Brett Schmader

Using Storytelling to Gain Attention from Teenagers

Challenge and Selection

As a high school student, it is very challenging to grasp the attention of my audience as

they are grumpy, tired teenagers. When I’m presenting, I am constantly turned off by my  audience as half won’t listen to me but at least look my way and the other half simply puts their  heads into their phones. Although some teachers try to prevent this issue by having a  designated place for phones so they are forced to pay attention, it just turns into all of the class  looking at me but not listening. I needed to find a way to present that gained my audiences full  attention, so I started using storytelling. Storytelling is a great tool that I have incorporated into  my work. What’s great about stories is the need for a beginning and an end. Once the beginning  has started, it’s hard to leave before the end. As the plot thickens, people can’t stop listening to  find out the resolution of the story. This tool has helped me gain the attention of my audiences  as I present my school projects.

Application

In my US History class this year, we were learning about the Civil War. My teacher gave

our class an assignment to make a presentation about a battle during the Civil War. I chose to  do the Battle of Gettysburg, as I had already known a bit about it. I knew it was a historic battle  and a huge victory and turning point for the Union. When making my presentation, I decided that  telling a story of the Battle of Gettysburg would be most effective to teach my audience about  this event and get across the information I needed to.

I started with introducing major people in both sides of the army such as Robert E. Lee

and George G. Meade. After a brief description of both, I decided to go from the perspective of  the Union Army and George G. Meade because I believed they would make for a better story  and help my audience understand the battle better. I then started the story off during their  preparations for the battle. During this time I went over their battle plans for their defense  against the Confederates. Meade had just been appointed General of the Union army, so he  had a lot to prove going into this battle. I then went through the actual battle mostly focusing on  the Union side and going over all their struggles and achievements during the battle. I ended my  story off when the Union finally forced the Confederates to retreat back to Virginia.    Insight and Approach

I have learned many things about the storytelling tool by using it for presentations.

Throughout my presentation, I noticed how my audience actually seemed to be listening. Their  heads were up and eyes directly on me and the board. I even got a couple of questions about  my presentation after I finished which rarely happens. This new activity from my audience

shows me how useful storytelling can be for presentations. I even quizzed a few of my  classmates about the battle and my presentation and they all did great answering my questions  showing me that not only did they listen, but they also gained and comprehended the  information. The storytelling tool proved to be very effective for presenting.

To go with quizzing my classmates, I also asked for some feedback about the way I

presented and if the storytelling method was effective. They definitely liked the storytelling  method, but they all suggested that for future presentations, I should try to make the story more  relatable to the audience. One told me to either continue the story a bit longer or add on at the  end about how this event relates to us, being the United States, or what outcomes have come  from the battle. Now, I will approach my storytelling presentations a bit differently for the future.  Instead of only focusing on a story for what I am presenting on, I will incorporate more relatable  parts of my subject towards the audiences I am presenting to. With these improved results, my  presentations will without a doubt engage and teach my audiences effectively.


Brett Schmader Using Storytelling to Gain Attention from Teenagers Challenge and Selection As a high school student , it is very challenging to grasp the attention of my audience as they are grumpy , tired teenagers . When I ’m presenting , I am constantly turned off by my audience as half wo n’t listen to me but at least look my way and the other half simply puts their heads into their phones . Although some teachers try to prevent this issue by having a designated place for phones so they are forced to pay attention , it just turns into all of the class looking at me but not listening . I needed to find a way to present that gained my audiences full attention , so I started using storytelling . Storytelling is a great tool that I have incorporated into my work . What ’s great about stories is the need for a beginning and an end . Once the beginning has started , it ’s hard to leave before the end . As the plot thickens , people ca n’t stop listening to find out the resolution of the story . This tool has helped me gain the attention of my audiences as I present my school projects . Application In my US History class this year , we were learning about the Civil War . My teacher gave our class an assignment to make a presentation about a battle during the Civil War . I chose to do the Battle of Gettysburg , as I had already known a bit about it . I knew it was a historic battle and a huge victory and turning point for the Union . When making my presentation , I decided that telling a story of the Battle of Gettysburg would be most effective to teach my audience about this event and get across the information I needed to . I started with introducing major people in both sides of the army such as Robert E. Lee and George G. Meade . After a brief description of both , I decided to go from the perspective of the Union Army and George G. Meade because I believed they would make for a better story and help my audience understand the battle better . I then started the story off during their preparations for the battle . During this time I went over their battle plans for their defense against the Confederates . Meade had just been appointed General of the Union army , so he had a lot to prove going into this battle . I then went through the actual battle mostly focusing on the Union side and going over all their struggles and achievements during the battle . I ended my story off when the Union finally forced the Confederates to retreat back to Virginia . Insight and Approach I have learned many things about the storytelling tool by using it for presentations . Throughout my presentation , I noticed how my audience actually seemed to be listening . Their heads were up and eyes directly on me and the board . I even got a couple of questions about my presentation after I finished which rarely happens . This new activity from my audience shows me how useful storytelling can be for presentations . I even quizzed a few of my classmates about the battle and my presentation and they all did great answering my questions showing me that not only did they listen , but they also gained and comprehended the information . The storytelling tool proved to be very effective for presenting . To go with quizzing my classmates , I also asked for some feedback about the way I presented and if the storytelling method was effective . They definitely liked the storytelling method , but they all suggested that for future presentations , I should try to make the story more relatable to the audience . One told me to either continue the story a bit longer or add on at the end about how this event relates to us , being the United States , or what outcomes have come from the battle . Now , I will approach my storytelling presentations a bit differently for the future . Instead of only focusing on a story for what I am presenting on , I will incorporate more relatable parts of my subject towards the audiences I am presenting to . With these improved results , my presentations will without a doubt engage and teach my audiences effectively .