Early Bird Novice Tournament at Shikellamy High School
2025 — Sunbury, PA/US
Observer
Event Description:
PROSE
Selection: Does the selection provoke thought, a theme, or sufficiently entertain? Is the selection suitable to the interpreter including
challenging to the person’s abilities; vocal range, physical presence, maturity? If multiple selections are used, are they somehow
linked?
Understanding of the selection: Does the interpreter demonstrate an understanding of the selection’s tone and purpose, the
characters’ depth and development, and the poem’s elements and progression? Does the introduction sufficiently prepare the audience
for the selection?
Voice: Has the interpreter employed appropriate vocal variety (pitch, rate, volume, phrasing, pausing and stress)? Do these
components reflect the shifts in the selection on an intellectual and emotional level? Is the interpreter articulate and understandable?
Action: Does the interpreter utilize facial expression appropriate to the narrator and/or characters being portrayed and to the
emotional moments being rendered? Are focal points, if utilized, effective? Do gestures and body stance contribute to the
effectiveness of the reading?
Overall Effect: Did the interpreter effectively transport you to the setting of the selection? Did the interpreter fully communicate to
you the feeling and understanding of the selection?
DUO
Selection: Does the selection provoke thought, a theme, or sufficiently entertain? Is the selection suitable to the
performers?
Understanding of the Selection: Do the performers exhibit an understanding of the selection’s tone and purpose,
characters’ depth and development, and story line progression? Does the introduction sufficiently prepare the audience
for the selection?
Voice: Does each character seem to speak spontaneously and naturally with eyes, body, and face showing thought and
feeling? Does each character react facially and vocally to what another character says and does? Do the performers make
appropriate use of pitch, variety, rate, phrasing, and emphasis to show thought and feeling?
Action: Does each character have a distinct body, stance, gesture, face, and personality, all of which are justified by
textual cues? Are these elements kept consistent throughout the performance? Do the performers create an environment
that takes the audience to a place outside the performing area? Was pantomime effectively used to generate the physical
objects of this environment? Was movement well-timed and choreographed between characters? Does the movement
effectively show changes in scene, setting or emotional states?
Overall Effect: Did the performers effectively transform into the characters of the selection? Did the performers fully
transmit to you the feeling and understanding of the selection?
EXTEMP
Content: Is the speech a reasonable development of the exact topic selected? Is there a variety of sources?
Organization: Is there a clear and central idea supported well by the main points? Is there a logical progression
utilizing effective transitions? Are the introduction and conclusion effective?
Language: Is the language accurate and clear? Is the language well-suited to the topic and speaker?
Communication: Is the speaker audible, articulate and direct with the audience? Does the speaker seem interested and
sincere?
Overall Effect: Did the speaker effectively educate you about the topic? Did the speaker adequately develop and
adhere to the topic selected?
PERSUASIVE
Organization: Is there a clear and central idea supported well by the main points? Is there a clear structure utilizing
smooth transitions? Are the introduction and conclusion effective?
Content: Is the motive clear, significant, sufficient and timely? Is the thesis original and presented effectively? Is
evidence well-substantiated?
Language: Is the language accurate and clear? Is the language well-suited to the topic and speaker?
Communication: Is the speaker audible, articulate and direct with the audience? Does the speaker seem interested and
sincere? If used, are visual aids effective?
Overall Effect: Did the speaker effectively persuade you about his or her topic? Did the speaker adequately develop the
speech to keep it interesting for the audience?
CONGRESS
Was the student's argument clear and well-structured?
Did they respond well to questions?