TIP SHEET:
Anatomy of a Great
Impact Story
Why Impact Stories? They Work!
Stories create “sticky” memories by attaching emotions to things that happen. Deliver your key messages.
Studies show that stories have unique powers of persuasion. Our opinions and beliefs are both rational and emotional; and while
facts may appeal to our left brain, narratives and stories hold the real power to sway our emotions.
What Is a Story Anyway
A Character in pursuit of a Goal overcoming a Challenge.
A good story includes four key components:
1.
The Hook
Great storytelling starts with a very short set-up that “hooks” the audience’s interest. Write a good hook sentence and make it
the headline, the lead-in, of your story.
The objective of a good hook sentence is to make the audience feel
whatever it is you want them to feel (frightened, inspired, motivated to
act, “warm and fuzzy).
And even though your hook sentence is your very first sentence, it’s a
good idea to write it last. By writing it last, you can better capture the
tone and purpose of your entire writing project.
2.
The Conflict
A story without a challenge simply isn’t very interesting. Good storytellers understand that a story needs conflict. There is no
story without conflict.
Try One of These “Hook Sentence” Ideas:
• A literary quote
• A quote from a famous person
• An anecdote
• A question
• A relevant statistic
• A compellingly honest personal feeling
What was the obstacle to be overcome? Was someone important in your life disappointed? Did someone important disappoint
you? Here are some types of conflict to keep in mind:
• Intrapersonal Conflict: The tension within yourself. Internal challenges that had to overcome.
• Interpersonal Conflict: Challenges with those close to you. This can be family, neighbors, classmates or close friends.
• Conflict with Authorities: Does your conflict involve challenges with officials or authorities? Did you have to confront policies
or environmental systems to drive change?
• Conflict with Criminals: Does your story involve someone who broke (or threatened to break) the law?
• Conflict with Nature: Does your story involve a natural disaster or daunting experience with nature?
Questions? Just email us at: 4Hmarketinghelp@4-H.org
www.4-H.org
TIP SHEET: Anatomy of a Great Impact Story
3.
The Turning Point
The turning point is the transition to the solution. It’s an important personal decision or external factor that takes place at a
critical time to resolve the conflict. The turning point is often the height of the action and the climax of the story you’re telling. It
is where everything changes as a result of the event that just occurred.
Did someone close to you say something to inspire you? Perhaps someone in 4-H. Did you see or experience something that
prompted you to change course? In your 4-H impact story, tell us how this turning point involved 4-H, led you to 4-H or
prompted a solution that was made possible because of 4-H.
4.
The Positive Ending
What was the outcome of your story? How did the conflict get resolved and what are the tangible results in the end? An ideal
positive ending includes an actual marker, experience or result that demonstrates how the solution worked…how the 4-H
experience helped solve the problem.
For example, if the problem was academic, was there an increase in GPA or an acceptance to college? If there was a health
challenge, was there a real change in health outcomes? Go back to the problem that was expressed in the conflict and map it
back to a real solution that makes up your happy ending.
What Makes a Story Truly Impactful?
It’s Focused
The simpler the better. One character and one challenge. Introducing too many characters or conflicts in your story can be
confusing and dilute the impact
It Includes Details (But Just The Right Amount)
It’s Relevant
It Challenges Expectations
Details bring your story to life and draw emotions. It’s the difference between telling what happened and showing or engaging
your audience in the experience of what happened….helping them feel what you and others felt. But, be careful…too much
detail can bore or complicate the story. Here are some other questions that can pull out key details to increase your
story’s impact:
• What was the one memory that stands out most?
• What word best describes how you felt during the turning point?
• What specific experience was the lowest point or highest point in your story?
• What word best describes how you felt during the most challenging moment?
• Can you describe the expression on a key character’s face or an emotional reaction?
• Do you have any regrets?
• What is the most important lesson you learned?
It helps your story if the issue or challenge is related to current news, events, important community needs or issues of relevance
to other American youth and families.
A great story is about something that isn’t normal and doesn’t happen all the time. It’s where things were normal until
something happened that made them not so normal anymore. This is a very effective and highly recommended way to tell parts
or all of your story.
Questions? Just email us at: 4Hmarketinghelp@4-H.org
www.4-H.org