Q Oral History EssayOral History Project Summary: You have spent this semester learning history and what it means to be a historian. In this assignment, you will have the opportunity to be the historian, conduct research, and create and analyze a primary source. For this project, you will interview someone and use the recording of your interview as a primary source. After the interview has been conducted, you will analyze the audio and craft a short essay to make sense of your research. The person you interview doesn’t have to have lived during some “marquee” historical event, but it is recommended that you interview a person from a different generation than you. You may not interview anyone enrolled in this class or anyone under the age of 18. Interviewing a family member is strongly encouraged but not required. The main goal of the assignment is to determine what it means to live in America and/or be an American in different social and temporal contexts. Some major themes that you can choose to pursue are: • Their personal story • The proper role of government • America’s role in the world • American identity (qualifications, characteristics, etc.) • Meanings of citizenship • Personal experiences (events, motivations, etc.) • Culture (family traditions, the arts, entertainment, etc.) • Societal issues (sexism, racism, rights, liberties, institutions, the balance of power, etc.) These are only suggestions you can choose one or several. If you have another focus /theme in mind, let’s discuss this. (Video overview of Oral History Project above) Oral History Proposal You should type your proposal, double-spaced, in at least 250 words, and must address all of the following questions: 1. Who is your interviewee? 2. Why have you chosen this person? 3. When is the tentative date scheduled for the interview? 4. How long do you anticipate the interview will last? 5. What technology will you be using to conduct the interview? 6. Which theme(s) will your interview explore (i.e., meaning of “citizenship,” proper role of the government)? 7. What are some of your preliminary questions? List a minimum of ten. 8. How do these questions help you understand your subject’s views on what it means to be American and what it means to live in America? 9. What issues or concerns do you have in regards to the project? Click here for Possible Interview Questions Download Click here for Possible Interview Questions Helpful Resources: Oral History DefinedLinks to an external site. Links to an external site.Tips on the interviewing processLinks to an external site. PreviousNext