Community Voices Project Slides
Narrative Journalism & Oral History Project
Unit 3 • 4-Week Inquiry
Community Voices
Researching, interviewing, and chronicling the untold stories of everyday local changemakers.
Investigate
Read mentor profiles
Interview
Gather firsthand voice
Publish
Feature story & showcase
01 // MISSION
The Driving Purpose
Why This Matters
Essential Inquiry Question
“Whose stories are missing from our history books, and how do our words preserve them?”
History is not just about presidents or celebrities. It is built every day by neighborhood organizers, bus drivers, elders, artists, and caretakers.
Final Product
A 1,000-word published narrative feature article accompanied by an audio excerpt and portrait photograph.
Audience: Printed in the school anthology & shared at the Community Reading Night.
Turn & Talk (2 min): Who is one person in your neighborhood whose quiet work keeps things going?
02 // STUDY
Reading Like a Journalist
Analyzing Mentor Texts
The Sensory Hook
Do not start with birthdates or resumés. Begin right in the middle of action or vivid atmosphere.
"The grease sizzles at 5:15 AM before the streetlights blink out..."
The Golden Quote
Quote emotion, philosophy, and personal dialect. Paraphrase simple facts and background logistics.
"If we wait for permission to feed people, they go hungry today."
The Context Bridge
Connect one individual's struggle to the larger historical, economic, or cultural landscape.
"Her small pantry is one of 40 rising to fill our city's food desert."
In your mentor text packet: Highlight hooks in yellow and golden quotes in blue.
15 Minutes
03 // SCOUT
Selecting Your Subject & Ethics
Who is an Unsung Voice?
Strong Subject Profiles
- • Community Caregivers: Crossing guards, nurses, senior volunteers.
- • Cultural Keepers: Elders preserving language, traditional artisans, bakers.
- • Grassroots Problem Solvers: Youth coaches, community gardeners, mechanics.
- ✕ Avoid: Major celebrities, fictional characters, or someone you cannot interview directly.
The Journalist's Pledge
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- Informed Consent: Always explain where the article will be published and get permission first.
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- Integrity of Voice: Never invent words or distort someone's meaning to make a catchy headline.
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- Fact Checking: Verify dates, spelling of names, and external historical context.
Deliverable: Submit 2 potential interview subjects on your Pitches Sheet by Friday.
04 // INTERVIEW
The Art of the Interview
Question Crafting & Audio Capture
Weak (Dead-End) Questions
"Do you like your job as a mechanic?"
→ Yields a one-word answer: "Yes."
"How many years have you lived here?"
→ Simple data fact, not a story.
Powerful (Story-Prompt) Questions
"Tell me about a day when you almost gave up on this shop."
→ Unlocks vivid conflict, memory, and grit.
"What is a change in this block that only you have noticed?"
→ Reveals unique expertise and wisdom.
The 80/20 Rule: Your subject speaks 80% of the time. You listen 80% of the time.
Record & Transcribe
05 // DRAFT
Story Architecture
Organizing the 1,000-Word Feature
01
The Scene
Drop reader into a physical setting with sensory sounds, sights, and actions.
~150 words
02
The Nut Graf
The core thesis paragraph explaining why this person's work is critical to our town.
~200 words
03
The Crucible
The core obstacles, systemic hurdles, direct quotes, and how they pushed through.
~450 words
04
The Resonant Echo
A lasting quote, future vision, and final thought that reverberates with the reader.
~200 words
Drafting Strategy: Do not edit while drafting. Write the story straight through using your interview notes!
06 // EVALUATE
Excellence Criteria
Project Rubric Overview
1. Research & Background (25%)
Integrates verified local history and context; demonstrates thorough preparation before the interview.
2. Voice & Direct Quotes (25%)
Preserves authentic speech; weaves quotes seamlessly into prose without awkward attribution tags.
3. Narrative Craft & Structure (25%)
Engaging sensory lead, smooth thematic transitions, compelling nut graf, and memorable concluding image.
4. Showcase Presentation (25%)
Audio excerpt curated to 60-90 seconds, accompanied by a clean portrait and high-contrast layout.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.3 • W.9-10.7 • SL.9-10.4 100 Points Total
07 // ACTION
Today’s Launch Sprint
12:00 Paced Workshop
Step 1 (3 min)
The Brain Dump
List 4 people in your neighborhood or community who make life better for others behind the scenes.
Focus on variety: trades, arts, social support, elder care.
Step 2 (5 min)
Choose Top 2
Pick your top two candidates. Write 2 sentence justifications: Why is their story urgent right now?
Verify: Can you safely interview them by next Tuesday?
Step 3 (4 min)
Peer Check & Exit
Share both pitches with a shoulder partner. Select the strongest pitch together and log on the board.
Exit Ticket: Teacher signature on your Pitch Slip.
Ready to capture history? Grab your journal and start your brainstorm!
Silent Writing Mode: Active
