Scholastic.
com Writing Workshop: Oral history
Worksheet 1: Smart Quotes Mini-Lesson
Complete these sentences by adding the missing quotation marks.
Student name: _____________________________ Date: _________________
1. John said, That's my coat.
2. Jack said, I have a coat like yours.
3. Is the pizza here? asked Hillary.
4. I love extra cheese, said Jamie.
5. Grandmother asked, Did you plant beans, peppers, and melons in your garden?
6. No, I only planted beans and melons, answered Ashley.
7. William exclaimed, I can't believe we're finally here!
8. This beach, said Dad, is more beautiful than ever.
9. The lost scouts screamed, How will we ever get out of here?
10. Help! shouted the scoutmaster. We can't find our way out of this cave!
Rules for using Quotation marks:
1. A speaker's exact words (also called dialogue) must be surrounded by quotation marks.
Example: "I love flowers," said Jessie.
2. Opening quotation marks (example: ") are used to mark the beginning of the speaker's
words, and closing quotation marks are used the mark the end of the speaker's words
(example: ").
3. Commas and periods are always placed inside the closing quotation marks.
Example: "I like chips," said Milly.
Jason replied, "I love pretzels."
4. Use a comma to introduce a quotation after a dialogue tag.
Example: Tyler replied, "Blue is my favorite color."
5. If dialogue is split or separated, use quotation marks to surround each part that is
spoken.
Example: "Yes," said Bobby, "I love cheese pizza."
6. If a quotation is not split or separated, don't close the quotation until the speaker is
finished. This could sometimes involve numerous sentences.
Example: "Please write your name on your paper before you begin. Once you finish, bring
your paper to the front of the room and place it on my desk," said the teacher.
Worksheet 2: Choosing Someone to Interview
Sometimes it's hard to decide on a person to interview. Everyone seems to have a story. Oral
histories are best when you are truly interested in the person you choose to interview. Browse
through this list for help deciding on a subject for your oral history project.
Student name: _____________________________ Date: _________________
Family
• Mother
• Father
• Grandmother
• Grandfather
• Aunts or Uncles
Neighborhood
• A lifelong resident of your hometown
• A veteran
• An immigrant
• A friend's interesting relative
School
• A teacher you had when you were younger
• The principal
• The technology expert
• A school sports hero
Community
• The mayor
• A police officer
• A fire fighter or EMT
• A veterinarian
• Or even a taxi driver, pizza maker, builder, sanitation worker, dog groomer…everyone
has a story. If it's interesting to you, it's probably interesting to others!
Names of 3 possible people to interview:
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Who is your final choice for an interview? Write down their contact information here:
Name: ________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Telephone number: ________________________
Email: ________________________________________________
Worksheet 3: Interview Checklist
Student name: _____________________________ Date: _________________
Name of person I will interview: ________________________
Interview date: ________________
Interview time: ________________________
Interview location: ________________________
Estimated length of Interview:
(Try to allow at least 30 minutes)
I have gathered background information on my subject.
I have gathered background information on the time period or event my subject will be
discussing.
I have written a comprehensive list of questions for my subject.
I have access to a working tape recorder for use during the interview.
I have a pen or pencil and paper for taking additional notes during the interview.
Worksheet 4: Interview Notes
Student name: _____________________________ Date: _________________
My Question:
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Worksheet 5: Draft Outline
Student name: _____________________________ Date: _________________
Use this worksheet as you review your interview tape or notes.
Possible Titles:
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Important Points to Include:
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Great Quotes I Plan to Use:
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Possible Beginning "Hooks"
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Possible Endings:
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(First Main Idea)
I. _______________________________________________________________________
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(Supporting Details)
A. ______________________________________________________________________
B. ______________________________________________________________________
C. ______________________________________________________________________
(Second Main Idea)
II. ______________________________________________________________________
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(Supporting Details)
A. ______________________________________________________________________
B. ______________________________________________________________________
C. ______________________________________________________________________
(Final Idea)
III. ______________________________________________________________________
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(Supporting Details)
A. ______________________________________________________________________
B. ______________________________________________________________________
C. ______________________________________________________________________
Worksheet 6: Peer Review Checklist
Writer's name: ___________________________________
Partner's name: __________________________________
Writer's subject: __________________________________
Suggestions
1. The main idea is stated clearly in a topic sentence.
2. There are details that support the main idea.
3. Events are told in an order that makes sense.
4. Quotes are used to show what the interviewee said.
5. It ends with a strong conclusion that restates the main idea using different
words.
Worksheet 7: Editing
Student name: _____________________________ Date: _________________
Editing Checklist
Capitalization
Each sentence starts with a capital
All names begin with a capital
Each important word in title begins with a capital letter
Organization
Handwriting is neat or will be printed on the computer
Order of events is easy to follow
Beginning and ending make sense
All sentences are complete and include a subject and a verb
Punctuation
Quotation marks are used when directly quoting the person I interviewed
Commas are used when necessary (pause, series or list, quotaions)
Sentences end with a period or other appropriate ending punctuation
Spelling
Words are spelled correctly or if using the computer, spell check is complete
