English 102 Jim Roth’s Website

English 102 Living History Interview Assignment—50 points possible

TED TALK: Dave Isay--"Everyone around you has a story the world needs to hear."

Due: Thursday, November 29th. This assignment will not be accepted late.

Please Note: Mini-Research Paper #2 is due Tuesday, December 11th so please budget your time accordingly.

Here are the steps to follow:

Your interview must take place after Wednesday, November 7th. The subject whom you interview should be at least two generations older than you. However, if you are presently in your teens or twenties, your subject can be at least three generations older. The older the better! Before your visit, review these sample Living History interviews to get a general sense of your objective: the Donna Mires Interview and the Doris Norton Interview.

1. Begin the interview by introducing yourself to your interviewee and explaining the assignment.

2. Be sure to get background information—full name (spelled correctly), early history—age, birthplace, etc. Also, be sure to note your subject’s present surroundings and quality of life. You might also note your subject’s general appearance, demeanor.

3. ORGANIZATION: Focus your interview questions (and your essay write-up) on three specific events in your subject’s life, rather than asking for (or writing) a general account of his or her life. To do this, you might ask what were the biggest surprises, most memorable moments and events, good or bad, etc. If your subject begins to ramble a bit, gently bring the focus back to specific events. Be sure to take notes. Be sure to record memorable quotations. Be sure to ask questions if you need clarification.

4. Use either the Donna Mires Interview or the Doris Norton Interview example as a pattern to organize your write-up. Note that each example begins with brief biographical information and a brief description of interviewee’s surroundings. It then uses the three specific life experiences to organize itself. The conclusion brings the reader back to the present.

5. Write a rough draft of your interview. Use past tense and narrative format. Change paragraphs when you change events. Keep quotations to a minimum. Your opening paragraph should introduce the person, set the scene of the interview, and briefly describe the person’s current living situation. Follow the example interviews if you need a model.

6. Seek out peer-editing from a classmate(s) the week before the assignment is due.

7. Revise, revise, and revise more.

8. Using your revisions and your peer-editing group’s input, create a final copy and submit it by the due date.

9. Perhaps share a copy of your write-up with the subject when the assignment is completed. It would be best to hand-deliver the copy, but we can mail it using school stationery if a second visit would be a problem. Be sure to get a correct address.

10. Most importantly feel good about yourself and enjoy the experience because you are bringing joy and acknowledgement to another who may have been feeling a bit marginalized.

One More Example: The Floyd Lewis Interview