Interview – Oral History Project The first part of this project is to interview

Interview – Oral History Project
The first part of this project is to interview an older relative. You will use this information to write a paper that tells part of the story of their life. You will be doing the work of a historian, learning as much as you can about the individual you interview: their childhood, family, daily life, dreams, struggles, and contributions.
Complete the following steps:
1. Identify an older relative (biological or chosen family) to interview. If a relative is not available, discuss other options with your instructor.
2. Remember the following guidelines when you conduct your interview:
Ask open-ended questions: Try and avoid questions that can be answered with yes or no; you will get more complex and interesting responses if you ask open-ended questions.
Be flexible*: Feel free to improvise and follow new lines of thought during your interview. Redirect the interviewee/narrator if needed.
Accurately record answers: Record the interview through Zoom, using your phone, or through some other video or audio recording technology. Make sure to get permission to record the interview. You can take notes if you are comfortable or want to document your impressions, but try to stay focused on the interviewee/narrator.
Be relaxed: Try and make the interview a conversation rather than an interrogation; this makes the interviewee more relaxed.
Be non-judgmental: Listen with empathy, keep an open mind, and do not be judgmental. This can be difficult but it is crucial!
Be as unbiased as possible: Do not impose your own views or opinions. Be sensitive to how they describe the forces that have shaped their life. Again, this can be difficult, but it is important to put your own feelings aside in this process.
*If the individual you are interviewing does not want to answer the questions you are asking, I would strongly suggest choosing a different individual to interview. Short and incomplete answers will not provide you with enough material to write your paper.
3. List the following information about your relative at the top of interview transcript:
Relative’s name
Relationship to interviewer
Age
Gender
Race
Ethnicity
Country of origin/birth
4. Get a photograph of your relative to upload to Canvas
5. Interview your relative and ask them the following questions. You can also ask additional questions that are of interest to you or questions that are relevant to the life of the individual you are interviewing.
Interview Questions Link
6. Submit your interview transcript after the interview. You can use Word to transcribe your recordingLinks to an external site. or you can use the transcript from the Zoom session recordingLinks to an external site.. Make sure to edit the transcript so the interviewee/narrator’s exact words are included; do not paraphrase the interview. It should be at least 2 full pages long and follow standard formatting (typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 1-inch margins).
7. Upload your relative’s photo and the interview transcript (a list of the questions you asked and your relative’s answers to those questions) to the link in Canvas.
Checklist:
□ At least 2 full pages long, standard formatting
□ Clearly written, proofread, and spell-checked
□ Includes questions asked and relative’s answers
□ Uses relative’s exact words; is not paraphrased
□ All questions were asked
□ Includes a photograph of relative (headshot)
Interview Questions
How would you describe yourself when you were a child?
Can you tell me about your family? Your parents? Grandparents? Siblings?
What language was spoken in your home?
Can you tell me about the community you grew up in?
What was a typical day like when you were growing up?
What was your family’s attitude toward school? How would you describe your education?
What are the biggest changes in your life from your childhood to now?
Can you tell me about a time in your life when you experienced struggles or obstacles, including, but not limited to, discrimination, racism, sexism, etc?
Did you have children, and if so, what has parenthood been like for you?
Is religion, spirituality, or faith significant to you, and if so, what role has it played in your life?
What kinds of work have you done over the years?
What kinds of stories did your parents or grandparents tell you about their lives?
What values did they try to pass down to you? What have you learned from your ancestors?
Do you have any important or interesting stories or thoughts you want to share or pass on to the next generation?
Looking back into the past, what do you see as the most important historical event in your own family’s history? For example, economic depression, immigration, war, political upheaval, etc.
Is there anything else you would like to share?