This assignment asks students to interview an older (65+, 75+, 85+) relative or acquaintance. Please make sure that the person understands fully the nature of the assignment and willingly agrees to participate. The instructor would encourage students to provide a draft of the interview to read before students submit it for evaluation. This assignment will provide an opportunity for the interviewee to reflect upon his/her life–an important adult developmental process. It will also provide students with an opportunity to get to know that person as an individual with a unique personal history. The interview and paper can also serve as a “legacy” that may be given to family members or others for posterity.
The first part of the paper, the interview summary, should be at least 12 – 15 pages long (typed, double spaced). Students may use direct quotations, or provide a summary of the information. Students have two different types of questions–topical and broad or specific and chronological (see the below guideline). Even though students may want to address many of the questions in the life review interview, Students will need to be selective in what students choose to include in the paper. It is expected that students will allow the person interviewed to choose which type of question he/she wants to answer.
The second part of the paper – about 3-5 pages long — should include students’ interpretation/analysis of the content of the interview. That is, how can students relate that person’s life to the material discussed in-class lectures, related readings, and the gerontological perspective, in general? Use the language and theories of gerontology in students’ write-up. This part of the assignment will be evaluated in terms of how students use the course content to interpret or explain the information obtained in the interview. Also, what did students learn about the person to be interviewed as a result of doing this project? What did students learn about their families? What did the student learn about self?
**************************************
