Midterm Life History Summary Interview

Reminder: Review the glossary terms for each module in D2L. These terms will help you connect your Life History Interview to the key concepts from our readings and films. Note: A Quick Reference Sheet for Units I & II (including key concepts, readings, and films) is included at the end of this guide. Use it to help connect your Life History Interview to course content. Important: For your Midterm Life History Interview Project, you must use the Midterm Life History Block Template. You can download it, along with an example of a completed Block, from the Course Resources file in the Content folder on D2L. Midterm Life History Interview Project Step-by-Step Guide Purpose This project asks you to begin with a meaningful memory one that has stayed with you because it shaped who you are. It could be challenging, surprising, or emotionally significant. You will use this memory to explore how your life has been shaped by your family, community, and the wider systems you grew up in. In our course, we refer to these as Global North epistemologies ways of knowing and understanding the world that often come from dominant cultural perspectives. Step 1 Choose Your Memory Pick one difficult or significant memory from your life. It does not have to be traumatic just meaningful. This memory will guide your interviews and reflections. Prompt examples: A time you felt proud, a turning point, a challenge you overcame, a lesson you learned from a family member. Step 2 Plan Your Interviews Interview three people who knew you between birth and age 19: Examples: parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, older sibling, close family friend. Choose people who can share specific stories about your childhood and teen years. Ask about two life stages: 1. Birth to age 9 2. Ages 1019 Step 3 Record & Transcribe Record the interviews (audio or video) if possible always ask permission first. If recording is not possible, take detailed notes. Example transcription: My aunt said, You were always asking questions about everything. Step 4 Find 23 Non-Scholarly Sources These provide cultural, historical, or personal context: Photos (maximum of 2, preferably from childhood) Yearbooks, report cards, letters, journals News articles, music, or movies from your growing-up years 1 Family documents or community records For each source, explain: 1. Why you chose it 2. What it shows about your upbringing or culture Step 5 Critical Reflections (3 total) Write a 250+ word reflection for each interview: 1. Summarize what they shared about you. 2. Connect it to your chosen memory. 3. Use one course glossary term (bold it and number it). 4. Include one non-scholarly source for context.