Rogue Valley Invitational at Crater High School
2024 — Central Point, OR/US
Duo Interpretation
Event Description:
13.6. Duo Interpretation.
13.6.1. Communication among judges during the round. Judges must make independent decisions. Judges shall
not discuss decisions with other judges prior to turning in ballots. Timekeepers may share the length of a
given speech only. If questions arise regarding the rules or conduct of an event, judges shall ask at Speech
State Championships headquarters.
13.6.2. Length. There is no minimum time limit; the contestants shall speak no more than 10 minutes including
the introduction and reading with 30 seconds of grace allowed. Contestants who violate the time limit
may receive a lower rank. If laughter delays the speakers, the timekeeper shall make allowance by
stopping the watch at the beginning and starting it at the end of each interruption.
Time signals may be given at the speaker’s request; however, presentation within the time length is
ultimately the responsibility of the speaker.
No contestant may be penalized if a stopwatch was not used for timing.
13.6.3. Introduction. Contestants shall appropriately introduce their readings. The introduction should be shared
and memorized.
13.6.4. Presentation. The material shall be memorized. Physical objects, props or costumes are not allowed.
Focus may be direct during the introduction (the performers may look at each other) but must be indirect
(off stage) during the performance itself. Each of the performers may play one or more characters so long
as performance responsibility in the cutting remains as balanced as possible. If the selection is prose or
poetry and contains narration, either or both of the performers may present the narration.
13.6.5. Changing readings. Materials presented at the District Tournament must also be presented at the Speech
State Championships.
13.6.6. Materials. Selections must be cuttings from a single work of literature – from one short story or one play,
or one novel, or one or more poems – as described below.
(a) Print Publications. Includes novels, short stories, plays or poetry, published in print.
(b) Digital (Online) Publications. Material is only allowed from pre-approved online publishing sources for
the current school year per the official publication of National Speech and Debate Association rules.
(c) Prohibited Material. Not published in print or allowable online material per above, including –
(1) Recorded material (videotape, DVDs, audio tape, CDs, MP3s or phonograph recordings).
(2) Original material published in a high school publication such as a newspaper, literary magazine
or yearbook.
Oregon School Activities Association 2023-2024 Speech Handbook
- 23 -
Adaptations may be used for the purpose of transition. Materials may be humorous and / or serious. Only
one division shall exist in Duo Interpretation.
13.6.7. Re-use. No speaker may use a cutting from the same source that the speaker used in any contest previous
to the current school year.
13.6.8. Overlap. Students may not use the same material or cuttings from the same source, in Duo Interpretation
and any other interpretation event.
13.6.9. Manuscript Submission. Interpretation events must bring an original, electronic or photocopied version
of their script(s) and original source material to State.