The Story Method

The Story Method uses a story to memorize and recall information. It can be a true story or a fictitious story that you make up. The benefit of using the Story Method is that you can memorize a limitless number of things.

Although the number of items you can memorize is virtually limitless with the Story Method, you should try to make each story apply to only one topic or subject.

Let�s assume that we are studying sociology and need to memorize the historical reasons for mass migrations of people. The following are general reasons why people migrated to other countries in the past:

Now let�s take all these reasons for migration and turn them into a story that we can easily memorize.

Historical Reasons for Migration of People to Other Countries
Natural Disaster	John was sitting in his house one day when all of a sudden he felt the ground starting to shake. Things began to fall off the wall and shelves. All of a sudden the ground started to open under his feet! An earthquake was happening right in his house so he ran outside only to see his house crumble. Without knowing what to do John went down to the local Red Cross shelter to find help.
Following Family and Friends	Once he arrived at the Red Cross shelter he was shocked to see all the people who were being treated for their injuries. To his shock, an older girl came up to him. As they looked at each other they couldn�t believe their eyes. It was Mary, John�s long lost sister! They hugged and cried. Mary was much older but looked the same as when she left home. She had a friend with her named Kathy who was very attractive. John immediately felt an attraction for her.
Financial Opportunity	Mary said that they were planning on going to San Francisco because they had heard that rocks of gold were being found everywhere there and people were getting instantly rich! Mary wanted John to go with them to San Francisco to find gold together. Suddenly John got excited and agreed to go.
Famine	So the three set off to San Francisco. They walked the entire distance. When they arrived they were stunned. Not only was there no gold, but people were starving in the streets. Suddenly, a baby came up to John. She was crying and crying. John couldn�t make here stop. She was so hungry for food that her little tummy was swollen. John, Mary and her friend were disillusioned and destitute. They didn�t have any food or money themselves.
War	John saw a big sign that said, �Army Recruiting� and a long line of men. They were all signing up in the Army in order to make some money to feed their families. John decided that he didn�t have a choice and that he would sign up to. As soon as he signed up he was shipped out to Germany were the Nazi�s were taking over Europe.
Religious or Ethnic Persecution	His assignment was to find Jewish Prisoners of War and set them free. When he arrived he could hardly believe his eyes. Jews were being persecuted, sent to concentration camps and then to death chambers. He rescued as many as possible but one day he was captured.
Slavery	As a Prisoner of War, John was made a slave. He had chains put around his wrists and ankles. After a short time, his wrists and ankles started to bleed, but that didn�t stop him from performing his slave duties. After a year his Nazi master went on a military trip to Australia. He took John with him to do menial chores.
Criminal Incarceration / Deportment	When they arrived in Australia, the war suddenly ended and John was freed. He was given ten dollars and sent on his way. As he was walking down the street two men came up behind him and shoved a pistol in his back. His money was taken away and was left penniless. John soon realized that Australia was full of criminals. They had been deported from England just a few years back because the prisons were full. It was difficult for John to survive.
Political Strife / Turmoil / Opposition	There was much political strife and turmoil in Australia at that time. In the last year, five military leaders had overthrown the unstable government and there were many small turf battles between warring factions. He knew he had to leave so he escaped by boarding a cargo plane.
Economic Problems	Luckily the plane was headed for the United States. When he arrived in the states he jumped off the plane undetected. He found his sister Mary and her friend Kathy. They were so happy to see each other. John wrote a book about all his travels and adventures. It was a best seller and John suddenly became rich. He established a fund for the poor and needy to provide shelter, an education and temporary housing. From then on John was known as, �Rags to Riches.�

Now that you have read this story, close your eyes and tell the story to yourself again. When you come to each part that represents what you are trying to memorize.

For example, when you come to the part about John, Mary and Kathy wanting to go to San Francisco to get rich, state �Financial Opportunity.� This will help you solidify the key parts of the story.

You might be thinking, �Wow, that was a long story. Do I have to do that every time I want to memorize something?�

The answer is, �Yes�kinda.� It�s important to make up a story with exaggerated details because it will be easy to remember. However, after you review the complete story in your mind four to five times you will start to abbreviate it.

Eventually, you will be able to recall the details and key parts of the story so well that you will automatically abbreviate the story by moving straight to the key parts.

Let�s assume that I have repeated the story to myself five times, a couple times in the afternoon, twice at night while lying in bed and once in the morning.

You see, the story will become shorter and to the point after reviewing it several times and it has been moved to your long-term memory.


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