This assignment pushes students to think critically about the life stories of everyday people in relation to the larger themes, topics, and historic events we discuss in class. Students will write a paper that connects an oral history interview with course themes, assigned readings, and additional research. Students have two options for their 1400-1500 word (about 6 pages, double spaced) oral history research paper:
- Conduct an oral history interview (roughly 45-60 minutes in length) with an Asian American or Pacific Islander who is at least 40 years old and contextualize their life story in broader themes, topics, and events in Asian American history.
I will you with the sources
The paper must use class materials and additional research to analyze and contextualize the interviewee’s life story within broader themes and topics in Asian American history such as migration, labor, and resistance. While students are expected to incorporate information from their oral history interview into their papers (e.g., direct quotations or paraphrasing) to tell their interviewee’s life story, the paper must be more than a summary of the oral history. If you choose to conduct your own interview, potential interviewees include family members, friends, teachers, or neighbors, conducted in person or remotely. If you choose to use a pre-recorded oral history with primary source documents, please consult the research resources list posted on Canvas for online archives and databases; your oral history interview must come from one of these online archives. In addition to relying on assigned course readings, all students should plan on using the CSULB library website to help locate scholarly sources relevant to your topic. Do not rely on Google for your research project. Students are expected to spend time editing and revising their papers; do not procrastinate!I already have the proposals paper so you only need to write about 2~3 pages long
The paper consists of two parts, each of which is a portion of the total paper grade:
- A paper proposal discussing an oral history interviewee and topic (5%), due Week 4. Proposals must be between 300-350 words (about 2 pages, double spaced). Your instructor MUST approve your proposed topic.
- The proposal must include the following:
1) Identify who you plan to interview (if you are conducting your own interview) or what recorded interview you plan to use AND an online database you plan to use for your primary sources (if you are using a pre-recorded interview).
2) Identify a topic or theme you expect to cover in your paper.
3) Identify at least one relevant scholarly source related to this topic or theme. Briefly describe the main argument in the source. Your source must be something other than assigned course materials.
4) In-text citations and a works cited page. Proposals without citations and a works cited page will receive a reduced grade.
