Narrative Storytelling

Basic Features A Well-Told Story Vivid Description Significance

A Well-Told Story Engages readers Is dramatic Is well-focused Is well-organized

Ways to engage readers: By letting the reader into the writer’s or storyteller’s or narrator’s perspective—for example, using first-person pronoun I to narrate By arousing curiosity and suspense By clarifying or resolving a conflict through a change or discovery

Dramatic Arc A Well-Told Story is also well organized and focused The dramatic arc is helpful for thinking about organization and how the writer develops the story to create effect. The elements of the dramatic arc are: Exposition/Inciting incident Rising Action Climax Falling Action Conclusion/Reflection

Dramatic Arc Definitions Exposition/Inciting Incident: Background information, scene setting, or an introduction to the characters or an initial conflict or problem that sets off the action, arousing curiosity and suspense Rising Action: The developing crisis, possibly leading to other conflicts and complications Climax: The emotional high point, a turning point marking a change for good or ill Falling Action: Resolution of tension and unraveling of conflicts; may include a final surprise Resolution/Reflection: Conflicts come to an end but may not be fully resolved, and writer reflects on the event’s meaning and importance—its significance The shape of the arc varies. Not all stories devote the same amount of space to each element, and some may omit an element or include more than one.

Elements of Vivid Description Action sequences to move the narrative along, to create effect, to convey significance Dialogue--quoting or paraphrasing (what you choose depends on what you want to highlight) Naming—people, things, places Detailing with descriptive languages people, places, things Comparing to convey images and emotions

Significance The story should have a clear point and it should convey a richness of meaning that makes the event worth writing about You can convey this by: Describing feelings and thoughts from the time the event took place Reflecting on the past from the present perspective Choosing details and words that create a dominant impression

Purpose The purpose can be both the significance of the story and also others beyond those the writer consciously intends to communicate or even acknowledges. What are some reasons or purposes why we might tell a particular story?

The writer’s purpose might be: to understand what happened and why, perhaps to confront unconscious and possibly uncomplimentary motives to relive an intense experience that might resonate with readers and lead them to reflect on similar experiences of their own to use personal experience as an example that readers are likely to understand/relate to to work through complex and ambivalent feelings to win over readers, perhaps to justify or rationalize choices made, actions taken, or words used to reflect on cultural attitudes at the time the event occurred, perhaps in contrast to current ways of thinking When reading, you should always ask yourself: What seems to be the writer’s purpose?

Audience When reading, you should also, ask yourself: What does the writer assume about the audience? How does the writer want the reader to react? Perhaps the writer assumes that : readers will have had similar experiences readers will see the writer as innocent, well meaning, a victim, or something else readers will laugh with and not at the writer readers will reflect on the cultural context in which the event occurred and how it influenced the writer The writer might want the reader to: Understand and empathize with the writer Rethink similar experiences of their own See writer’s experience as part of a larger social phenomenon Assess how the story applies to other people and situations