How to turn a narrative into notecards Narrative to Notes How to turn a narrative into notecards

Remember… Best Speaking Practices include: Posture Energy! Enthusiasm! Confidence Slow, clear pronunciation Eye contact Pauses Volume Variance Therefore, you don’t want to read from a piece of paper! Know your subject so well that you can focus on your audience instead!

Sample Speech Narrative Form On March 27, 1985, Mr. Daigle had an argument with his wife over what they should name their newborn baby girl. She was supposed to be a boy, and the name “James” would simply not do. Without coming to a mutual agreement, she was initially named “Girl Daigle.” The irony should not be lost on all of you who know that Mr. Daigle’s first name is “Guy.” Mrs. Daigle, Guy Daigle, and “Girl” Daigle spent the next few weeks together. After some discussion, that independent little baby was finally named Amber, and as you may have guessed, this is the story of how I found not only a name, but my identity.

I grew up in rural northeastern Connecticut, in a little town called Ashford. My artistic father inspired us and provided structure to my and my brother’s lives. In the summer days, we spent the morning completing reading, writing, and math papers. Then, we would have lunch together, and lastly, we would have to be outside to play for the afternoon. In the winters, we’d play in the snow, building tunnels. Our snowmen were beyond average; we had giant snowmen and snow dragons. He created quite the wonderful world for our imaginations to flourish. Many of my peers and students are surprised to find that I never had a detention until I had to give one as a teacher. I wasn’t sure what was done during a detention at first. This means that as a high school student, I was well-behaved and completed all of my school work. College was a natural post-graduation step for me. Being top 10% at Woodstock Academy, I was able to go to UConn-Storrs with some scholarships. Despite my impeccable high school behavioral and academic records, I was put on academic probation my first semester. Body/Examples

In 2003, UConn’s reputation as a party school meant that, even if one didn’t “party” in the Jersey Shore sense of the word, there were still things to do and people to talk with at all hours of the day and night. Finding myself to be social and love to be with others, I neglected the simple necessities of life. I didn’t have a bedtime, and I didn’t eat well or regularly. My health suffered with my grades. Fortunately, after receiving my first grade lower than a B, I panicked and began to provide structure for myself. I had a strict 11:30 pm bedtime, and I made sure to get full servings of vegetables. Those darn words murmured by my parents for years and years finally made sense. I ended up graduating with my Master’s and a 3.98 GPA. My love for English and for being around others became a natural path towards becoming a high school English teacher. I believe that doing what you enjoy and keeping an open mind will help you find where you’re going to go. Good-hearted and kind people, like Mr. Daigle, helped me find this path. Seeking a balance between “work” and “play” is the secret to happiness and finding yourself. Conclusion & Lesson

What do you notice when something is simply read at you?

If you know your speech well enough, you may be able to use brief, bulleted lists…

Use Notecards to Recall Major Points Intro: Birthday Girl Daigle/Guy Daigle Story of how I found not only my name but also my identity Body: 2003 Uconn “party school” in Jersey shore sense of the word Health suffered w/my grades Found I liked to be social 1 3 Body: Grew up in Ashford – rural NE CT Reading Papers Snow Dragons Imaginations flourish Never gave a detention – academic and behavioral records made college a natural choice Conclusion Strict bedtime Graduated w/Master’s and a 3.98 GPA Love for English & Being w/others made teaching a natural choice Doing what you enjoy & keeping an open mind will help you find where you’re going Balance between work & play is the secret to happiness and finding yourself 2 4

For your first speech, however, you may need more details to tame your nerves. Your notecards should look more like this: Introduction: On 3/27/85, Mr. Daigle argued with his wife over what they should name their newborn baby girl. They guessed that they would have a boy, but the named “James” would not do for their surprise girl. Without settling on a name, they left the hospital with a birth certificate that said “Girl Daigle” The irony should not be lost on all of you who know that Mr. Daigle’s first name is Guy. Guy Daigle and Girl Daigle would spend the next few weeks together until she was finally named “Amber.” Thus, as you may have guessed, this is the story of how I not only found a name, but my identity.

Note Cards, Continued. Body Grew up in rural Northeastern CT in a town called Ashford Artistic father provided raised us with structure, kindness, and creativity He created the wonderful world for our imaginations to flourish Many of my peers & students are surprised to find that I never had a detention. When I had to give one, I didn’t know what to do. As you may have guessed, I was a well-behaved & quiet HS student who completed all of her schoolwork College was a natural post-graduation choice Being top 10% at WA, went to Uconn w/scholarships Despite my impeccable HS behavior & academic records, I was put on academic probation my first semester

Note Cards, Continued. Body 2003 Uconn was considered one of the top ten “party schools” which I later learned didn’t do anything but hurt my degree (and the thousands of dollars of debt I am now in…) Even if you didn’t party “Jersey Shore” style – which I was too scared to do – you could still find someone to talk to at all hours of the days or nights I didn’t learn much from this other than I liked to be with others. I’m a social being. But after that 1st semester, I looked at my report card and my heart sank. I needed that structure my dad brought me up with. Bedtime & meal time so my health wouldn’t suffer w/my grades Graduated w/2 degrees and a 3.98 GPA

Note Cards, Continued. Conclusion Love for English and being around others made teaching a natural path Doing what you enjoy & keeping an open mind will help you find where you're going to go Surround yourself with good hearted and kind people like Mr. Daigle; they helped me find my path Seeking a balance between work and play in the secret to happiness and finding your identity. My identity, during school, is now “Ms. Daigle” and it’s become my new name.