15. Telling Narratives AL AKHAWAYN UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES 15. Telling Narratives Lecture by Dr. Mohammed Ibahrine based on Clella Jaffe’s Public Speaking

Assignments 1. Please relate your example from pre-registration problems Example: Find a real example relating to pre-registration Be prepared to cite your source and to read this example to the class Evaluate this example for 1) whether or not this example is typical? Or extreme? 2) is this example sufficient? 3) is this example true? 05/05/2019

Structure of the Lecture 1. Narrative Functions 1.1. Informative Narratives 1.1.1 Explaining Natural Phenomena 1.1.2 Explaining Society and Society 1.1.3 Explaining Ultimate Things 1.2. Persuasive Narratives 1.2.1 Motivational Narratives 1.2.2 Visionary Narratives 1.3 Entertaining Narratives 05/05/2019

Structure of the Lecture 2. Evaluating Narrative Reasoning 3. Guidelines for Narratives 3.1 Identify Your Purpose 3.2 Develop the Characters 3.3 Develop the Plot 3.4 Select Vivid Language 3.4.1 Provide Detailed Descriptions 3.4.2 Construct Dialogue 3.4.3 Create Lists 4. The Exemplum Pattern 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions Storytelling is an oral art form for preserving and transmitting ideas, images, motives and emotions with which everyone can identify Tales from a variety of groups illustrate facets of the cultures, identify common themes, and show cultural differences , leading audiences to self-awareness and cross-cultural understanding at the same time 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions is an oral art form for preserving and transmitting ideas, images, motives and emotions with which everyone can identify Tales from a variety of groups illustrate facets of the cultures, identify common themes, and show cultural differences , leading audiences to self-awareness and cross-cultural understanding at the same time 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions 1.1. Informative Narratives 1.1.1 Explaining Natural Phenomena We use stories to explain natural phenomena Scientists across international cultures weave together facts and ideas into narrative accounts such as the big bang theory 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions 1.1. Informative Narratives 1.1.2 Explaining Society and Society Stories also explain how cultural institutions and structures came into being Organizations and groups as well as cultures have unique stories that explain history and traditions 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions 1.1. Informative Narratives 1.1.3 Explaining Ultimate Things Another genre of philosophical and religious stories attempts to explain ultimate realities to answer these questions as “Who are We” “What happens after death” 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions 1.2. Persuasive Narratives Persuasive stories motivate listeners to choose some behaviors and avoid others, to act and to keep acting Narrative present hopeful visions of the future that audiences will want to spire to and bleak scenarios they will want to avoid 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions 1.2. Persuasive Narratives 1.2.1 Motivational Narratives Stories that provide models or examples of successful people or people who fail Either way, these exemplary narratives persuade people within a culture to chose some actions and avoid others Exemplary narratives told publicly are powerful partly because they flesh out culturally admired traits that can be quite abstract 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions 1.2. Persuasive Narratives 1.2.1 Motivational Narratives Persuasive stories function in two ways: They provide a rationale for a particular course of action, a proof of its necessity At another time, they provide good arguments against a particular course of action 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions 1.2. Persuasive Narratives 1.2.2 Visionary Narratives Narratives do more than recount the past or the present Science fiction paints bleak scenarios of out-of-control technology or depicts a bright future if machines are harnessed and controlled Inspiring narratives also suggest ideals that go beyond your listeners’ current beliefs and experiences, confronting them with possibilities and vision, expanding their understandings of themselves and their lives 05/05/2019

1. Narrative Functions 1.3. Entertaining Narratives Let’s face it: not all stories are full of profound meanings. Sometimes we tell them just to relax and have a good time 05/05/2019

2. Evaluating Narrative Reasoning Narratives theorists offer three major tests of narrative logic 1. Narrative coherence: does it hang together in a logical way, predictable sequence 2. Narrative fidelity: does the narrative make sense within the larger cultural framework 3. Narrative merit: is the message worthwhile 05/05/2019

3. Guidelines for Narrative 3.1 Identify Your Purpose If you tell a narrative as part of a larger speech, consider your purpose carefully What function do you want the narrative to fulfill Is its major purpose to inform, persuade, or entertain 05/05/2019

3. Guidelines for Narrative 3.2 Develop the Characters Stories contain characters Many narratives involve fictional characters such as animals or natural objects that are personified or given human traits: talking trees 05/05/2019

3. Guidelines for Narrative 3.3 Develop the Plot Characters in a good story face some sort of challenge that tests their assumptions, values, or actions The way they respond to the challenges and the resulting changes in their lives form the plot or action of the narratives 05/05/2019

3. Guidelines for Narrative 3.4 Select Vivid Language Narrative speaking requires careful attention to language Vivid word choices and details bring the story to life and enable your listeners to feel as if they are there 05/05/2019

3. Guidelines for Narrative 3.4.1 Provide Detailed Description Details are important in several places Use a cluster of details in the climax of the story to drive home your main point 05/05/2019

3. Guidelines for Narrative 3.4.2 Construct Dialogue Created or constructed dialogue between major characters adds realism to a story By adding vocal variety that conveys the personalities and the emotions of the characters during your delivery, you further increase not only your involvement but your listeners involvement as well 05/05/2019

3. Guidelines for Narrative 3.4.3 Create Lists Lists increase rapport with the audience 05/05/2019

4. Exemplum A common narrative pattern is the exemplum It has five elements The five parts of the exemplum follow one another in this pattern State a quotation or proverb Identify and explain the author or source of the proverb or the quotation Rephrase the proverb in your own words Tell a story that illustrates the quotation or proverb Apply the quotation or proverb to the audience 05/05/2019