INLS 558: Principles and Techniques of Storytelling - Fall 2007
School of Information and Library Science

Manning Hall, Room 208

Thursdays, 6:00-8:30pm

Dr. Brian Sturm

Office: 215-A Manning Hall

Phone: 919-962-7622; Email: sturm@ils.unc.edu

Office Hours: By email or by appointment

Online Communication: http://blackboard.unc.edu/ (log in using your ONYEN and password; you should find that one of “My Courses” is the INLS 558 class. Click on that class and you will enter the Blackboard environment and be able to maneuver around, send email to classmates, and chat with each other.

Required textbook: Greene, Ellin. Storytelling: Art and Technique. 3^rd ed. New Providence, NJ: Bowker, 1996.

August 23^rd

Theory: Introduction to storytelling and the class. Expectations, assignments, grading, online area. Definitions, kinds, and values of storytelling. Research resources.

Readings: Greene – chpt. 3

Practice (focus): Small group reading aloud and group story creation (imagination)

August 30^th

Theory: Storytelling: trance, paradox, and the psychodynamics of enchantment.

Readings: Stallings The Web of Silence; Sturm The Enchanted Imagination

Practice: Storytelling picture games

September 6^th

Theory: Finding and selecting an age-appropriate story

Readings: Greene – chpt. 4; also have a look at: Shedlock – chpts. 4 & 5; Sawyer – chpt. 8

Practice (focus): Storytelling card game (groups of 5). We’ll also discuss storytelling language, beginnings and endings, and child development; please read: http://www.folktale.net/openers.html, http://www.folktale.net/endings.html, and Child Development and YA Development.

September 13^th

Theory: Preparing and presenting a story

Readings: Greene, chpts. 5 & 6; also have a look at: Shedlock – chpt. 3; Sawyer – chpt. 7.

Practice (focus): "Theater of the Face" (eye contact, facial expression, and storytelling games)

September 20^th

Storytelling Session #1 (Preschool): stories not to exceed 7 minutes

Cue Card #1

Sepember 27^th

Theory: Media in storytelling, props, flannel boards, etc.

Readings: Skim through Bauer, chpts.10-18

Practice (focus): "Theater of the Body" (body language, gesture, posture, mime, and storytelling games)

October 4^th

Theory: Administering storytelling programs (design and evaluation)

Readings: Greene, chpts. 11 & 12; also have a look at the entire Storytelling Magazine issue for September/October 2004 (Volume 16, issue 5) which is dedicated to Producing Storytelling Events)

Practice (focus): Guest workshop by Canadian storyteller and linguist, Monica Sanchez; "The Art of Imitation" (character voices, dialect, and sound effects)

October 5-7 – National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee

October 11^th

Theory: Storytelling for Special Audiences (physically and emotionally challenged, YA, elderly)

Readings: Greene, chpts. 7 & 9; Blankenship; Sutton.

Practice (focus): “The Art of Emotion” (analysis and portrayal of emotions)

October 18^th

FALL BREAK – class cancelled

October 25^h

Storytelling Session #2 (Elementary/YA) stories not to exceed 10 minutes

Cue Card #2

October 24^th

Theory: Historical development of storytelling and folkloric influences

Readings: Greene, chpt. 8; Perrin master's thesis; Chinen; Sturm & Sturm

Practice (focus): “Putting It All Together” (the face, the body, the voice, and the emotions)

November 1^st

Theory: Creating stories from Personal Experiences

Readings: http://www.creativekeys.net/StorytellingPower/article1037.html and the entire issue of Storytelling Magazine from May/June 2004 (Volume 16, issue 3) which is dedicated to crafting personal and history stories.

Practice (focus): “My Life in Story” (personal narrative story exercises; "Space" (staging, acoustics, microphones)

November 8^th

Theory: Storytelling in organizations

Readings: Chappell article on Blackboard or at: http://wistechnology.com/article.php?id=1182

Practice: whatever we still need to cover to be ready for our last stories

November 15^th

Storytelling Session #3 (Adult) stories not to exceed 15 minutes (those not telling bring potluck)

Cue Card #3

November 22^nd

THANKSGIVING BREAK – class cancelled

November 29^th (last class)

Storytelling Session #3 (Adult) stories not to exceed 15 minutes (those not telling bring potluck)

Cue Card #3

December 6^th – FYI - Winter Stories at Wilson Library (more info as scheduling permits)