Components of a Good Narrative

All narratives are unique to each situation; however, there are core components which can be utilized to
make a narrative stick with your audience! Below is a list of helpful ideas to keep in mind when
formulating your own narrative:

1. Make it Credible: Credibility is the most important ingredient in a narrative. Your audience must
believe in the reality of your narrative and chose to care about it. The narrative must be
believable and demonstrate walking proof that it was done. It must be solid and something a
student can grab onto.
2. Keep it Simple: The more complex the narrative, the more likely you are to lose your listener.
3. Relative: The narrative must create a strong link to the situation presented for the student. If
the student cannot relate the narrative to their own situation, then the significance of the story
is lost.
4. Visual: The narrative must be visually stimulating for the student. Your words, in some way,
should create a micro world, where students can easily image the events that are unfolding.
Remember, details add both depth and color to your narrative. If you were searching for dry
facts, you wouldn’t be using a narrative in the first place.
5. Agenda: What is the point, the message, the insight you are trying to convey to the student?
The narrative must both clearly and concisely reflect your core message.
6. Element of Conflict: Most narratives include some kind of complication that the main character
runs up against and must overcome.

Types of Narratives
Each narrative should have a core message attached in some shape or fashion. Without a core message,
the narrator cannot evaluate the proper type of narrative needed to deliver his or her message. Below is
a listing of some commonly used narratives types, along with their definitions:

1. Emotional Connection: This is a narrative designed to create an emotional impact or resonance.

The narrative is designed to drive home a point. Stories that connect with a student’ emotions
can help to establish a bond or a common interest with either yourself or the main narrative
character.
2. The Unexpected: The impact of a narrative is enhanced, when the narrative seeks to violate a
person’s set of norms. The unexpected narrative centers on a typical norm in society and then
somewhere within that narrative, the adviser will hit them with information that goes contrary
to the expected outcome. This kind of narrative often seeks to violate a powerful schema in
society. It challenges our assumptions, beliefs and the status quo.
3. Create a Mystery: These narratives are centered on the idea of a problem to be solved;
something for the student to wrap their heads around. Mysteries are highly effective because
they rope the student into the plot and push them to engage by seeking out the solution to the
problem. We all love a great mystery, so try and incorporate one into your narrative.
4. Against the Odds: The idea of “being the underdog and beating the odds” is an ingrained
component to the American psyche and can be used to help connect a student to your
narrative. This type of narrative can appeal to individuals who are maybe defeated in some way
and need inspiration. These narratives are often characterized by turning a failure into a success.
5. Cautionary: These narratives present a core message of vigilance. They are told when students
need to be made aware of repercussions and/or pitfalls if they follow a certain action.
6. Relational: Very common (probably the most common): The core message in these narratives
can be referred to as “you are not alone.” These narratives are told to help a student
understand that there are others out there with the same problems, same feelings and same
thoughts. As human beings we are comforted by the fact that others share our issues and
experiences. It helps us to justify that our experiences and emotions are normal. It validates us,
and can help us during dark times.