing your final exam is to interview seven to ten people about the economic meltdown.  As always, be sure to get full names, ages, occupations and contact information.
 
Ideally, your interviews should reflect a good cross-section.  This would include students, recent grads, immigrants, small business owners, older folks and the like.  Lack of balance will yield a skewed report.
 
Be sure to take careful notes. You might want to record your interviews as well. Once you have completed your interviews, type them up. This version of your notes, edited and organized, will greatly aid you in completing the story. 
 
Here are some suggested questions.  You may, of course, use your own questions in place of or in addition to these.
 
{C}1)   {C}What do you think caused the economic crisis?
{C}2)   {C}How would you describe your feelings about the economic mess?
{C}3)   {C}Who is mainly to blame for what’s happened?
{C}4)   {C}Have you been affected by the crisis?
{C}5)   {C}If so, how? Please provide some examples.
{C}6)   {C}Have you seen things change where you work as a consequence of the troubles?
{C}7)   {C}Do you know others affected?  Explain, please.
{C}8)   {C}What’s your opinion of the measures President Obama and Congress have taken to address the economic situation?
{C}9)   {C}Is there something more you would like see done?
{C}10){C}Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the country’s economic future?
{C}11){C}How about your own economic future?
 
It’s very important you start conducting interviews as soon as possible.  This is a labor-intensive activity and can’t reasonably be completed at the last minute.
 
Don’t hesitate to consult with us about your interviews.  We will discuss your progress with this part of the exam at our last class meeting.
 
A special note for those you outside the country: feel free to report and write your story reflecting local conditions.