This assignment provides you with the opportunity to interview a family member about three generations of your family’s history (the family member you interview, as well as his or her parents and grandparents). In the process, you will not only learn more about your own family’s story, but you also will have a chance to connect this narrative to the issues and trends that we have discussed in class this semester. For some students, this assignment may be a chance to spend time with and get to know an older relative and to further personalize your connections to our course materials.
First, you will conduct an interview with a person who has significant memories and knowledge of your family’s history—ideally, someone who is at least 60 years old, but an elderly relative (80 years+) would be ideal. Included below in this assignment are questions to help you prepare for the interview. Then, in a narrative form (not in a Q & A format) write up the information you gather during your interview.
second part
In this section, you should connect aspects of your family’s story to the overall family topics and trends that we have been discussing all semester. You also must provide your interpretation of WHY your family’s history and contours unfolded as it did, in light of its location in terms of class, culture, race, gender, immigration, and/or educational statuses.
The primary references in this analysis should be our class discussions and readings. However, you may be inspired to undertake further library research for this section to guide your understanding of issues (such as immigration history) that we have not covered in class. Please be mindful about citing sources using MLA or APA format and providing a list of works cited at the end of your essay.
sources
Latino Encyclopedia E184.S75L357 1996 vols. 1-6
Encyclopedia Latina: History, Culture and Society in the United States E184.S75E587 2005 vols. 1-4
Encyclopedia of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement. E184.M5M458 2000
