Writer as Witness


TREXIE JOY V. INFANTE
TEACHER
 What is Testimonio

It is generally defined as a first-person narration of socially
significant experiences in which the narrative voice is that
of a typical or extraordinary witness or protagonist who
metonymically represents others who have lived through
similar situations and who have rarely given written
expression to them
 TESTIMONIO

Can be defined as a book length story narrated by a person coming
from the margins of society.
 Examples

 A Poor Woman
 A Peasant
 An outlaw or a guerrilla
Kinds of Testimonio

 Forensic
 Epideictic
 Deliberative
 How to write a
testimonial

 Determine what story you want to tell
 Ask specific questions
 Keep it short and conversational
 Use the customer’s name and include pictures If
possible
 TESTIMONIO
LITERATURE

It is an autobiographical narrative where the
author was present during or experienced first
hand human rights abuses, violence, war, or lived
under conditions of social oppression
TESTIMONIO ESSAY

It is a genre of literature that retells historical events
using literary elements such as dialogue, poetry and
metaphors from an eyewitness perspective
 How do you start a
Testimonio?

To write a powerful testimonial, start by describing the
problem you faced.
Then explain how the product or service you’re writing
about solved your problem.
Conclude by recommending the product or service to
others.