Interview

Oral History ProjectMiss Gibb

Interview

• Before you begin…– Think about who you want to

interview– Remember, the older, the better– If you don’t have a person who is

over 45, you need to talk to me and we will find someone for you

– I will make exceptions on a case by case basis

Interview

• The name of the person you are interviewing is due on ____________

_____________________________________

– If you do not have a person by this date, you will be assigned to someone after I speak to your parents

Interview

• Once you pick someone…

– ASKASK them if they would be interested in helping you with your project

– Show them the Oral History power point so they understand the project

– Let them know that they will need to do some work too---

Interview

• Tell your subject that in addition to the interview, you will need your subject to…– Write a memoir that is at least one

page, handwritten is better (due ____)

– Bring one to three artifacts to the interview

– Lend you the artifacts on the day of your presentation

Interview

• What to tell your subject, con’t.– They will have to pose for a picture or

provide a recent picture– If you want your subject to come to

the class during your presentation, ask them now. The dates for presentations will be ________ to ________.

– They will need to sign a permission slip.

Interview

•If you need a specific date, let me know as soon as possible to schedule you!!!

Interview

• Thank your subject in advance for helping you with your project by saying something like,

“Thank you for agreeing to participate in this project for me.”

Interview

• Before your interview…– Make sure that you have tested

your recording equipment and that it works

– I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU RECORD YOUR INTERVIEW IN SOME WAY! IF YOU NEED TO BORROW RECORDING EQUIPMENT, ASK!

Interview

• Before your interview…– Have at least 15 questions picked

out from the list– Questions 1, 2, & 3 are mandatory– Additionally, you must ask your

subject about the artifacts they will be lending you in your interview

Interview

• During your interview…

– Turn on your recording equipment!!!

– Have eye contact with your subject– Let them talk!! Don’t interrupt,

Don’t tell them what to say, Don’t correct them, Don’t rush them!

Interview

• During your interview…– Ask follow up questions relating to

what your subject is talking about—that is more important than the 15 questions from your list

– Have fun with your subject. Try to get them to tell stories rather than just answer the questions

Interview

– If you have someone who is reluctant to talk, begin with the sentence starter, “Tell me a story about…”• Your childhood• Your schooling• Your wedding• Your children, etc.

– Remember—it’s about your subject, but you can guide the conversation

Interview

• After your interview…– Double check that your tape

recording worked– Thank your subject for interviewing

with you– Shake their hand (or hug them)– Remind them that the memoir is

due on ____________ – Write them a thank you note

Interview

Dear -----,Thank you for taking the time to interview with me. It was interesting to learn more about you. I thought it was especially interesting when you told me about ----. I can’t wait to share all of the things you told me with my classmates.

Sincerely,You

Interview

• When you are done with your interview…– Write your summary as soon as

possible—the ideas will be fresh in your head

– Write about one paragraph for each question—questions 1, 2, & 3 can be combined in one paragraph

Interview

– We should be able to recognize what question you asked from your summary

– Example-Question # 6-My mother’s parents were the first family members to settle in this country. My grandmother and grandfather moved their family from Ukraine. Unfortunately, they were captured by the Germans and had to spend a little more than a year in a Nazi concentration camp called Dachau. Americans liberated the camp, and my family came to America on a boat. They landed at Ellis Island, and then moved to Newark, NJ where my grandfather had family.

Interview

• Your interview summary can be written out or typed, typed is preferred

• The summary is due on _________• Start looking for something in the

interview that you would like to do research on—your topic is due on ___________

Interview Checklist

• My subject is _____________________• I am planning on interviewing them on

_________________________• I plan to use interview questions 1, 2,

3, _____________________________• I reminded them to bring artifacts and

write a memoir _____________• They signed the permission slip ___• I wrote them a thank you note ___