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Create a Family History: Difference between revisions
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*As you include stories and statements from family members, don’t overly edit their words. Sometimes it is very effective to include unique speech patterns, grammatical errors, and the style of the speaker. You should be careful,however, to avoid making someone look less educated. | *As you include stories and statements from family members, don’t overly edit their words. Sometimes it is very effective to include unique speech patterns, grammatical errors, and the style of the speaker. You should be careful,however, to avoid making someone look less educated. | ||
*Consider a possible three-part format for each chapter: | *Consider a possible three-part format for each chapter: | ||
*Stories and accounts about the family or individuals. | **Stories and accounts about the family or individuals. | ||
*Photographs and illustrations that document events. | **Photographs and illustrations that document events. | ||
*Additional documents that supplement your stories. | **Additional documents that supplement your stories. | ||
*Discuss sensitive material with anyone you think may be concerned or affected by the material before you include it in your writing. | *Discuss sensitive material with anyone you think may be concerned or affected by the material before you include it in your writing. | ||
*Tell the truth, but don’t be offensive or defensive. | *Tell the truth, but don’t be offensive or defensive. | ||
*Try to understand the choices and challenges your ancestors faced. Try to get your readers to empathize with each character. | *Try to understand the choices and challenges your ancestors faced. Try to get your readers to empathize with each character. | ||
*Ask questions and get answers as you write. For example: | *Ask questions and get answers as you write. For example: | ||
*How did your ancestor get his property? Did he homestead? Did he inherit it? If he bought it, how did he get the money to purchase the land? How did he finance it? | **How did your ancestor get his property? Did he homestead? Did he inherit it? If he bought it, how did he get the money to purchase the land? How did he finance it? | ||
*Did he have to clear trees, dig irrigation ditches, or build a road to his property? | **Did he have to clear trees, dig irrigation ditches, or build a road to his property? | ||
*What was your ancestor’s profession? What was it like to have the job he had? | **What was your ancestor’s profession? What was it like to have the job he had? | ||
*What was an average day like in his profession or trade at that same time? | **What was an average day like in his profession or trade at that same time? | ||
*Did your ancestor have to contend with hostile neighbors? Did they fine neighbors who were helpful and supportive in times of need? | **Did your ancestor have to contend with hostile neighbors? Did they fine neighbors who were helpful and supportive in times of need? | ||
*How did your ancestor celebrate holidays and special events? | **How did your ancestor celebrate holidays and special events? | ||
*Would your ancestors have used a particular dialect? If they emigrated to a new location in their lifetime, how did they adjust to their new culture? | **Would your ancestors have used a particular dialect? If they emigrated to a new location in their lifetime, how did they adjust to their new culture? | ||
*How did your ancestors deal with disasters that happened during their lifetimes (economic difficulties, epidemics, clashes in cultures, floods, droughts, and so on). | **How did your ancestors deal with disasters that happened during their lifetimes (economic difficulties, epidemics, clashes in cultures, floods, droughts, and so on). | ||
*The less you know about your ancestors, the more you will have to use general historical information about their place and time to put them into historical perspective. | *The less you know about your ancestors, the more you will have to use general historical information about their place and time to put them into historical perspective. | ||
*Don’t let your writing become a list of dates and places. Include stories and background information to bring dates and places to life. | *Don’t let your writing become a list of dates and places. Include stories and background information to bring dates and places to life. | ||