Idea for Use in the Classroom:

Explain to students that a good story explains, engages and can enlighten an audience. Also remind students that building a story—whether using words or images—is as much about planning as it is about the actual telling of the story. Tell students that their stories and the stories of other people are important. It’s important to relate stories from various, diverse perspectives and lived experiences.

Reading a story allows the reader to experience a sense of place, time, and the characters’ viewpoints and emotions. Images can do that too—but it still helps to use captions or words for the viewer to understand the story. Certain stories (comics, graphic narratives, etc.) skillfully and artfully weave pictures and words.

Direct students to the infographic and ask how a story told with words or images is similar. After hearing responses, point to the infographic and suggest that every story starts with an idea and a plan. The following questions can be used to begin planning a story:

• What do you want to say?
• Why are you telling the story?
• Who will express your point of view? (a character, a place or a symbol)
• Will you use words and images? Just words? Just images?

For film and photography, a script or storyboard can help map out your idea. For writing, an outline provides a framework to build a story. An outline for a writer is like a blueprint for an architect; it’s a necessary tool to create the story you want.

Review with students the ideas in the diagram and ask how those elements can help make for a better story. Then review the four boxes and tell students that effective storytelling means taking chances and being willing to make changes if something does not work. Point out that stories can change direction as needed, especially if it will make for a more effective narrative.

Ask: why is being concise important to a story? What does honesty mean in telling a story?

Then have students discuss how to implement these concepts into their storytelling project.