Course Schedule & Grading Breakdown

Week	Date	Activities	Graded Component(s)
1	Aug 29	Icebreaker, goals of class, quiz/video, brainstorm on elder stories	Quiz + reflection
2	Sept 5	Discussion Prompt, Survey vs. Interview Intro, design surveys, submit 5 prompts	Survey prompts
3	Sept 12	Take Survey: https://tinyurl.com/s2surveyf25	Question production
4	Sept 19	Half day – no class	—
5	Sept 26	Train in How to Oral History, Show Archive, Create Themes for Elder Interviews, Pairs Craft 10 elder interview questions.	Survey completion (5%) + reflection
6	Oct 1	Review elder-focused questions, Review consent forms, Name Interviewees.	Question production
7	Oct 10	Filming workshop, editing basics, Finalize Interviewees.	Participation
8	Oct 18	No class – Atlanta OHA	—
9	Oct 24	Elder interview recordings due, Immigration history lecture,	Interviews (25%) + reflection
10	Oct 31	Rubric to Final Project, Pull meaningful quotes, small-group share	Quiz on lecture
11	Nov 7	Outline Essay in Class	Reflection
12	Nov 14	Find secondary sources, connect to elder’s story	Research task
13	Nov 21	Draft outlines + peer workshops	Peer feedback
14	Nov 28	No class – Thanksgiving	—
15	Dec 5	Review drafts of papers	Draft submission
16	Dec 12	Final paper	Final Project (25%)

Grade Components & Explanations

1. Elder Interviews (25%)

• In pairs, conduct 1–2 video-recorded interviews with elders/relatives.

• 100% credit for this portion if 2 strong interviews are completed; 80% credit if only 1 is strong.

• Due: Week 9 (Oct 24).

2. Final Essay (25%)

• The essay will have a clear research question, a thesis statement, three body paragraphs each with a topic sentence and three pieces of supporting evidence.

  • Highlight key moments or quotes from the interview.

  • Analyze themes (immigration, identity, mental health, resistance, family, etc.).

  • Connect to class-readings and at least one outside source (Week 12).

• Grading is based on a rubric that values clarity, storytelling, historical context, and creativity.

3. Quizzes (5%)

• Short checks for understanding.

• Examples:

  • Week 1: Intro quiz on oral history.

  • Week 10: Immigration lecture quiz.

• Purpose: Make sure students are engaging with core concepts.

4. Writing Reflections (10%)

• Short reflections connect personal experience and interviews to class themes.

• Examples:

  • Week 1: “Why do family/elder stories matter?”

  • Week 5: Reflection on survey and questions.

  • Week 9: Reflection on interview process.

  • Week 11: “Most powerful thing I heard.”

5. Question Production (10%)

• Develop thoughtful survey and interview questions.

• Examples:

  • Week 2: Write 5 survey prompts.

  • Week 5: Submit 10 open-ended interview questions.

• Purpose: Practice creating strong tools for oral history research.

6. Survey Completion (5%)

• Complete the in-class survey in Week 5.

• Grading is based on full completion, not content.

7. Participation (15%)

• Participation measures how you show up and contribute to the learning community.

• Expectations include:

  • Attending class regularly and arriving on time.

  • Staying engaged in discussions and group activities.

  • Contributing ideas respectfully.

  • Listening actively and supporting classmates.

  • Staying focused (no phones, side conversations, or off-task behavior).

• Full credit is earned by consistently being present, prepared, and respectful.

Final Summary of Weights

• Elder Interviews → 25%

• Final Essay → 25%

• Quizzes → 5%

• Writing Reflections → 10%

• Question Production → 10%

• Survey Completion → 5%

Participation → 15%
Total = 100%