Historic Interviews

Class Exercise
Interview a historical figure

Introduction
Blogs allow people to stretch their imagination. Some people are blogging with information from writers like Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, and famously Samuel Pepys. In a different style, Frederick Douglass’ blog is written as if the American abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman, reformer and escaped slave was still alive and commenting on modern events.

Your task will be to delve into history and investigate a famous person’s life.

Rules:
No swearing or other inappropriate/immature postings. These posts are available to students under 16 years old.
Your interview must be relevant and the answers written in the ‘voice’ of the interviewee.
It would be easier if you found information first, and then based your questions around the information that you have
Handouts: these instructions.

Task Planning
In a first-come-first-served basis, agree a figure from your home country’s past to interview.
They must be a real person, and have died before 1950. They must have been born in your home country (e.g. Scotland, England, Wales, Poland).
Your Tutor will record this, as everyone will be investigating someone different.
As this is an interview, and not just a series of bland historical questions, get as much information to substantiate the interview answers as possible. Making up an answer without any facts to back it up is just lying, and will not be tolerated.
Make the article as interesting as possible, adding pictures too.
This must be written as if a magazine interview – questions in italics, and answers in normal case. All must be in proper English, and not some made-up text ‘speak’ or gibberish. The aim is to be able to communicate with the majority of readers, and not just some mobile phone users.
Once you have completed the interview, add a second post with a short biography of the person, and a bibliography showing where you got the information.

As ever, this is a professional blog, so nothing illegal or immoral.