Family Treasure Hunting: Doing Story Research Dr. Gian S. Pagnucci Professor of English Indiana University of Pennsylvania Dr. Gian S. Pagnucci Professor of English Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Why 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 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 Inventory  List 6 Stories Worth Saving o List 1 story about a family member o List 1 story about an event o List 1 story related to an object o List 1 funny story o List 1 story worth passing on o List 1 story worth researching later  List 6 Stories Worth Saving o List 1 story about a family member o List 1 story about an event o List 1 story related to an object o List 1 funny story o List 1 story worth passing on o List 1 story worth researching later

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)  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)  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)  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 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 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 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