This document provides tips for telling stories effectively, including: 1) Using sequencing words to show the chronological order of events in a story. Examples given are words like "first", "then", and "finally". 2) Using linking words to connect ideas and provide additional context, with types like reinforcement, result, and contrast described. 3) Employing different tenses like present, past simple, and past continuous to set the scene and describe activities. 4) Choosing more vivid vocabulary rather than generic words to make the story more engaging.

1. How to tell a
story
Wilson Carrión
https://www.facebook.com/EspanglishLoja-101719766865512/

2. Sequencing words
These words show the chronological
sequence of events.

3. Example
"First of all, I (packed my suitcase)."
"Secondly, I …. (made sure I had all my documents)"
"Previously (before that) ….. I changed some money."
"Then… I (called a taxi for the airport)"
"Later (on)… (when we were stuck in traffic, I realised…)"
"But before all that… (I had double checked my reservation)"
"Finally… (I arrived at the wrong check-in desk at the wrong airport
for a flight that didn't go until the next day)"

4. Linking words
Use these words to link your ideas
for the listener. Linking words can be
used to show reason, result,
contrasting information, additional
information, and to summarise.

5. Types Linking words
REINFORCEMENT
Desktop computers are cheaper and more reliable than laptops; furthermore, they
are more flexible.
RESULT/CONSEQUENCE
Prices fell by more than 20% last year. As a result, sales increased by 15%.
GENERALISING
On the whole, his speech was well received, despite some complaints from new
members.

6. CONTRAST
The South East of the UK often has the coldest weather in the winter. Conversely,
the North West of Scotland frequently has the mildest temperatures.
CONCESSION
It was a very expensive holiday, the weather was bad and the people weren’t very
friendly. Nevertheless, we would probably go back to the same place.
Types Linking words

7. Tenses
We can use a variety of tenses to tell
stories and anecdotes. Jokes are
often in the present tense.

8. 
Use the present tense to give a dramatic narrative
effect.

Use past forms to talk about past events. If you tell your
story in chronological order, you can use the past simple

Use the past continuous to describe activities in
progress at the time of your story, or to describe the
background.

9. Vocabulary
Try to use a wide range of words to make your
story more interesting. Remember that you can
"exaggerate" when you tell a story, so instead of
using words like:
"nice" or "bad"

10. Vocabulary
Experiment with more interesting words, such as:
"beautiful", "fabulous", "wonderful", "horrible",
"awful" or "terrible".