PERSONAL STORYCATCHERS STORY CATCHERS: These are simply good questions that bring out stories from our memories. Another way to catch a good story is to answer one of these questions with a story from your life and tell it to someone. They may respond with a story on the same subject...
Did you ever get in trouble?
Did you ever have a great moment playing a sport/on a team?
Did you ever laugh so hard you cried?
Have you ever rescued or saved someone? Or been rescued?
Do you have a pet? Did it ever get in trouble?
Have you ever been really scared?
Have you ever been totally lost?
Have you ever been really embarrassed?
Did you ever have lost something really important?
Did you ever play a practical joke ?
What was your best meal ever? your favorite food? Least fave?
Tell me about your first best friend...
Do you remember your first bicycle?
Tell me about your first haircut...
Tell me about your first day of school...
What was your favorite birthday party?
What was your favorite birthday present?
Do you have a story about you and your siblings?
Do remember a story that has to do with fire?
Do remember a story that has to do with water?
Do remember a story that has to do with a wild storm?
Did your car ever break down?
Did you ever get locked in or out of somewhere?
Did you ever lose the keys to something?
Did you ever break something that belongs to someone else?
Did you ever have an accident? Go to the ER ? Illness? Have a scar ? ...
Do you know a story about the day you were born?
Do you know a story about how you got your name?
Do you know a story about how your parents met?
Ask these leading questions...
WHEN? WHERE? WHAT? HOW? WHO? all these Qs must be asked more than once to get the story. (WHY is answered by the story)
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Guided Sense Memory
for each person and in each experience some sensory experiences are more prominent. Allowing for this let’s take a sensory trip through our memories...to find the details that help us remember our experiences and tell our stories.
“Always locate your readers in time and space- again and again. Beginning writers rush to feelings, to interior lives. Instead, stick to surface appearances; hit the five senses: give the history of the person and the place, and the look of the person and the place. Don’t describe feelings. The way to a reader’s emotions is, oddly enough, through the five senses. “ - from “Notes for Young Writer’s “ Annie Dillard
Sensory Prompts:
Sight: In your place, look at your feet. Notice the colors, shapes, patterns, what do you see? What sizes are things? Is it dark or light? Look up and down and all around. Notice what is close to you, far away...etc.
Hearing: In that place close your eyes and just listen - don’t hear the sounds of here but be there...what sounds do you hear? Are they loud or soft? High or low? Do they hurt your ears? or do you love that sound? Listen again... does the sound change? is it close by or far away?
Smell: Take a deep breath in your place...What do you smell? How many smells? The most dominant- is it a sweet or sour smell? Fresh or old? Good or bad? Does the smell remind you of anything?
Touch: In that place...how does your face feel in the air? How about your hands and feet? Is it cold, wet, hot,sweaty, think of the weather, the season, how does your body feel in that weather? How do the clothes you are wearing feel? Reach out touch something. How does it feel? Soft? Rough? Smooth? Cold? Warm?
Taste: Can you taste anything where you are? (Sometimes a smell is so strong you can taste it) what does it feel like in your mouth? Is it sweet sour, crunchy, smooth? Is it spicy, bland, nasty? Does the taste remind you of something?
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Basic Recipe for a Story
First, Answer a question from PERSONAL STORY prompts:
Something happened to you! We want to know about it. Go, in your imagination, to that place and notice what you would --
• see [shape, size, color, pattern]
• smell [usually use a simile]
• hear [sounds and voices/words]
• feel [warm cold wet dry etc.]
• taste [sweet, sour, salty, bitter]
Tell a partner then draw or make lists of these memories
Answer the question below [oral—interview, in pairs or written form]
• who besides you was there?
• what happened -- and then, and then?
• where did it happen ?
• when[ how old were you ? season? time of day or night?
• how did it all turn out ?
• Make lists of these memories and/or tell a partner
Draw a picture of a character and/ or a map about your story.
Tell your story to different partner. Have them ask the questions above – do no ask for or take suggestions, yet. Ask them what they could see or especially enjoyed. Tell your story to a family member tonight. Let them ask you questions. Do not ask for or take suggestions, yet.
NOW--Tell your story from beginning to end to yourself Try making a “slide show of images” and describing each “slide”.
Now, make an outline of the images you will use, to catch all your ideas, and answers,
If you are stuck or want more “See it again” ask yourself the first set of Qs again. Revisit or, “ go there again” to help you find the details for your story.
REVISE & TELL AGAIN
Check your story for meaning--What is the most important thing in this story? Ask yourself, What is the main thing that I really want you, my listener , to know ? Why is this story important to you?
Write it down here in one sentence. Tell you story to many listeners. See if your listeners are getting the meaning you intend. Perhaps you are learning something new about your story? Or need to add something so your intention is carried by your narrative? Adjust your story as needed.
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Some Theater Exercises:
Story 1, 2 , 3
Tell your story to a partner in one minute… then cut it in half and tell it in ½ a minute. Now tell your story in 3 words. Do it again. And once more until you have 3 words that feel right.
Good News, Bad News
Take 2 minutes to tell your story in a “Good News” and
“ Bad News” format.
Slide Show
Take your story from beginning to end, introducing all the characters and settings by showing a listener a set of imaginary "slides" which you narrate to bring tolife.
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Beginnings: start again Specific areas to revise a story and some strategies...
Rethink and try your beginning a 3 or more different ways. Suggestions below. – Tell two of these beginnings to partner. Listen to two from a partner. Repeat as needed.
• Start with a sound, a sight, a smell or a taste.
• Describe the main character in action
• Describe a minor character observed or observing
• Create a dialogue
• Create the thoughts of a main character
• Make a generalization-- Begin with a sentence that starts with-- Usually...They say... All....She always believed that... you get the idea
End: pulling it all together
Rethink and try your ending 3 or more different ways. Suggestions below. – Tell two of these beginnings to partner. Listen to two from a partner. Repeat as needed.
➢ a new bit of action...based on what happened in the story
➢ some of the character’s thoughts—
➢ how you felt, a wish or a hope
➢ a comment on what has changed or is different
➢ a memory
➢ a decision
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Performance √ Check list
Name:___________________________________________________ Date__________
Story (working) Title: ________________________________________________________
__ My Beginning sentences: After I introduce myself, make eye-contact with the audience, and introduce the title of my story, I will use these words ( written below) to begin. I have marked the pauses | and the words I’ll emphasize are underlined :
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__ My Ending sentences: I will use these words (written below) to end my story. I have marked the pauses | and the words I’ll emphasize are underlined. I’ll remember to thank my audience for listening and wait for and acknowledge their applause before I sit down:
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__ I know my characters voices
__ I have practiced gestures/movements/facial expressions in the mirror or using video (notes)
__ I have my beginning and especially my ending place, memorized.
__ I have told my story, out loud and timed it to someone else and/or to myself many times.
__ A story Map or outline: without looking at notes or a book I can take my story from Beginning to End with pictures, diagram map or outline...(draw or write on the back.)
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Some tips for rehearsing and learning your story www.norahdooley.com
1. Learn your Beginning and Ending first. Write them, draw them and recite them over and over. This builds confidence. Don't try to memorize “word for word”. Do know what happens and tell it!
2. Make a “story map” of your story. This is a simple drawing of what happens to whom. Carry it with you everywhere. Use it to tell your story to a friend or family member.
3.Imagine your story, picture by picture, as a slide show you narrate --describe it to yourself in your mind and/or out loud.
4. Draw pictures of your characters. Describe these pictures to someone. Imagine you are interviewing you characters - what is their favorite food, color, story, etc. this does not have to go in your story, it just makes your characters more real to you. Hear their voices in your head. Use their voices at breakfast, on the bus, and at recess.
5. Get someone to listen to you. Perhaps some you live with will listen to you? If you do not have access to a good listener ask someone in the class to find a peer to work with on the phone or in person. Or, set up a photo, a pet, or some action figures or even stuffed animals as an audience in your room. Make “eye contact” with them. Tell them your story without stopping.
6. “Tell” your story without words, just with movements or mime. Stand in one spot. Do this once for yourself. Then you may try “telling” someone who knows your story. Stop occasionally and see if they can guess where you are in the story.
7. Tell your story while looking in a mirror and don’t stop. Notice your face - does it show what your characters are feeling and thinking? Notice your gestures, do they distract or help people use their imaginations? Are you making nervous movements?
8. Tell your story in the car, before you go to sleep, doing the dishes, walking or riding to school; anywhere and anytime. Saying your story out loud and repeating it your mind helps you learn quickly and easily. . Tell it to your family, your dog and your backpack. The more you practice, the easier it will be to enjoy telling in front of an audience.
9. Record your story and listen to it on an mp3 player. Find photos and make a slide show for your story and add your recorded telling as the sound track. Find a current popular song that speaks to a theme or idea in your story. Play this in the background or as an intro or "outro" to your story.
Name:_____________________________________________________________ | Date:_______________________________ | |||
Criteria | Comments | Value | Score | |
Interest | ||||
Enthusiasm of speaker 5 | ||||
Audience response 5 | ||||
Expression of voice 5 | ||||
Friendly attitude 5 | ||||
Total 20 | ||||
Voice | ||||
Enunciation, clarity 5 | ||||
Volume 5 | ||||
Pace 5 | ||||
Total 15 | ||||
Organization | ||||
Introduction, 5 | ||||
Sequencing of events 5 | ||||
Knowledge of story 5 | ||||
Conclusion, 5 | ||||
Total 20 | ||||
Nonverbals | ||||
Hand gestures 5 | ||||
Eye contact 5 | ||||
Posture 5 | ||||
Body movement 5 | ||||
Total 20 | ||||
Note: Some of the items listed above (e.g., eye contact, pace, expression) can vary across cultures and in accordance with the situation. Teachers should also be aware of second language and dialectical differences that can be present in students' speech and adapt their assessment instruments accordingly.
