Assignment + parts of a good story

1. HOW TO TELL A STORY
THE MOTH

2. VICTORIOUS
WILSON POTORREAL

3. HIS STORY

4. A GOOD STORY HAS…
A Set-Up
An Introduction to the Conflict
A Tension Stretch
A Punchline
A Resolution

5. THE SET-UP
Where/when are we?
What did you care about then?
Describe people/places/relationships.
Establish the mood
Use metaphors or comparisons.

6. THE CONFLICT
Establish the stakes.
Why did you care? Why should we?
What could happen?
What did you want?

7. THE STRETCH
Milk the tension
Dramatize the obstacles
Show how you’re feeling
Take your time…but not too much time.
Inject energy!

8. THE PUNCHLINE
Give us a satisfying result
Can be successful or tragic
Consider how to use pauses.
Be clear about what happened.

9. THE RESOLUTION
What did you learn?
How were you changed?
What could others take from this?
Why did this matter?
Where do we go from here?

10. VICTORIOUS
WILSON POTORREAL

11. A GOOD STORY HAS…
A Set-Up
An Introduction to the Conflict
A Tension Stretch
A Punchline
A Resolution

12. THE SET-UP
“I’ve always wanted a dog. Who
doesn’t want a man’s best friend?”
Strong first line

13. THE SET-UP
“I wanted to carry a Rottweiler, or a
husky you know.”
Specific details

14. THE SET-UP
“I’m gonna teach it how to stay, how to
fetch…”
The theme: Responsibility

15. THE SET-UP“I see this little fur ball come up to my
socks and starts nibbling my socks. And
I feel the little teeth, they go to my toes
and it tickled but hurt at the same time.”
Sensory Description

16. THE CONFLICT
“You know what? Today I’m going to
teach him how to follow me off the
leash.”
Uh-oh! First inkling of danger

17. THE CONFLICT
“He got a little too curious and that
door opened and he just ran out
excited.”
It’s on! Start of conflict

18. THE STRETCH
“I didn’t want to get up but I had to.”
Obstacle

19. THE STRETCH
“Mind you I’m chasing this little dog,
half Shih Tzu, half Maltese.”
Detail

20. THE STRETCH
“He was like a lion, a miniature lion.
And his tongue was rolling out his
mouth, like a fruit roll up.”
Metaphor/simile

21. THE STRETCH
“The Grand Concourse is like a mini
highway.”
Reminding of stakes

22. THE STRETCH
“You know what this is my
responsibility…I felt like Captain
America.”
Theme reminder

23. THE PUNCHLINE
“And it was too late…for Death. I
grabbed my dog and lifted him high
like Simba! Death was not going to
take my dog!”
Big finish! Metaphor

24. THE RESOLUTION
“The bus driver gave me the thumbs up
and I gelt victorious.”
Feelings about story

25. YOUR TURN
THE MOTH

26. A GOOD STORY HAS…
A Set-Up
An Introduction to the Conflict
A Tension Stretch
A Punchline
A Resolution

27. POSSIBLE STORIES•A time when you were victorious
•A time when you were embarrassed
•A time when you learned something
•A time when you did something wrong
•A time when you stood up for yourself
•A time when you felt betrayed
•A time when you realized something about someone close to you