SEMESTER PROJECT FOR AP, SECOND SEMESTER: 2007

SEMESTER PROJECT

HISTORICAL INTERVIEW

Introduction:

For your semester project you will be conducting an interview, preferably with one or both of your parents or grandparents, or familiar acquaintance (no teachers please) dealing with one of the topics listed below.

Directions:

Before you can conduct a probing, meaningful, interview you must become acquainted with the topic yourself so you will know what questions to ask. So that is the first task, do you own research on the topic. You don't have to become an expert but you need to know enough to ask intelligent questions and be aware if you're getting somewhat accurate responses and to be able to ask follow up questions.

After you have become acquainted with the topic write out a minimum of 15 questions. The questions should not be of the broad, non specific type. See examples below. Also, follow up on the answers when you can.

Examples:

BAD.

What did you think about the Vietnam War?

GOOD:

  What are three things you remember about the Vietnam War?

            Did you witness or participate in anti or pro war demonstrations?

            Did you think Johnson was telling the truth about the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

            Did you read the Pentagon Papers? What did you think about them when you             learned of the information they contained?

  Make an Appointment.

Once you have your questions written out, make an appointment to sit down with the person or persons you are going to interview. Even if it's your parents, don't just spring it on them. You want enough time to finish your entire interview and whatever discussion might ensue from it.

The Finished Product.

Once you have conducted your interview, type out each question and response for hand-in. First number and type the question and then follow with the response.

Attach a cover page to your finished product. The cover page will have your name and period, the name of the person you interviewed with their contact information (a phone number or e-mail address,) and the date you conducted the interview.

TOPICS FOR YOUR INTERVIEWS:

1. John F. Kennedy Assassination                            29. 2000 Presidential Election           

2. The Vietnam War                                                     30. 1972 Olympics                                                         

3. The Counter Culture Movement                                31. 1992 LA Riots

4. The Anti-War Movement                                                32. The Murder of John Lennon

5. The Cuban Missile Crises                          33. 1996 Presidential Election                                                                                

 6. The Civil Rights Movement                                34. The First Super Bowl/1967

7. Martin Luther King Assassination                            35. The Fall of the Soviet Union

8. 1964 Presidential Election

9. The Great Society/Johnson Presidency

10. Watts Riots                                               

11. 1968 Democratic Convention                               DUE DATE:  Periods 3& 5  June 4.

12. 1968 Presidential Election                                                              Periods 4 & 6 June 5

13. The Berkeley Free Speech Movement

14. The Bi-Centennial Celebration

15. The Robert Kennedy Assassination

16. The Watergate Scandal

17. The Iran-Contra Scandal

18. The Iranian Hostage Crises

19. The Kent State Shootings

20. Nixon's Visits to China and the Soviet Union

21. The Environmental Movement/Earth Day

22. The Feminist Movement/ERA

23. The 1972 Presidential Election

24. 1976 Presidential Election

25. The Reagan Presidency

26. Operation Desert Storm/Persian Gulf War

27. 1992 Presidential Election

28. The Clinton Impeachment