Elements+to+Digital+Storytelling

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__Elements to Digital Storytelling__
According to http://www.storycenter.org/memvoice/pages/cookbook.html, there are 7 elements to digital stories.


 * __**Point of View**__: "... the goal of digital storytelling is to allow a writer to experience the power of personal expression. Therefore, students' digital stories need to be constructed from their own experience andunderstanding. Using the first-person pronoun "I" rather than the more distant third-person point of view is essential."


 * **__A Dramatic Question__:** "A story that holds the attention of the audience has a dramatic question that is resolved by the end of the story. This characteristic distinguishes the digital story from a travelogue. Narratives that lead the reader to become invested typically pursue a compelling question that evokes interest and commitment."

> made."
 * **__Emotional Content__:** "The most effective digital stories evoke an emotion from the audience. We often see laughter, tears, and expressions of pleasure from the audience when digital stories are screened. This can be tremendously rewarding to student writers, validating the effort and investment they have

> and intent in a very personal way. This has proven to be one of the most essential elements that contribute to the effectiveness of a digital story. There is no substitute for using your own voice to tell your story."
 * **__The Gift of your Voice__:** "The pitch, inflection, and timbre of the storyteller's voice convey meaning


 * **__The Power of the Soundtrack__:** "Properly employed music can enhance and underscore the accompanying story, adding complexity and depth to the narrative."

> tempting to replicate the visual onslaught of music videos on MTV. We have found that the effective digital story uses only a few images, a few words, and even fewer special effects to clearly and powerfully communicate intended meaning."
 * __**Economy**__: "Modern digital editors offer a plethora of special effects and transitions. It can be


 * __**Pacing**__: "Monotonous refers to an unvaried inflection and pace. The word has become synonymous with boring because an unvaried pace will not hold the audience's attention. For student writers, pacing means pulling back or racing forward when the story calls for it, as opposed to when the time limit approaches."

- taken from http://www.umass.edu/wmwp/DigitalStorytelling/What%20is%20Digital%20Storytelling.htm

__Steps of "Construction"__

 * Pre-writing (ie What do they have to say?)
 * Artifact Search (Happens at home, ask parents to help)
 * Storyboard Development
 * Script Sharing Circle
 * Script Revision
 * Construction
 * Screening, Viewing, and Discussion (Give permission to say they don't want to share, have popcorn and make a day of it)


 * = TIPS: Don't just start with pictures as it becomes using the photos and putting things in order rather than storytellying. ||

__Curruculum Expectations__

 * Digital storytelling meets expectations in:**
 * Language - Reading, Writing, and Oral and Visual Communications
 * Presentation Skills
 * Project and Time Management skills
 * Visual Arts expectations

__Project Ideas__
- Autobiography/Biography - Book Trailers - 2 Minute Memoirs - Character Analysis - Adventure/Love Stories - Geography presentations - Historical docudramas - Current Events Analysis

__Digital Story Projects__
1) [|Hidden Stories:] A Historical Narrative Project 2) [|The Our Stories Project:] Helps people share the stories of their lives, no matter where they live or how their stories unfold.

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