The application of the STAR model in interviews to help interviewees reply precisely to related questions. STAR is an acronym that stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
The STAR model is a 4-act story structure. This model helps in focusing on the main events of the story and not branching out into secondary and unrelated events.
So much has been written on using this model for interviews in which the interviewee uses this model to answer questions such as how he solved a conflict or dealt with challenges. Much less attention has been given to using this model in writing cohesive stories.
Example
I want to share a recent article shared by Dennis Pitocco about hope titled, ‘The Power of Hope: Weathering Any Storm’.
The article is a story about hope and even though Dennis did not say he applied the STAR model he applied it discretely. The following illustration says how.
S for the Situation
The story is about a group of friends who had ventured out on a boating trip, heedless of the forecasted stormy weather. Their ill-advised decision had put their lives in grave danger.
T for Task
As the storm intensified, they realized the gravity of their mistake and radioed for help.
A for Action
This is the most detailed part of the story. It is where actions take place and emotions rise and fall. This is what Dennis wrote rightly most about.
It was the arrival of hope seeing the RNLI, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution answer their distress call. These brave men and women, dedicated to saving lives at sea, risked their own safety to rescue the stranded boaters. As the lifeboat approached, a glimmer of hope ignited within the hearts of the terrified group. They knew that with the RNLI’s assistance, they would soon be safe.
R for Result
The rescue operation was a tense and dramatic affair, with the lifeboat crew battling against the relentless storm to reach the stranded boaters. In the end, their courage and skill prevailed, and the group was brought safely ashore.
I am sharing this post because it serves as a great example of writing even articles in ‘hidden’ stormy format makes the article more interesting to read and more grabbing for the attention of the readers.
The skill of telling stories is available to develop for writers who wish to do so. What you write may not appear as a story, but discretely make it so. Hoping this article helps you too.
I had adopted this system when I had the opportunity to deal with training and job interviews. I believe the STAR method was born precisely to respond in a structured way to particular types of questions during a job interview. Very often interviewers ask questions that put you in a position to tell a story to highlight the qualities of the interviewee.
Frankly, I never thought it was also useful for writing more engaging articles for the reader (and this says a lot about my modest attitude in writing!!!).
Thinking about it now, I also understand that this method of telling stories lends itself perfectly to social media. Telling a story quickly and straight to the point allows the user to make the use of the content simple.
Aldo Delli Paoli Thank you for your excellent feedback.
What urged me to share this post is revealed well in your informative comment, ‘Very often interviewers ask questions that put you in a position to tell a story to highlight the qualities of the interviewee”.
What you said about writing short and engaging stories for social media and social media marketing is very true. It is then on the author what content to share in the story to make it attractive.
Your story using the STAR model is attractive.