1. 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

2. 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

3. 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
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. 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

7. 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
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8. 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
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9. 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”
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10. 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
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11. 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
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12. 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
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13. 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
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. 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
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17. 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
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18. 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
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19. 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
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20. 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
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21. 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
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22. 3. Guidelines for Narrative
3.4.3 Create Lists
Lists increase rapport with the audience
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23. 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
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