Interview Essay

1. Minimum of 5 fact-finding questions.
2. Minimum of 5 personal experiences/stories.
3. Minimum of 5 Family history questions.
4. Insert word count at end of essay.
5. Show the essence of the person in the first paragraph.
6. Turn the interview into a magazine article
7. Use specific examples and vivid descriptions to tell stories and recreate memories.
8. Cite your sources: for a personal interview: Roe, Mary Lorraine. Personal Interview. 15 October 2008.
Examples of Q’s:
1. What is your complete name? nicknames? Story behind name? Does your last name have special meaning?
2. Where did your family originate? Traditions? Family foods/recipes?
3. What stories about your ancestors have been passed down to you? Do you have any notorious characters in your family?
4. How have historical events (ex. Civil War, World Wars, Great Depression, Prohibition) affected your family?
5. What is the date of your birth? Where were you born? Do you have siblings? What was the world like when you were a child? Favorite toy? Chores? Pets? Earliest memory and why you remember it. What did you do as a teenager? What was your entertainment? When yu neede guidance, who did you turn to? Did you have family vacations? Can you recall any stories about the events surrounding your birth? Where have you lived? What place did you consider your hometown? What place did you like best? How did you meet your spouse? First year of marriage? What accomplishements are you most proud of? Do you have a philosophy of life? What was your first paying job – how did you spend your
money?