Got Roots? Doing an Oral History Project

Initial Interview

Name____________________________________________________________________________

Choose a partner — the person in the room that you know the least.

Fold two of the three sheets in half. Number the sheets.

Section 1 (3 minutes): Write down five questions you want to ask your partner to get to know them better. Avoid questions which would yield a YES or NO answer.
Section 2 (5-7 minutes): Ask your partner your questions. Record his or her answers in Section 2.
Section 3 (3-5 minutes): Look over the answers to your questions. What didn’t you expect? What surprised you? Intrigues you? What do you want to know more about?

List 5 more questions in Section 3 that FOCUS on that one thing.
Section 4 (5-7 minutes): Ask your questions and record your partner’s answers in Section 4. This time try also for direct quotes, significant words that show the voice, the uniqueness of the person. Not body language also. (How does the person respond nonverbally to your questions?)
Section 5 (12 minutes): Develop a draft of a piece of writing that would help a reader get to know the person you are interviewing, OR about anything you heard your partner say that you would like to talk more about. Follow the writing wherever it takes you. Include at least one direct quote.

Think about your LEAD, the one or two sentences that pull the read in and focus the piece.

“It has its advantages, but it’s, well, kinda lonely,” Becky said, explaining what it’s like to be an only child.

Have you ever had the urge to get even? Amanda did.

Amy desires motivation. “I run faster,” she says, “if people cheer for me and watch me run"
Read your rough draft to your partner. Partner responds to what she/he likes or hears — words, phrases, information — asks questions, confirms interpretation.