Background

Imagine that you are a reporter who has traveled back to the 1800s. Select a person, real or fictional, whom you would like to interview.

Write your own skit:

With a partner, brainstorm questions that a reporter might ask. Remember that a good question will require more than a yes or no answer. One of you will first play the part of the interviewee; and the other, the interviewer. Always ask the person you are interviewing to explain his or her answers. The answers to your questions should reveal how this person feels and reveal his or her beliefs, hopes, dreams, and personality.

Now switch roles with your partner and imagine that you are the person being interviewed. How would you answer those same questions that you asked? Apply the information you have about your real or fictional person to answer the questions as accurately and historically correct as possible.

Based on the information you gather, you and your partner will prepare a skit. Decide who will be the interviewer and who will be the interviewee in the skit. Practice these roles several times before you present your skit to the rest of the class. Try to memorize your parts and change your voice and mannerisms to match the person you are portraying. You might even want to dress the part.