Student Guide to Success

Tasks Create an oral history project Interview a person who participated or witnessed an event or era in American history Create and use a list of interview questions Have a partner help you to create and edit the questions (required as part of your grade) Use the information to create a product to demonstrate your understanding of that person’s experience

Step 1: Pick an event or era from before 2000 (possible overall topics) 1940’s (and associated events) 1950’s (and associated events) 1960’s (and associated events) 1970’s (and associated events) 1980’s (and associated events) 1990’s (and associated events) FDR’s presidency (and associated events) Truman’s presidency (and associated events) Eisenhower’s presidency (& associated events) JFK’s presidency (& associated events) LBJ’s presidency (& associated events) Nixon’s Presidency (and associated events) Ford’s presidency (and associated events) Carter’s presidency (and associated events) Reagan’s presidency (and associated events) George H.W. Bush’s presidency (and associated events) Clinton’s presidency (and associated events) Great Depression World War II Early Cold War (other than Vietnam War) Conformity & Non-conformity (50’s & 60’s) Korean War Civil Rights Movement Vietnam War End of the Cold War (& associated events) Economic Crises of 1970’s Women’s Liberation Movement Rise of Conservatism U.S. military actions since Vietnam

Step 2: Pick a person to interview Make sure It is someone you know. Relative Family friend Neighbor The person is over 18. They have participated in or witnessed an event or era that you want to research. You complete the parental permission form

Step 4: Develop 15 questions for your interview. Your questions should Demonstrate a clear understanding of the time period. Show evidence that you researched the time period Probe the interviewee to give responses that require elaboration Stay away from questions that result in “yes” or “no” responses.

Design questions around some of these categories Entertainment/Media Employment/Occupations Community Life Family Life Accomplishments Event/era’s impact on community Event/era’s impact on the interviewee’s life Event/era’s impact on the nation

Step 5: The interview Listen to the person’s responses. Ask appropriate follow-up questions. Keep a record of your person’s responses. Detailed notes or A sound recording

Step 6: Create a final product Shows understanding of the interviewee’s experience in historical context (In other words, use your interviewee’s story to show me your knowledge) Options for your final product A PowerPoint presentation A narrative of the person’s life

Products should: Demonstrate an understanding of the historical event or era Incorporate specific information from the interview Place the interviewee’s experiences in historical context Be interesting and engaging to the audience Demonstrate effort and quality work

Powerpoint template suggestions A historical subtopic from class Your interviewee’s experiene(s) with that topic. (from interview, in as much detail as possible) Compare to your own knowledge of the subject in as much detail as possible (similar to or different than?) A picture related to that topic (Slide 1 of 4)

Possible Biography Outline I. Introduction (give background info of the time period: Cold War, WWII, 1950’s culture, Vietnam, etc.) Body: Explain that person’s experiences related to your time period in detail (include at least 4 points that relate to this course) Comparison Section; Compare this information to your own knowledge of the time period, including as much historical detail as possible. Conclusion: Summarize the effect that the time period/era had on your interviewee’s life.