Chapter 2 of 67 min
Story structure
People remember stories far better than lists. A simple arc, the situation, the tension and the resolution, turns information into a message people retain.
Key ideas
- Tension creates attention.
- A specific person or moment makes data human.
- Every story must serve the main message.
Step by step
- 1
Situation: describe where things stood.
- 2
Complication: introduce the problem or change.
- 3
Resolution: show the answer and its outcome.
- 4
Link the story explicitly to your key message.
Example
Presenting a new system, a director tells the story of one nurse's double-documented shift, the error it caused and how the new system prevents it.
Your drill
Turn one key point of your next presentation into a ninety-second story using the three-part arc.
Common mistakes
- Telling stories without a point.
- Adding too many characters and details.
Check yourself
What creates attention in a story?
Show the answer
Tension: a problem, change or complication that needs resolving.
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