Feature Story Brainstorm

1. Who is your main subject?
My Grandma is the main subject.

2. Supporting interviews (who else do you need to talk to, minimum 2 other people)?
1. Dad
2. Uncle 

3. What is the topic or potential topic?
Civil rights in the 60s.

4. Which angle from above will you write the story?
Local angle.

5. Then to help you get going faster, come up with 20 questions that you can ask your main subject. Type these in your blog.
1. What was it like growing up during the civil rights movement.
2. Were your parents for or against the movement.
3. How did your peers react to the movement.
4. Did you ever see one of main people of the movement like MLK.
5. How were minorities treated before the movement.
6. What changed in your school after the movement.
7. What changed in your community after the movement.
8. How old were you when the movement occurred.
9. Was there still discrimination after the movement.
10. Did your friends talk about it.
11. Where you interested in the movement.
12. Was there celebrations after Jim Crow laws became abolished.
13. Where minorities treated better.
14. Did the local law enforcement enforce the new laws.
15. Did your parents ever talk about it.
16. Did your siblings ever talk about it.
17. Did your teachers or school ever talk about it.
18. Where were you when the movement occurred.
19. Was it a big deal where you were.
20. Did you ever see protests.

6. Once you complete that portion, you need to come up with 5-10 questions you need to ask your supporting interviews. Type these into your blog. You may need different questions for each supporting subject.
1. Did grandma ever talk about it.
2. Were minorities treated better in your school.
3. Did you ever have an interest in it.
4. Was there still some discrimination afterwards.
5. Was grandma a supporter of it.
6. Was MLK celebrated like he is today.
7. Did you ever hear about Malcom X.
8. About what time did you notice discrimination had really decreased.
9. Was there a lot of racism where you were.
10. Did schools talk about the movement.

7. You will need to do a little research on the topic you expect to interview your main subject about. Take a little time and do some google searching - find at least 5 new things about the intended topic you should know before you interview your main subject. List those on your blog.

8. Write when you plan to conduct the interview(s)?
When Im at her house over thanksgiving.

9. Where you will interview them (some interviews are better to do in the persons environment, while others should be done in public places, ALL interviews should be done in person)?
In her living room

10. How will you record the information? (taking notes is ideal, and if you want to record the conversation you MUST get permission. You can do both if they will allow you to record, this is a really strong technique that you could use.)
Ill make notes on my phone.