Presenting an autobiographical story involves getting deeper than the surface of biography. It concerns the story of inner struggles, motivations, values, and convictions.  Autobiographical storytelling is beneficial for both presenters and audiences. Delivering stories that get at the subjective truth of role models is educational and therapeutic for presenters and audiences. It facilitates valuable insights, techniques, and skills.  It encourages a close study of character from historical and cultural contexts. It involves research from first-hand sources (Howard, 2001).

To begin the process of producing an effective autobiographical presentation, look for an historic character who has been a pioneer and role model. Search for someone who has struggled with sociological and cultural barriers. Watch for a character who has displayed fascinating and multi-faceted characteristics. Search for someone who has developed over time. Look for a character whose story reflects universal truths. (Howard, 1996, 2001). Find a character that has challenged and removed barriers. Watch for a character that has been from an underrepresented group. Finally, search for a character that has inspired you and with whom you can empathetically bond.

Once you have found a fascinating, multi-dimensional character, study his or her the historical setting and his or her personal writing in an autobiography, diary, or journal,  that reflects the truth about the character’s real nature and struggles. Sometimes close, second-hand sources, such as interviews and biographies, by writers who know the characters personally, provide interesting insights. These close sources will enable you to present real, human dimensions of the character. As you develop understanding of the person whose story you will tell, you will be able to put together a significant presentation.

An autobiographical story is created, built, and produced out of fascination and empathy with the character. You will be able to develop a story with emotional impact, after you have listened to and understood this person. If you incorporate the words, ideas, attitudes, and values of the historic character, your story will be unique, colorful, and intense. Identify conflict and desire in your character.

Clarify the point of view of the person you are studying.. The character reveals his or her point of view by the way he or she expresses thoughts and what he or she does. Your research reveals answers to the dramatistic questions: Who am I? What do I want? Where am I? Why am I here? When is this taking place? What is my physical life? What are the stakes? How badly do I want this? Present the conflicts of the character with nature, himself or herself, and with others. Consider the internal conflicts, desires, motivations, interpretations of the character.

Your story should begin with a crisis in the characters’ wants, which are counteracted. The beginning of the story reveals this problem that builds over the course of the presentation to the climatic conflict and turning point.  The opening scene prepares the audience for what is to come. What is to come is foreshadowed.  Identify where the problem or tension is for the character. Include scenes of crisis and significant action.

A skillfully presented story is a structured work of art, which includes a beginning, foreshadowing, discovery, incidents, crisis, and denouement. Each scene has rising action, a climax, and falling action. The entire presentation also has rising action, a climax, and falling action. Allow your character to speak for himself or herself.  The motives, objectives, desires, or wants of the character are at the center of the story. Identify what is at stake for the character. The stakes must be high. The audience is more engaged when they are high.

Conclude the story with a resolution that conveys significant life lessons. My research and that of others has confirmed that when observers identify with role models in stories, observers can become significantly more motivated and productive.

You can give your presentation as a story, performance, multi-media presentation or a combination of all of the above. You can incorporate audio-visual elements such as props used as visual metaphors, archival photographs, film footage, period music, sound effects, and voice-overs, which serve to engage audiences.

Howard, Diane "The Relationship of Internal Locus of Control and Role Models in Female College Students." Ph.D. diss., University of Texas at Austin. [Online] Available http://www.dianehoward.com/Dissertation.htm, 1996.

Howard, Diane. Autobiographical Writing and Performing: An Introductory, Contemporary Guide to Process and Research in Speech Performance. [Online] Available http://www.dianehoward.com/publication.htm, 1999.

Howard, Diane. Autobiographical Writing and Performing [Online] Available http://ali.apple.com/events/mhb/, 2001.                 
                                                        

 

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