Forensics Judging Quick Guidelines

Quick Guidelines for Speech/Forensics Judges

Time Limits:  7 minutes for extemporaneous speaking and impromptu.  10 minutes for all other categories.  In addition, there is a 30-second grace period.  A student may NOT be ranked 1st in the round if he or she goes over the grace period.  There is no other penalty for going over the time limit.  There is no minimum time limit.

     Storytelling, prose, poetry, and the dramatic interpretation categories should include and an introduction presented either before or shortly after (following a “teaser”) the student begins performing.  This introduction is included in the overall timing of the performance.

Movement:  Walking is allowed in extemp, original oratory, impromptu, and declamation, but it should be purposeful and used in such a way to enhance or clarify the speech.  In serious and humorous duo, the contestants may move around one another or change positions relative to one another, but should not walk around.  In all other categories, walking is not permitted; contestants may only move within the space of an imaginary hula hoop.  Meaningful gestures are encouraged.

What judges should look for:  Students should speak clearly.  Delivery should be confident and free of distracting mannerisms.  Gestures should enhance what is being said.  Leg slapping, playing with fingers, picking at nails, playing with hair, playing with clothing, slouching, swaying, shifting weight back and forth, and saying “um” or “uh” are all things that students should avoid.  If the student is presenting ideas or opinions, those should be communicated clearly.  If the student is performing work with characters, those characters should be distinct and well-developed.  

Ranking & Scoring:  Give the best student (or duo) in the room a rank of 1 for first place.  Give the second best a rank of 2 for second place, etc.  No ties.   Assign a score between 70 and 100.  (100 would indicate perfection.  95 is very good.  90 is good.  85 is okay.  Below 80 would indicate that a lot of work is needed.  Numbers do NOT have to be in 5-point increments.)  Again, no ties.  

Be constructive in your comments, but be nice.  We want the kids to learn, but we also want this to be a positive experience for them.  It is usually best to write comments during the performances.  This keeps the tournament running on time and makes it possible for you to make comments while you remember them.

No oral critiques or disclosing of results before the tournament has concluded!

Events in Brief

Storytelling:  The student presents a memorized story suitable for children.  Often there are many characters and quite a bit of movement, though students should remain inside of an imaginary hula hoop.

Humorous Dramatic Interpretation:  The student presents a memorized selection.  Students may present a monologue or have many characters in their selection.  

Serious Dramatic Interpretation:  The student presents a memorized selection.  Students may present a piece with one or more characters.  The piece is supposed to evoke emotion in the listener. It doesn’t have to make you cry; you may feel more anger or discomfort from the piece than sadness. 

Duo Interpretation:  There are two duo categories: humorous and serious.  Two students perform a memorized selection.  Each student may present as one character or more than one character.  They may move around each other but not make eye contact or touch – except during their intro.  

Poetry Interpretation:  This event requires that the student use a manuscript.  The student should make eye contact with the manuscript to at least give the impression of reading.  Students may present one poem or a collection of poems.

Prose Interpretation:  This event requires that the student use a manuscript.  The student should make eye contact with the manuscript to at least give the impression of reading.  The selection presented may be humorous, dramatic, or a little of both.  

Original Oratory:  Students present a speech they have written.  They may use the front and back of TWO index cards or it may be completely memorized.

Impromptu:  If you are judging this event, you will be given a list of topics.  The student will be given the topics and the timing begins.  They have seven minutes to choose, organize, and present a speech based on the topic they choose.  The judge will give verbal time signals while the student writes and organizes, then hand signals during the presentation.  There is a 30 second grace period. If a student goes over time, the only penalty is that he or she may not be ranked first in the round.  The student may use one notecard.

Extemporaneous Speaking:  Students in this event are given 30 minutes to prepare a speech based on a choice of topics they will receive in the prep room.  In preparing their speeches, students may refer to magazine and newspaper articles or printouts they have brought with them, or to files they have previously saved to a laptop computer.  They may not use the Internet during their prep time.  When they come to you, they have seven minutes to present their speeches.  They are to include the topic question in their speech.  They may use the front and back on one index card. There is a 30 second grace period. If a student goes over time, the only penalty is that he or she may not be ranked first in the round.

Declamation:  Declamation is the delivery of a speech that was originally written and delivered by someone else.  The competitor should remain true to the originator’s intent, without imitating the original delivery.  There should be an introduction giving the names of the speech and author, necessary background information, and setting the mood as necessary.  The speech must be memorized.  There is a 10-minute time limit with an additional 30-second grace period.

Program Oral Interpretation: Students present thematically-linked selections from two or three genres: prose, poetry, and drama. Unlike other interpretation events, POI competitors may use multiple sources. The use of a manuscript during the performance is required. Reading from a book or magazine is not permitted. The intact manuscript may be used by the contestant as a prop, so long as it remains in the contestant’s control at all times. No costumes or props other than the manuscript are permitted. The contestant must address the script; however, the introduction and transitional material may be memorized.

Informative Speaking: An informative speech is an original speech designed to explain, define, describe, or illustrate a particular subject.  The primary purpose of the speech is for the audience to gain an understanding and/or knowledge of a topic. Non-electronic audio/visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message.

Last updated  9/16/20

-BW

-MV

-SO