Narrative


 * Narrative** is generally a form of story-telling. It is an account of events told in sequential order which usually involves a setting, characters, actions unfolding over time and a narrator that sets up the relationship with the reader and leads them toward a point, realization or destination.

Application
Using a narrative, according to Broden, Gallagher and Woytek, is like having a story to read while interacting, on say, a website. Having a 'script' to run by, it allows the users/clients to grasp a concrete story and plot line to follow through navigation and if uncertainties arise, it is easy to compare it with the characters intentions. When creating the aesthetic of the site, it is important to use the narrative as a constant reference to make sure all elements are in check to create the best possible design.

//Note:// "Studies in cognitive development suggest that we tend to remember things in narrative form, particularly disorganized or ambiguous events, to aid their retrieval when the need arises. In fact, the urge to create narrative is so strong that we will fill in missing information and see casual relationships where there are none." //Nezworski, R., Stein, N. L., & Trabasso, T.//

Jack Aaronson talks about a website as a narrative device and needs-based design at: http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=1450401 "Big Nick's Big Day Off"; Student talks about interactive narrative design: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFtT2ft2LNo
 * Interesting Links:**

Kramer, Mark. "What is Narrative?" __Nieman Foundation of Journalism__. Harvard University. 16 Jan. 2008 <[|http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/narrative/what_is.html>.] "Narrative." __Oxford English Dictionary__. 16 Jan. 2008 <[|http://www.oed.com/>.]
 * Works Cited:**

Broden, Nancy, Marisa Gallagher, Jonathan Woytek. "Use of Narrative in Interactive Design" __Boxes and Arrows__. 30 Jan 2008 