From a Teen’s Perspective: The final-extra-question

Always ask one more question. That’s a rule I learned while studying journalism. At the end of an interview, after you’ve covered all the questions on your list and asked plenty of follow-ups, when you think you have everything you need for your story, you ask one more question.

I was a bit skeptical of this rule at first. It seemed unnecessary and pushy. If I’m done with my questions, I should end the interview and let my source get on with their life. It’s not like an extra question will make that much of a difference to my story if I’ve gotten all the information I came in looking for.

But after having employed this final-extra-question method on numerous occasions, I am surprised at how often the last question sparks a conversation that ends up being integral to the story I write. I don’t exactly have an explanation for this phenomenon — it seems to reject the laws of probability. Logically, the question I don’t think I need to ask but ask anyways should be the least important one. Yet I think that my lack of expectations for the final-extra-question may be precisely what makes it so successful.

Typically, when I’m talking to sources, I’m in “interviewing mode.” I’m focused on getting specific information that will fit into an article’s structure. Yet when I ask the last question, I don’t ask what I think I “should” and instead I ask whatever comes into my mind. I think this freedom leads me to pose more original, interesting questions that allow my source to talk about a new side of themselves and their stories.

I think the final-extra-question rule can also be valuable for non-journalists, as well. Think about times in your life where you interact with others: ordering at a coffee shop, interviewing for a job, or participating in a class lesson at school, to name a few. In many of these situations, asking one more question could yield immense benefits.

For example, pretend you’re meeting someone new at a social event. It can feel uncomfortable to make small talk and we often try to end these interactions quickly. However, when you reach the point of peak awkwardness, when you think you’ve finally completed your social obligation to the conversation and are ready to end it, ask one more question, something totally random and authentic. It could be a dead-end, but it could also be the way you make a new friend, find out about an exciting opportunity, or learn about your community.

For students, think about your experiences in class. On multiple occasions, I didn’t grasp certain concepts in class until I asked a question I felt was stupid or unimportant but turned out to be very helpful for my understanding. When talking to teachers, tutors, or other people you learn from, asking a final-extra-question can sometimes be the difference between your comprehension or confusion surrounding a topic.

Obviously there’s a time and place for prolonging conversations. But if you’ve got the time, asking the final-extra-question has low risk and the possibility of great rewards, so just when you think you’ve run out of questions, dig deep and ask away!

Got any topics you want me to cover? Email dylanclarklanier@gmail.com with your requests!

Dylan Lanier is a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School; his column appears weekly.

Stock photo by Freepik