How and When to Use Narrative

How and When to Use Narrative

Whatever the purpose of your speech, you're going to need a way to support your statements to prove their accuracy, but a good speech also makes its points interesting and memorable.

The most common forms of support are facts, statistics, testimony, narrative, examples, and comparisons. In this unit, we are going to address narrative .

The Narrative

Narrative takes the form of a story. Presenters use narratives to support a point that was already made or to introduce a point that will soon be made. Narratives can be combined with facts or statistics to make them even more compelling.

How to Use a Narrative

• Storytelling points toward a single goal and, ideally, deepens our understanding of who we are as human beings. Your story should not be forced, but should come across as a natural part of your speech. If your audience thinks you're telling a story just because you read that it was a good idea to do so, your story won't work.
• The greatest story commandment is to make the audience care—emotionally, intellectually, aesthetically. Your narrative should be something that your audience can easily understand and relate to.
• Keep it short and sweet. Limit your narrative to three or four minutes at the most. Remember, you are using it to support or clarify your point. Once you've done that, move on.
• A good story makes a promise that it will lead you somewhere worthwhile. Your story is not there to replace information. It is there to put something you have said into perspective.
• The best stories paint a picture. They allow your audience to visualize what you are saying.
• Craft your story so that it builds anticipation. Keep your audience interested until the end.
• Don't overuse stories.
• When developing your stories, use what you know. Stories are not just about facts, but about experience and expressing values you personally feel deep down to your core.