Oral History
by
Jared Lindstrom
and
Patrick M. Smith
Oral History Introduction
Throughout history most people have learned about the events of the past through the
spoken word; but traditionally most scholars have worried about accuracy when using oral
history to record and analyze chronological events. What most people overlook is that even
written documentation has inaccuracies and point of view in the text. Written accounts of events
usually have social context, ideological slant and personal bias. The beginning books of the
Christian bible are an excellent example of stories that were passed down from generation to
generation. Recorded history is about five thousand years old, so oral historical accounts go
back approximately fifty thousand years.
There are misconceptions about oral history that need to be addressed by scholars. Most
of the time oral history is the systematic collection of living people's testimony about their own
experiences. The term direct source documentation could be used when discussing the use oral
history to fill in gaps in written records. Specifically, oral history is not folklore, gossip, hearsay,
or rumor. Historians attempt to verify their findings, analyze them, and place them in an accurate
historical context.
Historians are concerned with the storage of their findings and usage of recordings by
scholars at a later date. One of the largest problems with oral historical accounts used as direct
source documentation can be context. Body movements and expressions from the interviewee
can be overlooked and not accurately documented by the interviewer.
This negative
development can be alleviated by the interviewer being reflective or metacognitive about his or
her notation process. An interviewer’s awareness of expressions, movements, and emotions of
the person being interviewed could lead to more accurate data or recordings that can be used
effectively by other scholars.
Educators need to let their students know that oral historical accounts are very useful
when constructing reports on chronological events. As long as the recording process is done
accurately and without bias, oral history can be an invaluable resource for students to use when
analyzing the past.
Procedural Recommendations
Although oral history can be used as a direct source, the accuracy of the information can
be lost as the history is passed down through generations. One way to demonstrate this would be
to play the telephone game.

The teacher will have the students line up side by side

Then the teacher will whisper a paragraph into the first students ear

The students will then pass the information down to the next person in line

After the information gets to the last student, they will announce the information
they were given
Applications and Ideas
When we begin our activity, we will set up a KWL chart about oral history and have the
students give their ideas about what they know and want to know about oral history. Then, we
will perform the telephone game. We will have the students all stand and line up in front of the
room. One of us will whisper the historical passage into the first student’s ear. After the passage
is whispered through the line of students, the last student will announce the information they
were given. After the telephone game, we will hand out a quiz for the students to complete,
which will be assessed via our rubric. Finally, we will conclude by returning to the KWL chart
and having the students tell us what they have learned.
Passage for the Telephone Game
The Bull Run or Manassas Campaign 1861
On June 2d, Brig.-Gen. G. T. Beauregard took command of the Confederate troops
on the "Alexandria line." His main line of defense was behind Bull Run, and his
headquarters at Manassas Junction, 26 miles from Alexandria and the Potomac River. This
army then held the line of the Potomac from the Blue Ridge down to the vicinity of
Washington, thence around the already partially fortified Virginia front of that city to the
Potomac, and then south along that river to Chesapeake Bay.
Oral History Quiz
1) True or False: Oral history is always inaccurate and should not be used by historians.
Answer__________
2) Choose the most accurate statement about oral history below:
a) Historical records never contain bias or ideological slant.
b) Oral history can be considered direct source documentation.
c) Scholars who use oral history are lazy.
d) Oral history is useless gossip, hearsay and rumor.
Answer__________
3) True or False: Humans started to record historical events about five million years ago.
Answer__________
4) Identify one major concern when using oral history as a resource.
Answer_________________________________________________
Tennessee Tech University
Jared Lindstrom and Patrick M. Smith
Student: _____________________
Class: ___________________________
Grade: ______________________
Rubric: Social Studies
Oral History
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rubricgradepostf_ 0
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rubricgradeeditf.c rubricprinteditc.cf
No
EEED804ABCC33
NO
no
658295
658296
658297
658298
658299
Assessment: for
Oral History Post-presentation Quiz
4101242
Needs to develop
The student did n
0
4101243
Minimal Know ledg
Student w ill need
1
Minimal
Needs to
Knowledge
develop
1 pts The cohort
listening skills.
members will
0 pts The cohort
need to develop
members did not
better listening
recall any
skills to improve
information from
on answering only
activities or direct
1 question
instruction.
correctly.
Criteria:
How many
answers did the
cohort members
(by group) get
correct on the
quiz when the
presentation was
concluded?
4101247
0 answ ers corre
Needs to
develop
listening
skills.
0 answers
correct
We need to work
together with
our partners and
the teacher to
do better in the
future.
4101248
25% Correct<BR>
Comments:
Minimal
Knowledge
4101244
Basic Know ledge
Student uses liste
2
4101245
Proficient Know le
Student uses liste
3
4101246
Advanced Know
Student uses liste
4
Basic
Knowledge
2 pts The cohort
member used
his/her listening
skills
inconsistently,
and only
answered half of
the questions
correctly.
Proficient
Knowledge
3 pts The cohort
members paid
attention and
used decent
listening skills to
answer most of
the questions
correctly.
Advanced
Knowledge
4 pts The cohort
members used
superior
listening skills to
answer all
questions
correctly.
Basic
Knowledge
Proficient
Knowledge
Advanced
Knowledge
25% Correct
50% Correct
75% Correct
100% Correct
Below average
let us try to
improve.
Adequate job,
but we can do
better!
You are a rock
star!!
Outstanding
Job Perfect
Score!!!
4101249
4101250
50% Correct<BR>
75% Correct<BR>
4101251
100% Correct<BR
References and Resources
http://dohistory.org/on_your_own/toolkit/oralHistory.html#ACCURACY
http://www.civilwarhome.com/1manassa.htm