Oral history

      Historians use evidence to understand the experiences of people in the past. Oral history can be a valuable source of evidence for understanding the experiences of individuals or groups within a certain historical period. When an oral history essay places the experiences of an individual within the context of a historical period, it can help illuminate both the individual’s experience and the historical period. For this assignment, students will conduct a one-hour interview with a person of your choice (e.g. parent, grandparent, neighbor, etc.) regarding their experience of a specific historical period in the 20th century (e.g. WWII, Civil Rights, Vietnam War, Cold War, etc.). You will then write a six-page paper that reflects upon the interview process and evaluates the effectiveness of oral history as a way to learn about the past.