Knowledge/Skill Building

🧭 Postgrad Interview Toolkit

Content Expertise Effective Communication Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Academic Mindset Collaboration Core Content Community Partners Essential Question Submission Required

Students study a short set of comic cover and origin-page mentor texts, then identify how defining moments, goals, and challenges are introduced through image, title, caption, and symbol. Using those patterns, the class builds a 5-question interview guide and 3-question quick survey for classmates or invited counselors/career advisors. Students rehearse active-listening moves and bias checks so their questions gather usable evidence for believable postsecondary paths.

Plan day

Day 2

Duration

45 min

Grouping

Whole Class

Steps

6 steps

Lesson plan

6 steps · 45 min

#	What teachers do
1	Launch the activity by posting the essential questions and inviting students to do a fast notice-and-name protocol with 3 mentor comic covers/origin pages. Ask: Where do you see the defining moment, future goal, and challenge signaled through image, title, caption, or symbol? Capture class observations in three columns: defining moment, goal, challenge. (10 min)
2	Model how comic-origin patterns can become research tools by taking one mentor text observation and turning it into strong and weak interview questions. Then introduce active-listening moves and bias checks such as asking open questions, avoiding assumptions, paraphrasing for accuracy, and leaving space for multiple postsecondary paths. (8 min)
3	In small groups, have students draft possible interview and survey questions connected to the essential questions and class observation chart. Each group creates at least 3 interview questions and 2 survey questions designed to gather evidence about believable next steps, obstacles, and the parts of a person's past that still matter in their next chapter. (10 min)
4	Facilitate a whole-class toolkit build in which groups share drafts, compare wording, and make shared decisions to finalize one class set of 5 interview questions and 3 quick survey questions. Push for clarity, empathy, and usefulness by asking which questions will produce specific evidence instead of yes/no or vague answers. (10 min)
5	Pair students for a rehearsal round. One student plays interviewer and one plays classmate, counselor, admissions staff member, trade representative, or career advisor. Students practice the full interview guide, use at least 2 active-listening moves, and note where wording creates confusion, bias, or shallow responses. Then switch roles. (8 min)
6	Close with a rapid revision and readiness check. Students revise the toolkit wording, submit the final class interview guide and survey, and complete a short exit note naming one question that will help them identify a defining moment, one that will clarify a future goal, and one that will surface a likely challenge for Origin Issue #1. (4 min)

Preparation (8 items)

Select and print or project 3–4 short mentor comic covers/origin-page examples that clearly show defining moments, goals, and challenges through image, title, caption, and symbol.
Prepare an anchor chart or digital board with three labeled columns: Defining Moment, Future Goal, Specific Challenge.
Prepare a second anchor chart with sentence stems for strong inquiry questions such as 'What experience led you to...?' 'What challenge might make this next step harder?' and 'Which part of your past still shapes this choice?'
Create a brief mini-model showing one weak question and one revised strong question so students can see how to move from vague to usable evidence.
Prepare a visible list of active-listening moves and bias checks, including paraphrase, wait time, follow-up prompts, neutral wording, and avoiding assumptions about college, work, family, money, or success.
Set up materials for collaborative drafting: chart paper or shared digital docs, sticky notes, markers, and a projected template for the final 5-question interview guide and 3-question survey.
If available, coordinate with a counselor, admissions staff member, trade school representative, or career advisor so students can test or later use the toolkit with a community partner.
Prepare an exit note prompt that asks students to identify which final questions best surface a defining moment, a future goal, and a specific challenge.

Student-facing instructions

You will study mentor comic covers and origin pages to figure out how creators introduce a character's defining moment, future goal, and challenge. Then you will help build a class interview toolkit that can gather real evidence about life after high school. You will need the mentor texts, your notes, chart paper or a shared document, and the active-listening/bias-check reference. First, look closely at the mentor texts and note how image, title, caption, and symbol communicate important story information. Next, work with your group to draft interview and survey questions that could help a classmate, counselor, or career advisor talk about believable postgraduation paths, likely obstacles, and what parts of the past still matter. After the class combines ideas into one shared 5-question interview guide and 3-question quick survey, you will rehearse the questions with a partner, practice active listening, and revise any wording that feels unclear, leading, or too broad. Your goal is to leave with a usable, respectful toolkit that can collect strong evidence for your upcoming origin-story storyboard and cover.

Success criteria

You are successful when you can point to at least 3 patterns from the mentor texts that show how defining moments, goals, and challenges are communicated; contribute to a finalized class toolkit with exactly 5 interview questions and 3 survey questions; ensure the questions are open-ended, clear, and free of assumptions; use at least 2 active-listening moves during the rehearsal; and identify which final questions will best help uncover a defining moment, a believable future goal, and a specific postgraduation challenge.

Facilitator notes

Keep the pace tight so analysis feeds directly into question design rather than turning into a long discussion of comic history. Push students to connect every question to usable evidence for the later storyboard and cover. Common pitfalls include writing yes/no questions, asking leading questions that assume a college pathway, and creating prompts that are too broad to produce specific stories or obstacles. During the whole-class toolkit build, ask 'What kind of answer will this question produce?' and 'How will this help with the origin issue product?' Differentiate by offering question stems, a sample toolkit, or pre-highlighted mentor text features for students who need support. Extend learning by asking advanced students to design follow-up probes for counselors or career advisors. If students are hesitant during rehearsal, allow role cards with possible postsecondary paths. If community partners are present later, remind students to use professional tone, concise introductions, and note-taking strategies. Preserve student voice by letting the class make final wording decisions while you ensure inclusivity, specificity, and alignment to the essential questions.

Resources

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