English II
Name:
Mrs. Porretta-Baker
DATE DUE:
Piano Lesson Assessment – Listening to and Presenting the Legacy of Another
Purpose: To gather oral history about your family/culture in order to honor and preserve it for future
generations.
What Is Oral History? Oral history is a way to gather information from people who took part in past
events. Gathering oral history is the technique of interviewing people who lived through historical
events or time periods and recording their answers.
Assignment: in this task you will write and present an essay based on an interview that you planned
and conducted. The interview may be of someone in your family or community whose culture
interests you.
Preparing for the Interview
1. Consider whom might you interview. What would you hope to learn about that person as a
member of a cultural group and as an individual?
2. Decide whom to interview. Plan your initial contact with your interviewee. Tell your interview a
little bit about what you have been studying in class. Be prepared to describe why you are
requesting an interview, and the purposes of the interview. Explain that the interview’s write-up
may be presented to the class.
3. Arrange for the interview. Make an appointment as early as possible. When you schedule the
interview, ask interviewee to bring along photos, news clippings, and any other items that might
help them tell you about their historical legacy (exemplary).
4. Learn as much as you can about the interviewee ahead of time. Research that time period related
to your interviewee to learn what major events were happening and how she/he might have been
involved in those events. This shows the interviewee that you have done your homework and are
knowledgeable enough to be taken seriously.
5. Discuss and prepare a list of appropriate questions to ask in the interview. Think about
questions you can ask about:
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Ancestry, heirlooms, family conflicts
Family
Education
Description of interviewee, description of setting
Special skills and interests
Types of recreation they participated in when they
were young
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Place and date of birth
Place lived in
Traditions practiced then and now
Occupations and accomplishments
Community and religious activities
Important experience/memory in their
lifetime
6. Review your questions. Think them through, rehearsing and rearranging them so that you will
know what you want to cover without having to refer constantly to them. Write your questions in
advance. Your questions should be OPEN-ENDED. Avoid questions that lead to yes or no
responses.
7. Confirm the date and time of the interview with your interviewee.
Conducting the Interview
Interview Manners
Here are some pointers for good interview manners:
 Dress appropriately, and Be on time.
 Be prepared. Have your questions ready, your notebook out, and your equipment in good
working order. (Pen, Pencil, Pad, tape recorder (if using)) – BE PROFESSIONAL!

Be polite and SHOW INTEREST and curiosity. Say please and thank you and address people
formally (using Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, and so on).
 Provide time for the person to answer questions. Be patient when answers take a long time.
 Do not argue with or correct the subject. Oral histories are not always accurate, but they do
provide important information about feelings and impressions.
Getting Started
1. Introduce yourself. Give your name, age, the class and school you attend. Describe the
purpose of your project.
2. Have the subject sign a Release Form so you can share the information you collect.
3. If taping, ask your interview subject if you can tape record the conversation. Explain that you
will be taking notes as you go along. As much as possible, write down your interviewees
responses VERBATIM – you can ask for clarification if you need to.
4. Begin the interview by asking where and when the interview subject was born.
5. Guide the interview, but remain flexible. Sometimes detours can be better than the direction
you though you would follow.
6. Ask about photos, news clippings that your interviewee has provided.
7. Ask follow-up questions. For example:
 “Can you say more about that?”
 “Please tell me a little bit more about…”
 “Would you please explain what you mean about…?”
 “Can you go back and fill in a little bit about “x”? How did “X” lead to “Y”?
 “Do you know what led you to think (or d0) that?”
8. If you need to interrupt, do so, but politely.
o “Excuse me. I need to check my notes for a moment.”
o “I’m also interested to learn about…”
9. Be observant. Watch for nonverbal behaviors. Include them in your notes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Ending the Interview
Ask for a little time to go over notes. Ask for clarification on any notes you took.
Repeat questions if necessary.
Check spelling of names, review dates, etc.
Ask, “Is there anything I’ve left out, anything you would like to add?”
Leave the door open: “May I call you if I have any more questions?”
Thank your interviewee.
Fill in your notes as soon as you leave the interview, while the interview is fresh in your mind.
Presenting the Interview
1. Begin a draft of an essay documenting the interview. You will need to consider how best to
organize the information in your notes. In writing the interview essay, remember that the
essay format differs from the “question-and-answer” format.
2. Convey a sense of the person’s voice by using descriptions of setting, appearance,
mannerisms, tone of voice, body language, etc. You should include descriptive details of the
person being interviewed as well as the setting on order to show how those details reflect the
individual. Be sure to quote the person verbatim when possible. Feel free to add commentary
about what you discovered throughout the interview.
3. On the day of your presentation, invite the interviewee to class. The interviewee can choose to
participate in the presentation if he/she wishes.
4. Share you essay with your class, take any questions / comments from class about your
interview.
SAMPLE RELEASE FORM
In view of the historical value of this oral history interview, I (name of interview subject) knowingly
and voluntarily permit (name of student interviewer, name of class, and name of school) the full use
of this information for educational purposes.
Signature (signature of interview subject)
Date (date of interview)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RELEASE FORM
In view of the historical value of this oral history interview, I, ________________________________
_________________________ knowingly and voluntarily permit ______________________________
________________________________________________ the full use of this information for educational
purposes.
Signature ____________________________
Date ________________________________
SAMPLE INVITATION
Please plan on attending a PRESENTATION of our classes ORAL HISTORIES
Date:
Time:
Place:
RSVP:
The Piano Lesson Assessment: Listening to and Presenting the Legacy of Another
Levels of Proficiency
Exemplary
Accomplished
Promising
Beginning
Evidence is
missing
Aspects of Performance
VOICE
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Captures distinctiveness of
interviewee’s Voice
Develop & Present
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Provides focus for essay
Identifies group to which
interviewee belongs
Uses language &
description of nonverbal
behavior that characterizes
interviewee
Meaning

Provides insight about self
and interviewee
Demonstrate technical
command

Presents a finished product
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Exemplary – exceeds requested criteria in one of more ways that may include creativity, insight, etc.
Accomplished – fulfills all criteria well and completely
Promising – comes close to fulfilling the assignment but misses the mark in one or more areas
Developing – demonstrates some understanding of the assignment and shows some skill in doing the assignment, but
contains a number of gaps
Beginning – shows awareness of what was requested but demonstrates little skill or understanding in doing the
assignment
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