Lambert's 7 Elements

1. A Point of View

This separates the digital story from the third-person report delivered via PowerPoint which sometimes replaces or supplements the traditional research report. The digital story reveals the writer, as opposed to offering facts about a distanced topic. Script revision often involves an effort to bring the focus of the story back to the writer.

2. A Dramatic Question

A story that holds the attention of the audience has a dramatic question that is resolved by the end of the story. This characteristic distinguishes the digital story from a travelogue. A neighbor’s vacation slides may have an accompanying narrative, sprightly music, and cutting-edge transitional effects. However, it does not hold our attention in the same manner as a well-constructed digital story.

                                3. Emotional Content

The most effective digital stories evoke an emotion from the audience. We often see laughter, tears, and expressions of pleasure from the audience when digital stories are screened. This can be tremendously rewarding to student writers, validating the effort and investment they have made.

4. Economy

Economy is the most difficult element for both novices and experienced writers to attain. Limiting the scope of the digital story has two practical benefits: (1) it makes the construction process manageable in a school setting, and (2) it also makes it practical for an audience to view the stories of an entire class in a single session. From the perspective of the writing process, the discipline involved in achieving this sharpens the focus of the story, requiring the writer to decide what is essential to the story.

5. Pacing

This may require tough decisions about what parts of the story can be omitted. It is important to confront these decisions during the script revision process, in order to allow a natural pace and varied flow when the digital story is constructed

6. The Gift of Your Voice

The pitch, inflection, and timbre of the storyteller’s voice convey meaning and intent in a very personal way. This has proven to be one of the most essential elements that contribute to the effectiveness of a digital story. There is no substitute for using your own voice to tell your story.

7. Soundtrack

Properly employed music can enhance and underscore the accompanying story, adding complexity and depth to the narrative. Also fills in dead space

and silence in your work.