A.C.ELearning Kit

What’s Your Story?

The Art of Oratory

Pre-workshop Survey

Take the next 5 minutes and complete the survey that has been passed out.

Pass out the vocabulary lists. Pass out the sketchbooks and colored

pencils.

INTRODUCTION:

The story, from Rumplestliltskin to War and Peace, is one of the basic tools invented by the human mind, for the purpose of gaining understanding. There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.

- Ursula K. Leguin

Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today. - Robert McKee

The universe is made of stories, not atoms. - Muriel Rukeyser

Workshop Questions:

What do you look for in a story? What types of stories do we tell? What engages you in to a story being told? What are your favorite stories?

3 Act Structure

Act 1: The beginning– What person is the story being told? (I or they?)– Who are the characters within the story?– Where are they?– What are the relationships of the characters?– What do the characters want and need?– What are the rules of the world?

Story Example Beginning

I was walking on the beach with some students.

- Does the story identify what person the story is being told in?- Does it identify who the characters are?- Does it identify where the characters are?- Does it identify what the characters relationships are?- Does it identify what the characters wants and needs are?- Does it identify the rules?- Can the story tell more?

Story Example Beginning

In the late afternoon on a beautiful spring day, on a north western beach in Washington State, I walked with a group of students and a handful of fellow chaperones on a school field trip to examine the ancient Makah cliff drawings .

3 Act Structure

Act 2: The conflict rises (the middle)– Do the wants and needs of the characters

conflict? – Why do they conflict?– What obstacle must the characters overcome?– What is the “Big Event”?

Story Example Middle

For peace of mind, I left the group to climb a small cliff face and came across a deer.

- Is there conflict in the character?- What may the conflict be?- Is there an obstacle for the character to overcome?- What is the “Big Event”?- Can the story tell more?

Story Example Middle

After I relieved myself of my duties to the capable hands of the rest of the chaperones for some peace of mind, I climbed up a small cliff face, and came across a magnificent buck deer.

3 Act Structure

Act 3: The Resolution (the end)– Where are the characters now?– How did they overcome their obstacles? (or did

they?)– Is there a moral? What is it?– What does the audience walk away with?– Most simply… what happened?

Story Example Ending

He stood up and eventually we both walked away safely.

- What happened to the characters?- How did the character overcome the obstacle?- Is there a moral? What is it?- Does the audience walk away with anything? What is it?- What happened?- Can the story tell more?

Story Example Ending

As he stood, both of us in surprise and shock, we connected in a unique moment between man and beast, sharing an understanding that both of us would be safe.

Practicing the three act structure

In your sketchbooks, document with one sentence, a beginning.

In your sketchbooks, with one sentence, document the conflict.

In your sketchbooks, with one sentence, document a resolution.

You have just written a simple story. All we need to do now is to practice telling stories.

Tips: Telling the story

How do we fill in the gaps? What are the best ways to create imagery? What words should we choose? How we deliver words? How do we physicalize?

Elaboration

Elaboration is the color of your story. The best stories often use an abundance of

descriptors (adjectives, action, reaction) The more elaborate a description, the more

the storyteller connects to his/her story.

Exaggeration

Exaggeration is not necessarily a “lie”. Some of our best stories (tall tales, fables, and even

legends) rely heavily on exaggeration. Any story for entertainment that uses exaggeration

allows the author to more easily make the story theirs.

WARNING! Don’t exaggerate to mom or dad, unless it is a story to entertain!

Storytelling Physicalization

Tools:– Face: emotion, intent– Hands: what, where, and placement– Body: character, movement, emotion

Can you tell a story without using words?

Dream Story

Get into groups of three. Each of you will receive a roll:

– Writer: You will give the actor your beginning, middle and end.

– Actor: You will interpret the beginning, middle, and end from the presenter, and silently act it out.

– Story teller: You will leave the room (or securely plug your ears) as to not hear what the presenter has to tell the actor. You will watch the silent story the actor presents, and tell the story when the actor is finished.

* After the story is over, rotate rolls.

Variations:

Full group: This can be done as a full group, with each taking turns in each role.

Evolving Chain Dream Story: Instead of ending the exercise after one story, allow multiple actors and storytellers to leave the room. After the actor (1) is finished, storyteller (1) will tell the new story to actor (2). Actor (2) will then present to storyteller (2). Repeat as necessary.

Questions to Synthesize:

What techniques did the actors use to help signify what, where, when, who, and how?

How did the actors use their face and body to enhance the silent telling of the story?

What gestures did the actors use to help? What techniques did the storytellers use to make the

stories riveting? How did vocal inflection help build imagery to the

story? What suggestions would you give to both actors

(Physical) and the storytellers (Vocal)

Lesson 2: Types of Stories

There are numerous categories of stories that we have heard about, and have grown up listening to.

- Fables/Parables: Moral stories not based on fact.- Folk Tales: Traditional tales told to pass cultural traditions.- Legends/Tall Tales: Often times both are about true people who have

lived. Both tend to exaggerate.- Personal Stories: These biographical stories can range from how did

you get that scar to what did you do today.- Songs: Lyrics often portray the most descriptive stories.- Pictures: A picture often says a thousand words- Descriptions: Often times descriptions can be a part of other stories,

but they have the power to become wonderful stories within themselves. These are often told through the perspective of the observer.

Types of Stories (Genre)

Tragedy:- Tragos (Goat)- Oide (Song)- Tragos + Oide = Goat Song

-ScapegoatThe audience learns a lesson based on the actions and

results of the characters. The stories do not always have to be “tragic”. The key is to have the audience learn and empathize with the characters and the situation.

Types of Stories (Genre)

Comedy:– The audience will laugh.– Can still have a moral, but the key is to get the

audience to react with laughter.– There will still be conflict within comedy.– Jokes– Silliness

Descriptions Can Create an Image

- Regardless of the type of story you intend to tell, the overall goal is to provide the listener with ability to create a mental image.

- Stories that end in “I guess you had to be there” didn’t quite achieve this goal.

- What strategies/techniques can a storyteller use to allow the listener to better achieve a mental image?

Tips: Adjectives

What are adjectives? Why are they important?

– Think of a Tree In your sketchbooks, draw your tree. (don’t show) Describe the tree in detail in a caption. Share your description of the tree to a partner without

showing the tree. Present the picture of the tree to your partner. What commonalities and differences were there

between the sketch and the caption?

Tips: Punctuation

Honor the punctuation.

The period – (.) The comma – (,) The ellipsis – (…) The backslash (/) The question (?) The exclamation (!)

Tips: Vocal Inflection

Vocal inflection can give the implied meaning of what is being said.

Say the word “Interesting” Change you inflection and say the word “Interesting”

again. How has the meaning of the word changed? Experiment with different words whose meaning may

change when you change your vocal inflection.

Tips/Review: Gestures

Remember lesson 1. How can gestures help the listener create an image?

Take your image of your tree, and use a gesture to show where the tree is.

Is it a small tree or a big tree? Is it close or far away?

Don’t be afraid to talk with your hands and body?

Images Can Create a Description

Most often, stories come to a storyteller after experiencing an image.

Can you accurately describe an image? Can you imagine a description? Practice makes perfect. This next activity will

allow you to practice doing both?

Activity 2: Art and Imagery

Break up into groups of two or four (time sensitive). Using your sketchbooks, draw an image.

– It can be realistic or abstract. You can use color or not. The image can be anything.

On a separate sketch page, or below as a caption, describe your image. Be as detailed as possible.

Challenge: Try going beyond just the description and try writing a narrative of your picture.

Activity 2: Art and Imagery

Once the images and stories are completed, tell the story to the rest of your group.

The rest of the group will draw the image they receive from the storyteller.

After the story, the storyteller will present their image, and then the listeners will present theirs.

Repeat the process until everyone has had a chance to tell their story.

Questions to Synthesize:

What storytelling techniques did you find helped with your success of the activity?

What difficulties did you have with the activity? What storytelling strategies might you employ for the

next time? How did art connect you with the story being told? What suggestions do you have for both storytellers

and artists?

Post-workshop Survey

Take the next 5 minutes and complete the survey that has been passed out.

Are there any questions?