ABSTRACT
This chapter explores theoretical approaches to narrative from ethnomethodology, literary theory, sociolinguistics and anthropology, which form the basis for a textual analysis of social work accounts. It considers how literary texts are approached as interactional and through the occasions of their performance. Delineating story structure has been the basis of much narrative analysis, although there are theoretical differences over what constitutes the definitive characteristics. S. Chatman offers a structuralist approach to narrative which considers that there is a basic story structure underlying any narrative. Literary theory has concentrated on analysing narratives in terms of plot, character and point of view. The function of storytelling can be located in displays of entitlement to tell stories, to provide within the story methods of creating legitimacy to speak, to be listened to and taken seriously. Social work texts constitute performance when a judge reads a court report, members of a case conference consider a social worker's recommendations or a researcher analyses an interview.
