An oral history is a piece of writing that tells about someone's life using that person's words. America is a diverse place today because of immigrants who have come here from around the world. Interview an immigrant and publish his or her oral history online." mini_lesson = "Before You Start, Practice!

Practice your note-taking skills and review how and when to use quotation marks properly. Knowing about these skills will help you with the oral history project." prewrite1 = "Interview someone who is an immigrant. Here are some ideas of people to interview:

• community member
• family member
• neighbors and acquaintances
• classmate
• store owner
• person who lives in a nursing home
• member of a community center
• member of a place of worship
• parents' co-worker

Make sure you're prepared.

• Set a date, time, and place for the interview.
• Find out some information about your interviewee and the country he or she comes from.
• Allow plenty of time for the interview.
• Bring a tape recorder if you can. Make sure that it works and that you have enough tape and batteries.
• Even if you're taping, bring pen and paper. Be prepared to take notes.
• Be prompt and respectful.

Get background on your interviewee.

• Find out about the country the person came from: its language, customs, and location.

This information will help you understand your interviewee. Ask the person to bring along pictures they may have.

Write a list of questions.

Write a list of open-ended questions. Keep in mind the reporter's basics: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Here are some questions you might ask. Be sure to add your own. Refer back to this section during your interview.

• What's your name?
• Where were you born?
• What country did you emigrate from?
• What year did you come to the United States?
• Why did you come to the U.S.?
• Did any members of your family come to the U.S. before you? Who, when, and why did they come here?
• What was your trip to the U.S. like?
• What was your first impression of the U.S.?
• Did you bring anything special with you? Why did you bring that item?
• (For adult immigrant) What did you do for a living before you came here? What do you do in the U.S.?
• (For child immigrant) How does school in the U.S. compare with your old school?
• What did you do for fun in the country where you used to live?

You've done your research. You've written your questions. Now it's time conduct the interview." prewrite3 = "The big day has arrived. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Be on time.
• Be respectful. This person is sharing important memories.
• Go through your list of questions.
• Listen carefully to your interviewee's responses and ask follow-up questions. Don't be afraid to ask questions that are not on your list.
• Think about activities you do. Ask your interviewee questions about these activities in his or her country and how they compare with life in the U.S.
• Write down what you think is most interesting. Write down answers to your questions. Use quotation marks to show the interviewee's exact words.
• Thank the person for talking with you and sharing memories.
• Tell the person you will share a copy of your final report.

Here are some questions you might ask. Be sure to add your own. Refer back to this section during your interview.

• What is your name? (Check to get the correct spelling.)
• When and where were you born?
• How old were you when World War II started in 1939?
• Where were you during the war?
• What was day-to-day life like for you?
• What do you remember most about World War II?
• What is your happiest memory from that time?
• What is your saddest memory?
• How do you feel the war changed your life?
• Is there anything about the war that you feel differently about now than you did then?

You've done your research. You've written your questions. Now it's time to conduct the interview." prewrite3 = "The big day has arrived. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Be on time.
• Be respectful. This person is sharing an important time in his or her life. Honor that.
• If you've brought a tape recorder, make sure it's on.
• Give the person time to respond to each question. He or she is remembering events that happened long ago. Be patient.
• Write down what you think is most interesting. Write down answers to your questions. Use quotation marks to show the interviewee's exact words.
• Be a good listener. Sometimes the best questions are prompted by an answer to another question. Don't be afraid to veer from your list to ask about something your interviewee just said.
• Thank the person for talking with you and sharing memories of World War II.
• Tell the person you will share a copy of your final report.

• Learn about the War in World War II Remembered, and interview someone who remembers the war years.
• Learn about immigrants in Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today, and tell the story of someone who came to the U.S. from another country.
• Or, write about someone you admire: someone in your family, a local sports hero, your doctor, the police chief, or even your first grade teacher.

Make sure you're prepared.

• Find out as much background information as you can about your interviewee.
• Set a date, time, and place for the interview.
• Make sure that it's convenient for you and the interviewee. If the person would prefer, conduct the interview over the phone.
• Find out how much time the person will have to talk. Make sure you have enough time to get an interesting story. Ten minutes won't do it. Thirty minutes or longer is better.
• Be respectful of your interviewee's time.
• Don't keep the person too long.
• Write a list of questions. Start with Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? Ask questions that will draw out details and memories to help you get a picture of that time.
• Bring a tape recorder if you have one. Test it ahead of time to be sure it works.
• Bring along paper and pen. It's a good idea to take notes even if you are taping the interview.

You've done your research. You've written your questions. Now it's time to conduct the interview!" prewrite3 = "The big day has arrived. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Be on time.
• Be respectful. This person is sharing an important time in his or her life. Honor that.
• Go through your list of questions.
• If you've brought a tape recorder, make sure it's on.
• Give the person time to respond to each question. Be patient.
• Write down what you think is most interesting. Write down answers to your questions. Use quotation marks to show the interviewee's exact words.
• Be a good listener. Sometimes the best questions are prompted by an answer to another question. Don't be afraid to veer from your list to ask about something your interviewee just said.
• Thank the person for talking with you and sharing memories.
• Tell the person you will share a copy of your final report.

Before you start writing:

• Review the notes or tape recording of the interview
• Think about what you learned from the person.
• Include the details that you think are the most interesting.
• Make a list of ideas you want to be sure and include in your final paper. These ideas will serve as your main ideas.
• Highlight notes and quotes that support the ideas you choose.

• Focus on information and allow your ideas to flow freely.
• Don't worry about grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You will correct your work later on.

A good oral history draft includes:

• all your thoughts
• as many details as possible
• complete thoughts and ideas
• enough information to turn into a final version

Use the revision process to:

• Rearrange your writing in an order that makes sense. Use time order by putting events in the order in which they happened, or order the events from most exciting to least.
• Remove information that doesn't have anything to do with the main ideas.
• Add additional information to better explain or describe an event.
• Replace words and details with more descriptive words.
• Include lots of detail.

Schedule a Peer Review.

• Exchange papers with a classmate.
• Ask your classmate to use the Peer Review Checklist below as they review your writing.
• Always remember that this is your work. Don't make changes unless you feel it will improve the work.

A good oral history revision includes:

• a good flow of words, events, and ideas
• an order of events or stories that makes sense.
• the use of few words that are repeated a lot
• a lot of description
• the personality of the interviewee
• direct quotes from my interview.

Capitalization

• Each sentence starts with a capital.
• All names of people and places begin with a capital.
• Titles in a person's name begin with a capital
• Each important word in a title (that doesn't refer to people) begins with a capital letter.

• Handwriting is neat or the paper is printed from a computer.
• Story starts at the beginning, or with the most exciting event.
• Beginning and ending make sense.

• Quotation marks surround all words that are part of a direct quote.
• Commas separate items in a list, appear within sentences that have direct quotes.
• All sentences end with a period or other appropriate ending punctuation.

• Words are spelled correctly. If you are using a computer, remember to use the spell check function.
• All sentences are complete and include a subject and a verb.
• All subjects and verbs agree.

You've drafted, revised, and edited your work. Now let's give it one more look.

Check your work.

• Read through your work from start to finish. Make any last minute changes you feel are necessary.
• Go to a quiet place and read the entire paper out loud. You'll be amazed at the number of changes you make once you hear it out loud.
• Meet with your teacher.

Publishing is a time to celebrate what you've done. It also let's others see your hard work. There are many ways to publish your work. You can publish it online using our publishing form, or click on the celebrate tab to learn more ways to publish and celebrate." celebrate = " Great ways to publish and celebrate:

• Publish a class book containing each student's oral history project.
• Create a taped version of your report.
• Write a play based on the life of the person you interviewed and then act out your play.
• Read your report during a school parent night.
• Use a multimedia software program to create an interactive version of your report complete with photos and voice recordings of your subject.
• Host a young authors conference in your classroom.

An oral history is a piece of writing that tells about someone's life using that person's words. Are there people in your family that you'd like to learn more about? Or maybe you admire someone like your doctor or teacher. Interview an interesting person, then write and publish that person's oral history." mini_lesson = " Before You Start, Practice!

Practice your note-taking skills and review how and when to use quotation marks properly. Knowing about these skills will help you with the oral history project." prewrite1 = "The world is full of interesting people. Most people (especially those older than you) have incredible stories to tell. If your teacher hasn't already given you a topic to write about, think about these ideas:

• Learn about the War in World War II Remembered, and interview someone who remembers the war years.
• Learn about immigrants in Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today, and tell the story of someone who came to the U.S. from another country.
• Or, write about someone you admire: someone in your family, a local sports hero, your doctor, the police chief, or even your first grade teacher.

Make sure you're prepared.

• Find out as much background information as you can about your interviewee.
• Set a date, time, and place for the interview.
• Make sure that it's convenient for you and the interviewee. If the person would prefer, conduct the interview over the phone.
• Find out how much time the person will have to talk. Make sure you have enough time to get an interesting story. Ten minutes won't do it. Thirty minutes or longer is better.
• Be respectful of your interviewee's time.
• Don't keep the person too long.
• Write a list of questions. Start with Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? Ask questions that will draw out details and memories to help you get a picture of that time.
• Bring a tape recorder if you have one. Test it ahead of time to be sure it works.
• Bring along paper and pen. It's a good idea to take notes even if you are taping the interview.

You've done your research. You've written your questions. Now it's time to conduct the interview!" prewrite3 = "The big day has arrived. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Be on time.
• Be respectful. This person is sharing an important time in his or her life. Honor that.
• Go through your list of questions.
• If you've brought a tape recorder, make sure it's on.
• Give the person time to respond to each question. Be patient.
• Write down what you think is most interesting. Write down answers to your questions. Use quotation marks to show the interviewee's exact words.
• Be a good listener. Sometimes the best questions are prompted by an answer to another question. Don't be afraid to veer from your list to ask about something your interviewee just said.
• Thank the person for talking with you and sharing memories.
• Tell the person you will share a copy of your final report.

Before you start writing:

• Review the notes or tape recording of the interview
• Think about what you learned from the person.
• Include the details that you think are the most interesting.
• Make a list of ideas you want to be sure and include in your final paper. These ideas will serve as your main ideas.
• Highlight notes and quotes that support the ideas you choose.

• Focus on information and allow your ideas to flow freely.
• Don't worry about grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You will correct your work later on.

A good oral history draft includes:

• all your thoughts
• as many details as possible
• complete thoughts and ideas
• enough information to turn into a final version

Use the revision process to:

• Rearrange your writing in an order that makes sense. Use time order by putting events in the order in which they happened, or order the events from most exciting to least.
• Remove information that doesn't have anything to do with the main ideas.
• Add additional information to better explain or describe an event.
• Replace words and details with more descriptive words.
• Include lots of detail.

Schedule a Peer Review.

• Exchange papers with a classmate.
• Ask your classmate to use the Peer Review Checklist below as they review your writing.
• Always remember that this is your work. Don't make changes unless you feel it will improve the work.

A good oral history revision includes:

• a good flow of words, events, and ideas
• an order of events or stories that makes sense.
• the use of few words that are repeated a lot
• a lot of description
• the personality of the interviewee
• direct quotes from my interview.

Capitalization

• Each sentence starts with a capital.
• All names of people and places begin with a capital.
• Titles in a person's name begin with a capital
• Each important word in a title (that doesn't refer to people) begins with a capital letter.

• Handwriting is neat or the paper is printed from a computer.
• Story starts at the beginning, or with the most exciting event.
• Beginning and ending make sense.

• Quotation marks surround all words that are part of a direct quote.
• Commas separate items in a list, appear within sentences that have direct quotes.
• All sentences end with a period or other appropriate ending punctuation.

• Words are spelled correctly. If you are using a computer, remember to use the spell check function.
• All sentences are complete and include a subject and a verb.
• All subjects and verbs agree.

You've drafted, revised, and edited your work. Now let's give it one more look.

Check your work.

• Read through your work from start to finish. Make any last minute changes you feel are necessary.
• Go to a quiet place and read the entire paper out loud. You'll be amazed at the number of changes you make once you hear it out loud.
• Meet with your teacher.

Publishing is a time to celebrate what you've done. It also let's others see your hard work. There are many ways to publish your work. You can publish it online using our publishing form, or click on the celebrate tab to learn more ways to publish and celebrate." celebrate = " Great ways to publish and celebrate:

• Publish a class book containing each student's oral history project.
• Create a taped version of your report.
• Write a play based on the life of the person you interviewed and then act out your play.
• Read your report during a school parent night.
• Use a multimedia software program to create an interactive version of your report complete with photos and voice recordings of your subject.
• Host a young authors conference in your classroom.

An oral history is a piece of writing that tells about someone's life using that person's words. Are there people in your family that you'd like to learn more about? Or maybe you admire someone like your doctor or teacher. Interview an interesting person, then write and publish that person's oral history." mini_lesson = " Before You Start, Practice!

Practice your note-taking skills and review how and when to use quotation marks properly. Knowing about these skills will help you with the oral history project." prewrite1 = "The world is full of interesting people. Most people (especially those older than you) have incredible stories to tell. If your teacher hasn't already given you a topic to write about, think about these ideas:

• Learn about the War in World War II Remembered, and interview someone who remembers the war years.
• Learn about immigrants in Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today, and tell the story of someone who came to the U.S. from another country.
• Or, write about someone you admire: someone in your family, a local sports hero, your doctor, the police chief, or even your first grade teacher.

Make sure you're prepared.

• Find out as much background information as you can about your interviewee.
• Set a date, time, and place for the interview.
• Make sure that it's convenient for you and the interviewee. If the person would prefer, conduct the interview over the phone.
• Find out how much time the person will have to talk. Make sure you have enough time to get an interesting story. Ten minutes won't do it. Thirty minutes or longer is better.
• Be respectful of your interviewee's time.
• Don't keep the person too long.
• Write a list of questions. Start with Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? Ask questions that will draw out details and memories to help you get a picture of that time.
• Bring a tape recorder if you have one. Test it ahead of time to be sure it works.
• Bring along paper and pen. It's a good idea to take notes even if you are taping the interview.

You've done your research. You've written your questions. Now it's time to conduct the interview!" prewrite3 = "The big day has arrived. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Be on time.
• Be respectful. This person is sharing an important time in his or her life. Honor that.
• Go through your list of questions.
• If you've brought a tape recorder, make sure it's on.
• Give the person time to respond to each question. Be patient.
• Write down what you think is most interesting. Write down answers to your questions. Use quotation marks to show the interviewee's exact words.
• Be a good listener. Sometimes the best questions are prompted by an answer to another question. Don't be afraid to veer from your list to ask about something your interviewee just said.
• Thank the person for talking with you and sharing memories.
• Tell the person you will share a copy of your final report.

Before you start writing:

• Review the notes or tape recording of the interview
• Think about what you learned from the person.
• Include the details that you think are the most interesting.
• Make a list of ideas you want to be sure and include in your final paper. These ideas will serve as your main ideas.
• Highlight notes and quotes that support the ideas you choose.

• Focus on information and allow your ideas to flow freely.
• Don't worry about grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You will correct your work later on.

A good oral history draft includes:

• all your thoughts
• as many details as possible
• complete thoughts and ideas
• enough information to turn into a final version

Use the revision process to:

• Rearrange your writing in an order that makes sense. Use time order by putting events in the order in which they happened, or order the events from most exciting to least.
• Remove information that doesn't have anything to do with the main ideas.
• Add additional information to better explain or describe an event.
• Replace words and details with more descriptive words.
• Include lots of detail.

Schedule a Peer Review.

• Exchange papers with a classmate.
• Ask your classmate to use the Peer Review Checklist below as they review your writing.
• Always remember that this is your work. Don't make changes unless you feel it will improve the work.

A good oral history revision includes:

• a good flow of words, events, and ideas
• an order of events or stories that makes sense.
• the use of few words that are repeated a lot
• a lot of description
• the personality of the interviewee
• direct quotes from my interview.

Capitalization

• Each sentence starts with a capital.
• All names of people and places begin with a capital.
• Titles in a person's name begin with a capital
• Each important word in a title (that doesn't refer to people) begins with a capital letter.

• Handwriting is neat or the paper is printed from a computer.
• Story starts at the beginning, or with the most exciting event.
• Beginning and ending make sense.

• Quotation marks surround all words that are part of a direct quote.
• Commas separate items in a list, appear within sentences that have direct quotes.
• All sentences end with a period or other appropriate ending punctuation.

• Words are spelled correctly. If you are using a computer, remember to use the spell check function.
• All sentences are complete and include a subject and a verb.
• All subjects and verbs agree.

You've drafted, revised, and edited your work. Now let's give it one more look.

Check your work.

• Read through your work from start to finish. Make any last minute changes you feel are necessary.
• Go to a quiet place and read the entire paper out loud. You'll be amazed at the number of changes you make once you hear it out loud.
• Meet with your teacher.

Publishing is a time to celebrate what you've done. It also let's others see your hard work. There are many ways to publish your work. You can publish it online using our publishing form, or click on the celebrate tab to learn more ways to publish and celebrate." celebrate = " Great ways to publish and celebrate:

• Publish a class book containing each student's oral history project.
• Create a taped version of your report.
• Write a play based on the life of the person you interviewed and then act out your play.
• Read your report during a school parent night.
• Use a multimedia software program to create an interactive version of your report complete with photos and voice recordings of your subject.
• Host a young authors conference in your classroom.

<% if topic = "Persuasive" then %> <% end if %> <% if topic = "Iditarod" then %> <% end if %> <% if topic = "Women" then %> <% end if %> <% if topic = "" then %> <% end if %> <% if topic = "Immigration" then %> <% end if %> <% if topic = "My%20Family" then %> <% end if%> <% if topic = "WWII" then %> <% end if %> <% if topic = "Other" then %> <% end if%> <% if topic = "Research" then %> <% end if%> <% if topic = "researchstart" then %> <% end if%> <%topic = replace(Request("topic")," ","%20")%>
			Publish "> <% If Installment = "Persuasive" then %> Read persuasive writing by state <%else%> Read oral histories by state <%end if %> <% If Installment = "Persuasive" then %> Read persuasive writing by topic <%else%> Read oral histories by topic <%end if %> <% If Installment = "Persuasive" then %> <% for dis1=1 to fit%> <%state = Replace(found(dis1)," ","%20")%> <%state = state &"&tsid="&topic%> •  <%=found(dis1)%> <% next%> <%else%> <% for dis1=1 to fit%> <%state = Replace(found(dis1)," ","%20")%> •  <%=found(dis1)%> <% next%> <%end if%> <%If Installment = "Persuasive" then %> •  Iditarod •  Notable Women •  Other <%else%> •  World War II •  Immigration •  My Family •  Other <%end if%>