Narrative/Storytelling

We have been extending our understanding of Aristotle's Rhetoric. Having been familiar with his appeals

to credibility, logic, and morality, most individuals forget that Aristotle also believed in the strength and

power of storytelling. Thus, we know that stories have a social utility that spans many purposes. In this

assignment students will have to locate a story within the public sphere and scrutinize its purpose.

Prompt

Become aware of how stories are used in the public sphere by paying attention to your surroundings.

Choose an instance in which a story is being told. For example, you might be sitting at home watching TV

when a commercial comes on, you notice that it's telling a story about a lost horse that found his way

home. Or you might be sitting at home and you hear your parent telling your sibling a story from when they

were young. Or, you might be sitting at home watching a movie and notice that one of the characters is

telling a story. The key here is to observe and analyze.