8300-Connect-with-Storytelling.pdf

CONNECT WITH

STORYTELLING

LEVEL 3 PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

Introduction

3

Your Assignment

4

Assess Your Skills

5

Competencies

5

The Power of Storytelling

6

Develop Your Story

8

Deliver Your Story

9

Review and Apply

9

Complete Your Assignment

10

Resources

TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL

www.toastmasters.org

Toastmasters International, the Toastmasters International logo, and all other

Toastmasters International trademarks and copyrights are the sole property

of Toastmasters International and may be used only with permission.

Rev. 11/2016 Item 8300

Storytelling has been a form of communication throughout the history of

humanity. Stories have been spoken aloud and passed down from generation to

generation in every civilization around the world. The value of knowing how to tell

a good, entertaining story cannot be overstated.

In this project, you will learn to apply storytelling techniques and descriptive skills

to make a presentation relatable and interesting. You will draw from your own

experience to craft a story and develop a personal style when telling it. You will

create stories that elicit the desired emotional impact on the audience.

INTRODUCTION

Page 2 CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice using a story within a speech

or giving a speech that is a story.

Overview: Choose an established story, a story about your life, or a ﬁctional tale of

your own creation. Deliver the 5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting.

Note: If your vice president education approves a non-club event, your evaluator

should be a Toastmaster who attended the event.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

For all

assignment

details and

requirements,

review the

Project Checklist

on page 10.

Throughout this project you will see icons in the margins next to the text.

These icons indicate additional resources available online.

Interactive Activity: Sign in to Base Camp to complete an

interactive activity.

Resource: Sign in to Base Camp to view this resource

online.

Video: Sign in to Base Camp to watch a video that supports

this project.

CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING Page 3

ASSESS YOUR SKILLS

Pre-Project Statement Post-Project

5 4 3 2 1

I am conﬁdent that I can tell an engaging story.

5 4 3 2 1

I project enthusiasm when telling a story.

5 4 3 2 1

I use vivid descriptions in my storytelling.

5 4 3 2 1

I can tell stories that create emotional impact.

5 4 3 2 1

I recognize how this project applies to my life outside

of Toastmasters.

5 4 3 2 1

5

EXEMPLARY

3

ACCOMPLISHED

4

EXCEL

2

EMERGING

1

DEVELOPING

Evaluate your current skill level by rating each statement.

Select the appropriate number based on your skills today:

Page 4 CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING

The following is a list of competencies that

you will learn and practice in this project.

■ Apply storytelling techniques and descriptive skills to make the presentation

relatable and interesting.

■ Understand the elements of a good story.

■ Use vivid descriptions and appropriate tone to tell an engaging story.

■ Create stories that have the desired emotional impact on the audience.

COMPETENCIES

A story is a narrative that is designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the listener.

Stories have the ability to highlight important moments and memories. They can

connect you to others through empathy and shared experiences.

Telling a story can be more engrossing for an audience than a typical speech or

presentation. When listeners are absorbed in another’s story, their emotional response

triggers the brain to create memories. The best educators fuse learning with powerful

storytelling to help their students remember important facts and information.

Stories make a powerful impact as the primary point of a speech or a small part of a

larger presentation. It is the speaker’s decision how to best incorporate a story into a

speech for the greatest eﬀect.

THE POWER OF STORYTELLING

CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING Page 5

DEVELOP YOUR STORY

Every story reﬂects the storyteller and her experiences. As you prepare a story to

include in a speech or presentation, there are several important elements to consider.

PURPOSE

Stories serve many purposes in a speech. They can help you connect with an

audience, overcome resistance, and form a connection that allows you to teach

an important lesson or explain a diﬃcult concept.

Stories open the door for meaningful communication. Weaving stories through a

presentation can help audience members recall facts and information they might

forget without a memorable story as a reference point.

TONE

Be mindful of the occasion and your audience when determining the tone and

emotional content of your story. Regardless of the occasion, share a story that

resonates positively with your audience. A story told at a wedding or funeral may

be moving, funny, or both. The most important component in choosing your

topic is relating it to the audience and the event.

VIVID DESCRIPTIONS

Descriptive language paints a mental picture. When telling a story, well-chosen

words evoke speciﬁc imagery to illustrate your point. A good storyteller’s eloquent

descriptions can transport her audience to another place and time.

When writing your story, keep in mind the amount of time you have to deliver it

to your audience. For example, if you choose to tell a story about a friend and her

extraordinary life by describing a meal you shared in a beautiful location, the goal

is to talk about your friend. As lovely as the trees and the view were, some of these

details may have to be eliminated in order to tell the core story of your friend’s

remarkable life.

Use expressive dialogue in your story. Instead of telling the audience what was

said, share the actual dialogue. Write it out in the format of a script with characters

saying the lines. The best storytellers take on diﬀerent roles as they tell a story.

For more speciﬁc information about adding descriptive language to your

storytelling, see the “Using Descriptive Language” elective project available online.

Page 6 CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING

CREATE AN OUTLINE

An outline provides the framework for your story in the same way it does for the

creation of a speech or other presentation. Planning makes all the diﬀerence

when you present to an audience.

Your outline should include information about your story’s introduction, conﬂict,

and action.

INTRODUCTION

■ Summarize the main point of your

story in one sentence.

■ Establish the setting, including the

timeframe and location, of your story.

■ List the people or characters involved.

CONFLICT

Every story has an issue to be resolved or

challenge between two opposing forces.

State the challenge to be overcome. Your

challenge can be:

■ Between a person and nature. You were

stuck in the rain, trying to get home.

■ Between two people. You and another

both want the last sweet in a case at

the market.

■ Between a person and an organization.

You would like to mail a letter and the

post oﬃce closed ﬁve minutes before

you arrived.

■ Between a person and an object. Your

shoe is caught in the door.

ACTION

■ Stories move forward as characters strive

to overcome the challenges they face.

■ List your story’s main events and plot.

■ Give your story a clear opening, body,

and conclusion.

CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING Page 7

There are several key points to keep in mind when delivering your story.

STORYTELLING IS A PERFORMANCE

Rehearsal is important when preparing for any speech, but storytelling may require

extra time. If you include dialogue, rehearse the diﬀerent voices in your story. This

does not mean you have to be an expert at creating characters. Even a slight variation

in tone can give the impression of a diﬀerent speaker.

Consider reviewing “Understanding Vocal Variety,” “Eﬀective Body Language,” and other

elective projects available online for guidance on eﬀective speech delivery.

USING BODY LANGUAGE AND GESTURES

In addition to maintaining a conﬁdent speaking posture (see the elective project

“Eﬀective Body Language”), use your body to help tell your story. Facial expressions

and gestures add to characterizations and bring your story to life.

SPEAKING IN FIRST PERSON

When you tell your story, do so from your own perspective. The closer the audience

is to the people in the story, the more real it becomes. For example, instead of saying

“A friend of mine saw…” say “I saw….” By making the story your own, you bring your

audience on the adventure with you.

PACING

Use the pace of the story to keep your audience engaged. For example, speak more

quickly to show action or excitement during appropriate parts of the story. Pause to

add drama to a speciﬁc section or to give your audience time to assimilate important

points. Silence at the right times can have a powerful impact on an audience.

DELIVER YOUR STORY

Page 8 CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING

REVIEW AND APPLY

Before you complete the assignment, take a moment to read through the

questions you see here. If you are not able to answer them comfortably, review

the project.

■ What storytelling techniques will you use to make your presentation relatable

and interesting?

■ How can your story outline be used to help you add detail?

■ What vivid descriptions will you add to create a more engaging story?

■ How can description and dialogue help you achieve your desired emotional

impact on the audience?

COMPLETE YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Now that you have read through the project, plan and prepare your speech or report.

Review: Return to page 3 to review your assignment.

Organize: Use the Project Checklist on page 10 to review the steps and add your

own. This will help you organize and prepare your assignment.

Schedule: Work with the vice president education to schedule your speech.

Prepare: Prepare for your evaluation. Review the evaluation resources on pages

12–14 and share all resources with your evaluator before your speech. You may

choose to share your evaluation resources online.

CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING Page 9

Page 10 CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING

PROJECT CHECKLIST

Connect with Storytelling

Page 1 of 2

Identify the elements of a good story.

______________________________________________________________________

Choose the story you would like to tell.

______________________________________________________________________

Schedule your speech with the vice president education. If your vice president education

approves a non-club event, your evaluator must attend the event.

______________________________________________________________________

Write your speech.

______________________________________________________________________

Rehearse your speech.

______________________________________________________________________

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice using a story within a speech or giving a speech that is a story.

Overview: Choose an established story, a story about your life, or a fictional tale of your own creation. Deliver the

5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting.

This project includes:

■ A 5- to 7-minute speech

Below are tasks you will need to complete for this project. Please remember, your project is unique to you. You may

alter the following list to incorporate any other tasks necessary for your project.

CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING Page 11

Page 2 of 2

PROJECT CHECKLIST –

Connect with Storytelling

other Toastmasters International trademarks and copyrights are the sole property of Toastmasters International and may be

used only with permission. Rev. 4/2016 Item 8300C

After you have completed all components of the assignment, including your speech, return to

page 4 to rate your skills in the post-project section.

______________________________________________________________________

Additional Notes

______________________________________________________________________

Page 12 CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING

Page 1 of 3

EVALUATION FORM

Connect with Storytelling

Speech Title

Evaluator

Member Name Date

Speech Length: 5 – 7 minutes

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this project is for the member to practice using a story within a speech or giving a speech that is a

story.

Notes for the Evaluator

The member completing this project is focusing on using stories in a speech or creating a speech that is a story.

The member may use any type of story: personal, well-known fiction, or one of his or her own creation.

Listen for a well-organized speech that is a story or includes a story.

General Comments

You excelled at:

You may want to work on:

To challenge yourself:

CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING Page 13

Page 2 of 3

EVALUATION FORM –

Connect with Storytelling

For the evaluator: In addition to your verbal evaluation, please complete this form.

5

EXEMPLARY

4

EXCELS

3

ACCOMPLISHED

2

EMERGING

1

DEVELOPING

Clarity: Spoken language is clear and is easily understood

Comment:

5 4 3 2 1

Vocal Variety: Uses tone, speed, and volume as tools

Comment:

5 4 3 2 1

Eye Contact: Effectively uses eye contact to engage audience

Comment:

5 4 3 2 1

Gestures: Uses physical gestures effectively

Comment:

5 4 3 2 1

Audience Awareness: Demonstrates awareness of audience engagement

and needs

Comment:

5 4 3 2 1

Comfort Level: Appears comfortable with the audience

Comment:

5 4 3 2 1

Interest: Engages audience with interesting, well-constructed content

Comment:

5 4 3 2 1

Impact: Story has the intended impact on the audience

Comment:

5 4 3 2 1

Pace: Pacing enhances the delivery of both the story and the rest of the

speech. (Evaluate this competency only if the member includes a story

as part of a larger speech.)

Comment:

5 4 3 2 1

Page 14 CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING

Page 3 of 3

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Connect with Storytelling

other Toastmasters International trademarks and copyrights are the sole property of Toastmasters International and may be

used only with permission. Rev. 11/2016 Item 8300E

This criteria lists the specific goals and expectations for the speech. Please review each level to help you complete

the evaluation.

Clarity

5 – Is an exemplary public speaker who is always

understood

4 – Excels at communicating using the spoken word

 – Spoken language is clear and is easily understood

2 – Spoken language is somewhat unclear or

challenging to understand

1 –

Spoken language is unclear or not easily understood

Vocal Variety

5 – Uses the tools of tone, speed, and volume

to perfection

4 – Excels at using tone, speed, and volume as tools

3 – Uses tone, speed, and volume as tools

2 – Use of tone, speed, and volume requires

further practice

1 – Ineffective use of tone, speed, and volume

Eye Contact

5 – Uses eye contact to convey emotion and

elicit response

4 – Uses eye contact to gauge audience reaction

and response

3 – Effectively uses eye contact to engage audience

2 – Eye contact with audience needs improvement

1 – Makes little or no eye contact with audience

Gestures

5 – Fully integrates physical gestures with content to

deliver an exemplary speech

4 – Uses physical gestures as a tool to enhance speech

3 – Uses physical gestures effectively

2 – Uses somewhat distracting or limited gestures

1 – Uses very distracting gestures or no gestures

Audience Awareness

5 – Engages audience completely and anticipates

audience needs

4 – Is fully aware of audience engagement/needs

and responds effectively

3 – Demonstrates awareness of audience

engagement and needs

2 – Audience engagement or awareness of audience

requires further practice

1 – Makes little or no attempt to engage audience or

meet audience needs

Comfort Level

5 –

Appears completely self-assured with the audience

4 – Appears fully at ease with the audience

3 – Appears comfortable with the audience

2 – Appears uncomfortable with the audience

1 – Appears highly uncomfortable with the audience

Interest

5 – Fully engages audience with exemplary, well-

constructed content

4 – Engages audience with highly compelling, well-

constructed content

3 – Engages audience with interesting, well-

constructed content

2 – Content is interesting but not well-constructed

or is well-constructed but not interesting

1 –

Content is neither interesting nor well-constructed

Impact

5 – Story enthralls the audience and is a perfect

complement to the speech content

4 – Story enhances the speech and heightens

audience engagement

3 – Story has the intended impact on the audience

2 – Story makes some impact on the audience

1 – Story makes little or no impact on the audience

Pace (Evaluate this competency only if the member

includes a story as part of a larger speech.)

5 – Story flows perfectly with overall content to

contribute to an exemplary speech

4 – Pacing contributes substantially to the

effectiveness of the story and the overall speech

3 – Pacing enhances the delivery of both the story

and the rest of the speech

2 – Pacing of the story disrupts the flow of the rest of

the speech

1 – Pacing of story detracts from the delivery of the

speech

www.toastmasters.org