NOTE: Just do this on your family or make up the answers so that they sound good
Family Roots Research
Objective: Interpersonal Communication Interview. The purpose of this activity is to offer you an opportunity to explore the origins and changes among your family members over time.
Directions: Contact your oldest living relative and ask if you could interview them – Face-to-face is best, but any agreed upon method is acceptable. ZOOM, Skype, phone, face time, etc., are absolutely acceptable—especially at this time of a pandemic. Use the following questions to guide your interview, but add or subtract whatever information you feel is pertinent and acceptable. Be patient and listen with open mind and heart.
Afterwards, submit a minimum 500-word reflection paper describing what you have learned about your relative/relationship. Here are some possible things to write about:
What is your relationship to the interviewee?
When and where did the interview take place?
What were your expectations going in to the interview?
What surprised you about the interview?
How did the interview affect your view of yourself?
Suggested Interview questions:
Write a Family Research Paper.When and where were you born?
Tell me about your parents or your family background
Where was your family originally from?
What did your parents do for a living? Did you contribute to the family income or help parents in their work in any way?
What was your parents’ religious background? How was religion observed in your home?
What were your parents’ political beliefs? What political organizations were they involved in?
What other relatives did you have contact with growing up?
What do you remember about your grandparents?
What stories did you hear about earlier ancestors whom you never knew?
How many children were in the family, and where were you in the line-up?
Describe what your siblings were like. Who were you closest to?
Describe the house you grew up in. Describe your room.
What were your family’s economic circumstances? Do you remember any times when money was tight? Do you remember having to do without things you wanted or needed?
What were your duties around the house as a child? What were the other children’s duties? How did duties break down by gender?
When did you learn to cook and who taught you? Were there any special family foods or recipes? Do you still make any traditional family foods?
What activities did the family do together?
What did you do on Christmas? Thanksgiving? Birthdays? Other holidays?
