Senior Stories

Lesson #2

Using Techniques From Journalism and Theatre to Investigate and Develop a Character

Preparing for Interviewing

During this activity, you will work in small groups to prepare to interview a local senior citizen about how a historical event impacted his or her life. Remember as you interact with your subject that your goal is to take down his or her history and understand it, so that you can later apply it to the development of a real-life character for dramatization. Your interview will be more successful if you prepare thoughtful questions in advance, but you should also be ready to think on your feet when your subject talks. You may have to use your “ear” to recognize something that reflects a historical event or aspect of the American experience.

Your ultimate objective, in Smith’s words, is to develop a character that sheds light on “a defining moment in American history.” Remember, you don’t need to be present at a major historical event to be effected by “a defining moment in American history.” Some aspects of American history, like racism, immigration, and the search for the American Dream occur on a smaller, more personal scale, but reflect large cultural movements. Therefore, listen closely for what your subject has to tell you. Examples of historical events that may have influenced their lives are: the Great Depression, the Korean War, World War II, immigration from another country, the 1950s view of the nuclear family, the development of “Suburbia,” the Civil Rights Movement, the creation of National Park System, the antiwar protests of the 1960s, the Vietnam War, the Women’s Movement, and more. Your subject probably understands how they were impacted by such events, so even if they seem to wander off topic, listen closely for how their story might ultimately go their point. And don’t be afraid to ask for clarification when you need it.

This question is central to your interview:

  • What historical event or aspect of the American experience had the greatest impact on your life or helped shape your life choices? How?

But before asking this, you will also want to collect other information about them and their lives, such as where they grew up and where they lived their adult lives; information about their education and careers; the composition of the families they were born into and the families they may have raised.

Directions:

1.Working as a group, prepare a list of 10 questions to help you elicit this information. You may want to phrase each question multiple ways; that way, if your subject doesn’t understand a question, you will be ready to rephrase it. You may also want to add examples to illustrate the kind of answer you are seeking.

2.Switch papers with another group. Reflect on the wording and potential bias of the questions your peers created. Do any of these make assumptions about the listener that may be off-putting? Could the language be more exact? Share your thoughts as a class.

3.Switch papers back and revise them as needed. Share your questions as a class. Add any questions to your interview plan that your peers thought of and that you think may be useful.

Here are some guidelines for your interview:

1.Introduce yourself before you sit down. You may shake hands during the introduction.

2.Turn on your tape recorder. Start by asking straightforward, fact-based questions about your subject, such as those about their family background, the places they have lived, their education, and their careers.

3.Then ask this question: What historical event or aspect of the American experience had the greatest impact on your life or helped shape your life choices? How?

4.Ask your subject if you may photograph him or her. If your subject is uncomfortable about being photographed, ask if he or she would prefer to be photographed with a friend.Take a few images so that you will be able to remember your subject’s physical characteristics.

5.Exchange email addresses (or phone numbers if your subject does not use a computer) and ask the subject if you may contact him or her with follow-up questions.

6.Thank your subject for his or her time and generous sharing of life events.