HIST 101 Interview Guide | Hauselmann's History Lab

Student Information

Student Name:

Section Number:

Purpose

As part of your research paper, you will conduct a 15–20 minute informal interview with a friend, family member, or community member. The goal is to connect the ideals of the American Revolution—liberty, equality, and civic participation—to the lived experiences and beliefs of people today.

Engage with ideas about democracy beyond the classroom.
Hear how others understand civic life, freedom, and responsibility.
Reflect on how these views connect to The Atlantic “The Unfinished Revolution” (Nov. 2025) and Richard Haass’s The Bill of Obligations.

Interview Format

Length: 15–20 minutes
Location: In person, phone, or video call
Recording: Audio only (MP3, M4A, or WAV)
Transcript: Typed word-for-word (paraphrase slightly for clarity)

Begin by reading the consent statement aloud and starting the recording.

Consent Statement (read aloud at start of interview)

This interview is part of my History 101 course at Modesto Junior College. The purpose is to discuss the meaning of liberty, equality, and civic participation in our democracy today. This conversation will be recorded for class purposes only and will not be shared publicly. By continuing, you agree to participate voluntarily and understand that the recording and transcript will only be used for my class research paper.

Connection to Your Paper Topic

How does this interview connect to your chosen democratic norm and research focus?

What do you hope to learn from this interview?

Sample Interview Questions

Choose 6–8 questions that fit your conversation, or adapt them as needed.

Part 1: Understanding the Revolution’s Ideals

When you hear the word liberty, what does it mean to you? Do you think Americans today value liberty in the same way the founders did? How do you define equality in today’s society? What barriers to equality still exist, in your view?

Part 2: Civic Participation and Responsibility

What does civic participation mean to you? How do you participate in your community or democracy (voting, volunteering, activism, discussion)? Do you think most people today are engaged citizens? Why or why not? What responsibilities do citizens have toward one another?

Part 3: The “Unfinished Revolution”

Do you think the American Revolution is “unfinished”? If so, in what ways? What issues today feel like a continuation of the Revolution’s struggle for liberty and equality? Do you believe the United States is living up to its founding ideals? Why or why not? What changes do you think are needed to strengthen democracy today?

Optional Reflection Questions

How have your ideas about freedom or democracy changed over your lifetime? What gives you hope about America’s future? If you could rewrite the Declaration of Independence for today, what would you add?

Your custom or adapted questions

Interview Transcript Template

Student Name

Interviewee First Name (no identifying info)

Date & Location of Interview

Duration

Transcript (sample format)

Submission Checklist

Audio recording (MP3, M4A, or WAV) Typed transcript (Word or PDF) Interviewee first name only (no personal identifying info) Integrated quotes or ideas from interview in your research paper

Notes before submission