Interpretive Events
All interpretive events should have an introduction that sets up the selection and gives the title and author. Some performers do a teaser before the intro and some do not – either is acceptable. In all interpretive events, a student takes a 10-minute maximum published piece and acts it out.
Humorous Interpretation
(called Humor or HI for short)
Using a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece. Humorous Interpretation is designed to test a student’s comedic skills through script analysis, delivery, timing, and character development. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance and state the title and the author.
Dramatic Interpretation
(called Drama or DI for short)
Using a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece. With a spotlight on character development and depth, this event focuses on the student’s ability to convey emotion through the use of a dramatic text. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance, and state the title and the author.
Poetry Interpretation
(called Poetry or PI for short)
Using a selection or selections of literature, students provide an oral interpretation of poetry. Poetry is characterized by writing that conveys ideas, experiences, and emotions through language and expression. Students may choose traditional poetry, often characterized by rhyme or rhythm, or nontraditional poetry, which often has a rhythmic flow but is not necessarily structured by formal meter (meter is a beat, pattern, or structure, such as iambic pentameter). Students may not use prose, nor drama (plays) in this category.
Duo Interpretation
(called DUO for short)
Two competitors team up to deliver a ten-minute performance of a published play or story. Using off-stage focus, competitors convey emotion and environment through a variety of performance techniques focusing on the relationships and interactions between the characters. No props or costumes are used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the students to contextualize the performance and state the title and the author.
Program Oral Interpretation
(called POI for short)
Using a combination of Prose, Poetry and Drama, students construct a program up to ten minutes in length using at least two out of the three genres. With a spotlight on argumentation and performative range, Program Oral Interpretation focuses on a student’s ability to combine multiple genres of literature centered around a single theme. Competitors are expected to portray multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used except for the manuscript. Performances also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance and state the titles and authors used in the program.
Public Address Events
Original Oratory
(called OO for short)
Students deliver a self-written, ten-minute speech on a topic of their choosing. Limited in their ability to quote words directly, competitors craft an argument using evidence, logic, and emotional appeals. Topics range widely, and can be informative or persuasive in nature. The speech is delivered from memory.
Extemporaneous Speaking
(called Extemp for short)
Extemporaneous Speaking combines international and domestic issues. Students are presented with a choice of three questions related to national and international current events. The student has 30 minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech answering the selected question. Students may consult articles and evidence they gather prior to the contest, but may not use the Internet during preparation. Students may speak using a note card.
Informative Speaking
(called Info for short)
Informative is a speech written by the student with the intent to inform the audience on a topic of significance. Students in informative may use a visual aid. Informative gives students the unique opportunity to showcase their personality while educating the audience. An Informative is not simply an essay about the topic—it is a well researched and organized presentation with evidence, logic, and sometimes humor to convey a message. Topics are varied and interesting. Whether it be a new technological advance the audience is unaware of or a new take on a concept that everyone is familiar with, Informative is the students opportunity to teach the audience. Types of topics and structure vary greatly.
Debate
Lincoln-Douglas or Cross Examination Debate
(called LD for short: )
Do you like to argue about anything and everything? Are you persuasive and good at speaking on your feet? Do you like to research? If so then Debate is for you! In LD, you fly solo. One topic is used first semester, another is used during second. Debate rounds last about 35 minutes. The debate centers around a value question: is something good or bad? Should we do this or shouldn't we? LD requires preparation, research and evidence, but more emphasis is placed on thinking on your feet in the round, persuasive, and speaking style.
Public Forum Debate
The Public Forum Debate League is an audience centered debate devoted to making debate accessible to the public. Public Forum Debate uses current controversial subjects as topics (resolutions) to be debated. Research can be achieved by watching TV news programs, reading new magazines or Google. Topics are brief, require no plan, and are debatable.
Coin Toss: Prior to each round the teams will flip a coin. The winning team of the coin flip can either choose 1) Side of Topic (Affirmative or Negative) or 2) Order of speaking (First or Second). Once the coin toss winner selects a side or the order of speaking, then the losing team has its choice. If the winner selects a side, then the losers select speaker position. If the winning team of the coin toss chooses order of speaking, then the losing team can choose the side of the topic.
All interpretive events should have an introduction that sets up the selection and gives the title and author. Some performers do a teaser before the intro and some do not – either is acceptable. In all interpretive events, a student takes a 10-minute maximum published piece and acts it out.
Humorous Interpretation
(called Humor or HI for short)
Using a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece. Humorous Interpretation is designed to test a student’s comedic skills through script analysis, delivery, timing, and character development. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance and state the title and the author.
Dramatic Interpretation
(called Drama or DI for short)
Using a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece. With a spotlight on character development and depth, this event focuses on the student’s ability to convey emotion through the use of a dramatic text. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance, and state the title and the author.
Poetry Interpretation
(called Poetry or PI for short)
Using a selection or selections of literature, students provide an oral interpretation of poetry. Poetry is characterized by writing that conveys ideas, experiences, and emotions through language and expression. Students may choose traditional poetry, often characterized by rhyme or rhythm, or nontraditional poetry, which often has a rhythmic flow but is not necessarily structured by formal meter (meter is a beat, pattern, or structure, such as iambic pentameter). Students may not use prose, nor drama (plays) in this category.
Duo Interpretation
(called DUO for short)
Two competitors team up to deliver a ten-minute performance of a published play or story. Using off-stage focus, competitors convey emotion and environment through a variety of performance techniques focusing on the relationships and interactions between the characters. No props or costumes are used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the students to contextualize the performance and state the title and the author.
Program Oral Interpretation
(called POI for short)
Using a combination of Prose, Poetry and Drama, students construct a program up to ten minutes in length using at least two out of the three genres. With a spotlight on argumentation and performative range, Program Oral Interpretation focuses on a student’s ability to combine multiple genres of literature centered around a single theme. Competitors are expected to portray multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used except for the manuscript. Performances also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance and state the titles and authors used in the program.
Public Address Events
Original Oratory
(called OO for short)
Students deliver a self-written, ten-minute speech on a topic of their choosing. Limited in their ability to quote words directly, competitors craft an argument using evidence, logic, and emotional appeals. Topics range widely, and can be informative or persuasive in nature. The speech is delivered from memory.
Extemporaneous Speaking
(called Extemp for short)
Extemporaneous Speaking combines international and domestic issues. Students are presented with a choice of three questions related to national and international current events. The student has 30 minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech answering the selected question. Students may consult articles and evidence they gather prior to the contest, but may not use the Internet during preparation. Students may speak using a note card.
Informative Speaking
(called Info for short)
Informative is a speech written by the student with the intent to inform the audience on a topic of significance. Students in informative may use a visual aid. Informative gives students the unique opportunity to showcase their personality while educating the audience. An Informative is not simply an essay about the topic—it is a well researched and organized presentation with evidence, logic, and sometimes humor to convey a message. Topics are varied and interesting. Whether it be a new technological advance the audience is unaware of or a new take on a concept that everyone is familiar with, Informative is the students opportunity to teach the audience. Types of topics and structure vary greatly.
Debate
Lincoln-Douglas or Cross Examination Debate
(called LD for short: )
Do you like to argue about anything and everything? Are you persuasive and good at speaking on your feet? Do you like to research? If so then Debate is for you! In LD, you fly solo. One topic is used first semester, another is used during second. Debate rounds last about 35 minutes. The debate centers around a value question: is something good or bad? Should we do this or shouldn't we? LD requires preparation, research and evidence, but more emphasis is placed on thinking on your feet in the round, persuasive, and speaking style.
Public Forum Debate
The Public Forum Debate League is an audience centered debate devoted to making debate accessible to the public. Public Forum Debate uses current controversial subjects as topics (resolutions) to be debated. Research can be achieved by watching TV news programs, reading new magazines or Google. Topics are brief, require no plan, and are debatable.
Coin Toss: Prior to each round the teams will flip a coin. The winning team of the coin flip can either choose 1) Side of Topic (Affirmative or Negative) or 2) Order of speaking (First or Second). Once the coin toss winner selects a side or the order of speaking, then the losing team has its choice. If the winner selects a side, then the losers select speaker position. If the winning team of the coin toss chooses order of speaking, then the losing team can choose the side of the topic.