1. Who’s heard of ‘The Graham Norton Show’?

3. The ‘Red Chair’ Segment
The talk show concludes every episode by having individuals taken from the studio audience and placed in the ‘Red Chair’.
Their task is to tell an interesting personal story or anecdote about themselves.

4. The ‘Red Chair’ Segment
If the story is too drawn out, meandering, boring, or its punchline fizzles out; Graham Norton pulls a lever, flipping the red chair backwards and ejecting the storyteller! 😮

5. The ‘Red Chair’ Segment
We will watch a few moments like this today.
Questions to consider:
What features of unsuccessful storytelling tend to see the speakers tipped backwards out of the chair?
What features of successful storytelling see speakers spared from being tipped and walk away from the chair in triumph?

6. Your Turn…
So, now that you have thought about what makes for a captivating story, you must now brainstorm your own story to tell if you were a contestant in the ‘Red Chair’!
Does it need to be true?
YES.
But can you embellish to make the story more interesting and captivating?

7. The Task Details This assessment has three sections:
Written anecdote of words
Oral storytelling of 90 seconds
Written reflection on the process of 400 words

8. The Narrative Arc

9. Tips for a Winning Story
Hooks & Endings
We all know the narrative arc, and yes, your story must utilise and follow the arc…
But remember, when it comes to the orientation, you need a HOOK. We are going to be looking at hooks and you really need to think about how you can HOOK your readers/listeners into your story.

10. Tips for a Winning Story
Hooks & Endings
Also remember, when it comes to the resolution or anti-resolution, you need to make it memorable and effective! Perhaps a surprise, a twist, a shock…
Questions to consider:
How could you surprise your readers/listeners?
How could you make your readers/listeners laugh?
How could you leave your readers/listeners wanting more?

11. Tips for a Winning Story
The Writing
Use descriptive language!
This will engage and capture your audience.
Use strong, various and interesting adjectives to describe people, places and/or things.
E.g. “the hunched, bearded and wrinkly old man.”
E.g. “the spectacular fire became a roaring inferno.”
E.g. “their dry, warty skin and leathery, webbed feet…”

12. Tips for a Winning Story
The Writing
Figurative Language:
If you use similes and metaphors, you can paint a clearer picture for your audience.

13. Tips for a Winning Story
The Writing
Onomatopoeia:
Can be used to highlight sounds within your story.

14. Tips for a Winning Story
The Writing
Sensory language:
This is a very important part of your writing.
It doesn’t just paint a picture of your story, it gives the audience the opportunity to really experience your story.

15. Tips for a Winning Story
The Writing
Internal Dialogue:
Lets the reader know what you were thinking/feeling at the time of the event.

16. Tips for a Winning Story
Voice:
Use different tone in your voice to express the mood e.g. scary, funny, sad.
Use different volumes and pauses to emphasise certain parts of your story.
Use different voices or accents! Why not? It may help your audience follow dialogue from different characters in your story MUCH easier. Plus, it will add entertainment!
The Oral

17. Tips for a Winning Story
The Oral
Body Language and Gestures:
Include hand or body gestures to act out or emphasise actions or events in your story.
E.g. gesture of holding a phone up to your ear to indicate a telephone conversation.

18. Tips for a Winning Story
The Oral
Facial Expressions:
Make use of facial expression to indicate and highlight different moods at different parts of your story.
E.g. a frown for when “mum was angry” or a huge smile for when “I felt so alive with glee.”

19. Tips for a Winning Story
Finally…
KNOW YOUR STORY!
It’s a little difficult to entertain or impress an audience when you’re pausing to remember details, or constantly filling in time with ‘um’s and ‘ah’s.
What could you do if you DO forget part of it?
Make something up on the spot, and keep going! It’s YOUR story!

20. The Reflection Section
You must watch the video of your oral storytelling and make some judgments. You must then write two paragraphs of approx. 200 words each to do this.
First Paragraph: Comment on your strengths and weaknesses. Think about vocal qualities (tone, volume, pace and articulation), body language (face, hand gestures and posture), audience interest level, and story telling conventions. You must to use examples from your presentation to support what you are saying!
Second Paragraph: Discuss what you think you can do to improve future oral presentations from this experience and from your observation of others.

21. The Task Criteria