Oral history is the process of recording and sharing people’s spoken words about their memories. It can include personal experience and eye-witness accounts as well as folklore, myths, songs, and even recipes, letters or other written documents passed down from generation to generation.
For this assignment you will write an essay based on interviewing one person. Here are a few suggestions:
What topic will you cover? Who will you interview? What will you ask during the interview? When?
- Decide what you want to write about and who to interview.
- Explain your project and ask your subject if he or she will agree to an interview.
- Compose a list of the questions to ask.
- Arrange the questions, layering them with lighter, easy topics at the start of the interview, followed by more in-depth questions. Try end on a light note.
The Interview.
- Make sure the person you are interviewing is comfortable and relaxed.
- Be an active listener.
- Record the responses (with a microphone or take notes)
- Be flexible.
- Ask follow-up questions
- Encourage and direct the interview without getting in the way.
The Story.
- You might begin your essay with a few details about your topic and background information about the person you interviewed.
- Make sure that you present the information cohesively. Do not simply write “I asked _____ and she answered ______.”
- Make sure you have a strong beginning and a definite ending.
First Draft
Type your first draft online and save it as a draft. You do not need to publish it yet.
Print out one copy for our in-class critique.
Final Draft
Revise your first draft (after the in-class critique).
Then publish it.