FIVE STORYTELLING TIPS FOR A WINNING OPENING STATEMENT

 

Storytellers have techniques that they use to bring the story to life and make it persuasive, engaging, and interesting. These are techniques you can employ when crafting and delivering an opening statement. Here are five tips:

1. Viewpoint 

To be effective, a story should be told from a viewpoint. When the story is told from a viewpoint it is more likely that jurors will connect with it. There are at least three viewpoints to select from: (1) Your client’s viewpoint or the victim’s viewpoint if you are a government lawyer; (2) the third person’s or reporter’s viewpoint - like the Greek Chorus looking down on the play’s action, and (3) the omniscient viewpoint – the shifts from one viewpoint to another.

2. Language

The language you use in opening should be clear, simple, and devoid of any legalspeak. Don’t do this:  

• “The decedent walked into the room.”

• “Let’s consider the points of impact between my client’s vehicle and the adverse vehicle.”

• “The aforementioned party subsequently was wrongfully terminated.”

3. Details

Give the jurors too many details and the story gets lost. Give them and too few details, and the story isn’t real. Eliminate unnecessary details that clutter the story. Include details that make the story come alive and become real.

4. Word Pictures

If you want to evoke emotion, paint word pictures. Look at this paragraph and read it as fast as you can: 

Aocdcrnig to a rsereearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dse-no’t mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt thing is that the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. This is bcuseae the human mind deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Olny 57% of plepoe can do it.

Interesting—isn’t it? Our brains don’t think in words or numbers—we convert them into pictures. We convert words into pictures and emotions. Language does this. We see words. Go right to it – paint pictures and create emotions.

5. Word Choice

The words you select can be ones that y reach the mind and move the heart. There is a big difference between “she said” and “she begged.” When the story calls for it, pick the right words to express emotion.

If you found these storytelling tips useful, you could get a copy of my new book Addressing the Jury: Opening Statement and Closing Argument. This short book is reasonably priced at $8.99 for the Kindle ebook and $9.29 for the paperback. Click here to get your copy.