Value of Autobiographical Storytelling

·         involves getting deeper than the surface of biography

·         concerns the story of inner struggles, motivations, values, and convictions

·         benefits  presenters and audiences

·         delivering subjective truth of role models is educational and therapeutic

·         facilitates valuable insights, techniques, and skills

·         encourages a close study of character from historical and cultural contexts

·          involves research from first-hand sources (Howard, 2001)

Searching for a Character  

·         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 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

·         search for a character that has inspired you and with whom you can empathize

Researching the Character  

·         study his or her the historical setting

·         study personal writing in an autobiography, diary, or journal

·         study writing that reflects the truth about the character’s real nature and
 struggles

·         find close sources for real, human dimensions of the character

·         research to develop understanding of the person

Preparing the Story

·         create, built, and produced out of fascination and empathy with the character

·         develop after you have listened to and understood the person

·         incorporate the words, ideas, attitudes, and values of the historic character

·         identify conflict and desire in your character.

·         clarify the point of view of the person you are studying

·         ask  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

Developing the Story

·         begin with a crisis in the characters’ wants, which are counteracted

·          reveal a problem that builds over the course of the presentation to the climatic 
  conflict and turning point

·          prepare the audience for what is to come with foreshadowing

·          identify where the problem or tension is for the character

·          include scenes of crisis and significant action.

Structuring the Story

·         include a beginning, foreshadowing, discovery, incidents, crisis, and denouement

·         build rising action, a climax, and falling action in each scene

·         build rising action, a climax, and falling action in the entire presentation

·         allow your character to speak for himself or herself

·         focus on the motives, objectives, desires, or wants of the character

·         identify the high stakes for the character

·         conclude the story with a resolution that conveys significant life lessons

·          when observers identify with role models in stories, observers can become
  significantly more motivated and productive.

Style of Presentation

·         story

·          performance

·          multi-media presentation

·         combination of all of the above

·          audio-visual elements, such as props used as visual metaphors

·          archival photographs

·          film footage

·          period music

·          sound effects

·          voice-overs

Samples of 5 C’s from Martha Washington script: Character, Conflict, Crisis, Climax, Conclusion  

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.                 
                                                        

 

                                                                                                                     Contact Dr. Howard     
 

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