8/14/2019 Oral History Inclass Assignment 1

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Group Oral History Project

In-Class Assignment One: Project Development

Each student will plan and implement an oral history project as part of a group. I will

divide students into groups during the first class meeting. Students may not alter theirgroup assignments. Each group must develop an oral history project that contains bothpractical and theoretical elements. In other words, groups should develop a grandproject even if they are only able to complete a small portion of that project during asemester ’ s worth of work. Each member of the group must record at least two in-depthinterviews and transcribe one of their interviews during the semester.

Instructions

1. Each group should take a few moments for introductions. Someone in the groupshould create a group contact information sheet that includes a) preferred e-mail address,

b) class and/or work schedule--this will help organize future meetings, and c) preferredphone number(s). Each group will need a name (preferably one or two words at most).Each group should provide their group name by the end of class.

2. During the first class meeting someone in the group should take minutes (create arecord of) the group ’ s discussions as individuals within that group propose and debatevarious ideas about what project the group should select. Students should debatepotential topics (brainstorm) rather than simply allow one person in the group to select atopic without much discussion. Great oral history projects are produced by collaboratorssharing their ideas in a constructive and professional manner.

3. Each group should consider the following questions before initiating their oral historyproject. Discussions about these questions must be included in your group ’ s minutes.Your group will not be able to provide definitive answers for many of these questionsduring class. It is important, however, that each question is considered and if an answeris not readily available plans are made for locating an answer.

A. What is the historical subject you want to investigate?B. What are your goals in undertaking this project? (What do you hope yourproject will demonstrate? Or what information might it reveal that would informour knowledge of history?)C. Who can provide you with information on this subject?D. How long will the project run? (hypothetically)E. What amount of background research is needed?F. What funds will you need? Where might you locate these funds?(hypothetically)G. What will you do with the oral histories you collect?H. What kind of materials will this project create?I. How might you make this information available/ suitable for both researchersand public audiences?

8/14/2019 Oral History Inclass Assignment 1

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Group Oral History Project

Take-home Assignment One: Project Development

Now that your group has discussed various project ideas it is now important to continuethose conversations outside of class. By the time we meet for the second class eachgroup should have identified a potential topic and be prepared to justify their choice.

I have created a discussion room on the course website for each group. I want everystudent to access the course website at http://ushist2.wordpress.com/ locate theirdiscussion room, and continue their in-class discussions on-line. When you register onthe course website blog please use your UWG email address.

The group will now need to work on justifying their selected topic:1. Use available internet sources (especially the Oral History Association Wiki

http://www.oralhistory.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page ) to discuss these questions withyour group members via courseden: a) how does your proposed project relate/comparewith existing oral history projects? b) are there any existing projects that resembleyour project? If so, why is there a need for your project? [When you post your findingson the course website be sure to include where you searched for your information even if your investigation did not yield any related extant oral history projects.]2. Begin drafting your project ’ s mission statement. Your mission statement shouldinclude a description of your project and its goals. Each member of the group shoulddraft a separate mission statement (roughly one or two paragraphs in length). I will ask the group to prepare a final mission statement that will be part of the final proposal.I will assign each student a grade for their postings. This grade will count toward yourparticipation-assignment grade.