Building a blockbuster story

Data Storytelling Concepts

Joe Franklin

Senior Curriculum Manager, DataCamp

The exposition or problem

Photo of Freytag

  • The exposition or problem is the first stage
  • A princess being kidnapped by a dragon is a great opening scene

Illustration of a dragon

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Freytag
Data Storytelling Concepts

Rising action

 

  • Many events take place here
  • Tension and suspense are built
  • A knight on a quest to save the princess is rising action

Photo of a Knight

Data Storytelling Concepts

The climax of a story

     

  • The third stage is the climax
  • The main characters overcome obstacles
  • A climatic battle by the knight against a dragon is a good example

Illustration of a knight battling a dragon

Data Storytelling Concepts

Falling action

     

  • The falling action occurs after the climax in the story
  • Most of the events foreshadow the last section of the story
  • The knight and princess may journey home as part of falling action

  Knight protecting a princess

Data Storytelling Concepts

The resolution or conclusion

Princess rewarding a knight for bravery

Data Storytelling Concepts

TV Advertisements as stories

   

  • The Super Bowl is a championship football game played in the United States.
  • These ads often tell stories

  Collage of funny ad images

1 Rosen (2014)
Data Storytelling Concepts

Research shows this structure is effective

 

  • Advertisements that followed a Freytag structure were more memorable.

  • All the model parts can be lengthened or shortened depending on the format or media platform

  • A data story knits together a narrative, the data and visuals.

  Three researchers standing around a tablet

Data Storytelling Concepts

Let's practice!

Data Storytelling Concepts

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