Historical Event Assignment
Instructions:
Study the module resources to complete this assignment.
- Identify a person to perform an interview about a historical event.
- Select with your interviewee a topic. It can be related to politics, sports, natural phenomena, music, or any significant event the interviewee has witnessed.
- Ask at least eight questions following the steps explained in the module’s presentation. Make sure to obtain the much information as possible. Include these aspects and add others that you find interesting:
- Biographical information of your interviewee
- A narration of the event
- How the event affected your interviewee personally?
- How does the event impact the country or the world?
- What were the consequences of the event?
- Conclusion
- Record your interview and transcript the textual questions and answers. Include a photograph of your interview as evidence.
Read the instructions carefully before conducting your interview. Your assignment should include the interview transcript with all the questions and answers. You must have a picture of the moment when you did your interview. It should include at least two academic sources, formatted and cited in APA.
Interview Questions:
- Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to witness the event?
- Can you describe the event in detail, including the time and place?
- How did you feel when you first learned of the event?
- How did the event affect you personally?
- What was the general reaction to the event in the community or country?
- How did the event impact the country or the world?
- What were the consequences of the event?
- How do you think the event is remembered today?
Conducting the Interview:
- Be prepared: Review your questions and make sure you have all the necessary materials, such as a recording device.
- Establish a rapport: Start the interview by introducing yourself and explaining the purpose of the interview. Put your interviewee at ease and make sure they understand what you’re trying to achieve.
- Ask open-ended questions: Encourage your interviewee to provide detailed answers by asking open-ended questions. Avoid asking questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no.
- Listen carefully: Pay attention to what your interviewee is saying and follow up on interesting points they make.
- End the interview gracefully: Thank your interviewee for their time and let them know what you plan to do with the information you’ve gathered.
Transcribing the Interview:
- Use a clear and legible format: Make sure the transcript is easy to read and follow, using a consistent format for questions and answers.
- Include the important details: Make sure to include the date and location of the interview, as well as the name of the interviewer and interviewee.
- Edit for clarity: Review the transcript and make sure it is accurate and clearly reflects what was said during the interview.
- Check for accuracy: Verify the accuracy of the transcript by reviewing it with the interviewee and making any necessary changes.
Sources:
- Interviewing as a Qualitative Research Method. (n.d.). In Qualitative Research Methods.
- Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2005). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data. Sage publications.