Using Life Experience (Narrative)

The Importance of Stories

Because human life is narratively rooted, incorporating story telling into public speaking can be a powerful way of reaching your audience.


Learning Objectives

State why effective storytelling is a key component of public speaking


Key Takeaways

Key Points

  • Storytelling  is the conveying of events in words, sound and/or images, often by improvisation or embellishment.
  • Stories are universal in that they can bridge cultural, linguistic and age-related divides.
  • Communicating by using storytelling techniques can be a more compelling and effective route of delivering information than that of using only dry facts.

Key Terms

  • Storytelling: The conveying of events in words, sound and/or images, often by improvisation or embellishment.


Storytelling

Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, sound and/or images, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and instilling moral values.

A seafarer tells the young Sir Walter Raleigh and his brother the story of what happened out at sea.

Telling a Story: A seafarer tells the young Sir Walter Raleigh and his brother the story of what happened out at sea.


The Power of Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful tool, a means for sharing experiences and knowledge. It's one of the ways we learn. Peter L. Berger says human life is narratively rooted, humans construct their lives and shape their world into homes in terms of these groundings and memories. Stories are universal in that they can bridge cultural, linguistic and age-related divides.


The Utility of Storytelling in Public Speaking

Because human life is narratively rooted, incorporating story telling into public speaking can be a powerful way of reaching your audience. For example, communicating by using storytelling techniques can be a more compelling and effective route of delivering information than that of using only dry facts.

Source: Lumen Learning, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-communications/chapter/using-life-experience-narrative/
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