Big 8 Conference Tournament

2011 — WI/US

• Invite

Storytelling

Event Description:

Purpose of the Category
To develop skill in presenting imaginative material in the narrative form.

Definition of the Category
To tell a story is to chronicle events. The burden of the storyteller is to chronicle those events in a coherent, unified,clear, and interesting manner. The storyteller may use vocal variation and physical movement from a seated positionto suggest different characters and character relationships in order to make the story clearer and more interesting. Itshould be remembered throughout that the emphasis of the storyteller's art is on the teller as intermediary or narrator.The student is expected to "demonstrate a sense of audience," that is, tell the chosen story in such a manner that wouldbe suitable for the intended audience, be it young children, teenagers, adults, or chronologically advanced.

Rules

1. The student will select material based upon the four topic areas announced each year. A student will choose andrehearse one or more stories for each topic area. Original material is acceptable. Topic Areas for 2010-11 are:
   
   1. A Story with Fantastical Creatures
   2. A Story from India
   3. A Story about Luck
   4. A Story with Insects
2. The tournament will provide a single card to all contestants. The contestant will list one title and author for eachtopic area. Before each individual performance, the contestant will present the card to the adjudicator, who willchoose and initial the selection to be told that round. The contestant must tell a different topic area story eachround, including any semi-final or power round. Students advancing to the final round of the WFCA StateTournament will select the story of their choice (immediately prior to the start of the final round) for presentationin the final round.
3. An introduction, which includes titles, authors, tone and theme is required, and along with any necessarytransitions, is to be presented without the use of notes. The presentation may begin with a read portion of theselected material prior to the presenter’s personal introduction.
4. Notes are not permitted. The participant must sit in a chair during the performance. No costumes, props, orvisual material may be used.
5. Maximum time limit: 8 minutes, with an allowable 15-second grace period. There is no minimum timerequirement. Vocal music, if used, must be incidental and consist of no more than 30 seconds total. Any entryexceeding the grace period and/or the vocal music time limit may not be ranked first in the round. If all entries ina round exceed either time limit, no first rank shall be given in that round.

Criteria for Evaluation
1. The extent to which the story and introduction (including comments which identify author, title and any otherorienting material), as told, constituted a coherent, spontaneous and unified narrative appropriate to the topic area.
2. The extent to which the teller's choice of language was appropriate to the chosen story and audience. Individualjudges may lower the rank due to use of profanity or vulgarity.
3. The extent to which nonverbal expressions, including such items as gestures, facial expression and bodilymovement contributed to clarity.
4. The extent to which the vocal aspects of the performance were appropriate and enhancing to meaning of the story,including such items as articulation, pronunciation, vocal clarity, volume, rate and pitch.
5. The extent to which the suggestions of character and character relationship was appropriate to the material.