After the formalities of introduction, the interviewer should ask what happened and follow this question with a long period of active intense listening, allowing the witness or subject to tell the full story. Only after the full story has been told in narrative form, without interruption, should specific questions be asked. The interviewer should listen actively rather than passively, conveying to the witness through body movement, eye contact, and tone of voice an interest in what is being said and in the witness as a person. The interviewer must expand beyond mere words, gathering meaning from tone of voice, eye contact, facial expression, hand gestures, body language, clothing, and environment. The interviewer should also avoid advice and criticism, which tend to distort the information a witness gives. The substance of a witness's testimony can be paraphrased until the witness agrees to the accuracy of what has been written. Notes should reflect the emotional as well as factual content. Listening has become an important part of interview and interrogation training of new agents at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. Fifteen footnotes are included.