Family Treasure Hunting:Doing Story Research

Dr. Gian S. PagnucciProfessor of English

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Gian S. PagnucciProfessor of English

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Why Stories MatterWhy Stories Matter We can use stories to research our own life

Stories help us learn from and make sense of experience

Stories Last The best way to remember things is in story form

Humans are instinctive storytellers Bad situations can be “salvaged” through stories

Stories are a kind of treasure

We can use stories to research our own life

Stories help us learn from and make sense of experience

Stories Last The best way to remember things is in story form

Humans are instinctive storytellers Bad situations can be “salvaged” through stories

Stories are a kind of treasure

Treasuring Our StoriesTreasuring Our Stories

Childhood Stories Family Legends Friendship Stories Tales of troubles Moments that shape a life Turning stories into heirlooms

Childhood Stories Family Legends Friendship Stories Tales of troubles Moments that shape a life Turning stories into heirlooms

Story Heirloom InventoryStory Heirloom Inventory

List 6 Stories Worth Savingo List 1 story about a family member

o List 1 story about an evento List 1 story related to an objecto List 1 funny storyo List 1 story worth passing ono List 1 story worth researching later

List 6 Stories Worth Savingo List 1 story about a family member

o List 1 story about an evento List 1 story related to an objecto List 1 funny storyo List 1 story worth passing ono List 1 story worth researching later

Dig Your Heirloom out of the Attic

(Brainstorm Details& Plan Your Story)

Dig Your Heirloom out of the Attic

(Brainstorm Details& Plan Your Story)

Select 1 family story to save List 3 Details about Setting List 3 Images of Major Character

List 3 Pieces of Dialog Divide the story into 3 Main Parts and list them here

Select 1 family story to save List 3 Details about Setting List 3 Images of Major Character

List 3 Pieces of Dialog Divide the story into 3 Main Parts and list them here

Take Your Heirloom out of the Box(Start the Story)

Take Your Heirloom out of the Box(Start the Story)

Now Write Your Story Pick a starting point for the story Introduce your main character Work in 1 setting detail Tell part 1 of the story Include 1 piece of dialogue discuss why this story might be worth telling (pause the story briefly)

Now Write Your Story Pick a starting point for the story Introduce your main character Work in 1 setting detail Tell part 1 of the story Include 1 piece of dialogue discuss why this story might be worth telling (pause the story briefly)

Put the Heirloom Together(Give the Story Depth)

Put the Heirloom Together(Give the Story Depth)

Keep going with the story Tell us something else interesting about your main character

Describe one more element of the setting

Discuss what it is like to write this story (pause the story again)

Weave in another piece of dialogue

Keep going with the story Tell us something else interesting about your main character

Describe one more element of the setting

Discuss what it is like to write this story (pause the story again)

Weave in another piece of dialogue

Add Any Missing Heirloom Parts(Finish the Story)

Add Any Missing Heirloom Parts(Finish the Story)

Finish up the last part of the story Give us a last image of the main character (describe the person)

Give us an interesting last line of dialogue to ponder

Fill in any gaps/missing parts Tell us what you perhaps learned by telling this story

Give us a last look at the place/setting Leave us with something simple to remember the story (a last image of something)

Finish up the last part of the story Give us a last image of the main character (describe the person)

Give us an interesting last line of dialogue to ponder

Fill in any gaps/missing parts Tell us what you perhaps learned by telling this story

Give us a last look at the place/setting Leave us with something simple to remember the story (a last image of something)

Polish Your HeirloomPolish Your Heirloom

Introduction: Pull the Reader in, but don’t give too much away

Cut 2 Sentences Shorten 2 Sentences Conclusion: Did you pass it by?

Title: Find it in your story

Introduction: Pull the Reader in, but don’t give too much away

Cut 2 Sentences Shorten 2 Sentences Conclusion: Did you pass it by?

Title: Find it in your story

Get Your Heirloom AppraisedGet Your Heirloom Appraised

Trade stories with someone Read their Story Reader: What does the story make you think about?

Reader: What part of the story do you like best?

Reader: Where is one spot in the story you might apply a little polish?

Trade stories with someone Read their Story Reader: What does the story make you think about?

Reader: What part of the story do you like best?

Reader: Where is one spot in the story you might apply a little polish?

Pass on Your Story HeirloomPass on Your Story Heirloom

Writer: Think of one person with whom you might share the story

Writer: At home, revise your story one more time

Writer: Go back to your “Story Heirloom Inventory” and make a note of the story will you write next

Writer: Think of one person with whom you might share the story

Writer: At home, revise your story one more time

Writer: Go back to your “Story Heirloom Inventory” and make a note of the story will you write next