Speech Events

Speech Events

Change this year: NO DOUBLE ENTRY WITH ANY DEBATE

You may enter up to FOUR speech events, two in either pattern.

Students may enter up to 2 events in each speech pattern.
Pattern A (Drama, Duo, Extemp, and Info)
Pattern B (Humor, Impromptu, Original Oratory, and POI)

There will be four preliminary rounds in each event. Elimination rounds will start at octafinals for events with more than 111 entries, quarterfinals for events with more than 55 entries and semifinals for those events with more than 27 entries. Coaches are urged to emphasize the importance of conscientious attendance in scheduled rounds, since “no-shows” make it impossible for the tournament staff to assure participants an equal level of competition.

MATERIAL: Material in individual events may not have been used by that student in competition prior to the completion of the 2023 High School National Forensic League Tournament.

ORIGINAL ORATORY:

Bid eligible for both NIETOC and TOC

OO consists of a speech that is the original work of the student and is designed to persuade the audience. Presentation must be memorized. Any non-factual reference, especially a personal reference, must be so identified. Not more than 100 words of the oration may be a direct quotation from any other source. Maximum time is ten (10) minutes.

DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION/HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION:

Bid eligible for NIETOC and TOC

Selections used in these events shall be cuttings from published printed novels, short stories, plays, or poetry. The presentation is memorized and is delivered without a manuscript. Costumes or props are not allowed in the presentation. Adaptations may be for the purpose of continuity only. Maximum time is ten (10) minutes, including memorized introduction, which presents the author(s) and title.

DUO INTERPRETATION

Bid eligible for NIETOC and TOC

This event involves two competitors interpreting a cutting from a play, prose or poetry, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of one or more characters by each individual. This is not an acting event; thus, no costumes, lighting, props, etc. are to be used. The presentation is memorized and delivered without a manuscript. The competitors’ focus should be off-stage and not on each other. Maximum time is ten (10) minutes, including memorized introduction, which presents the author(s) and title.

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING:

Bid eligible for the NIETOC and TOC

Topics for Extemp shall be based on foreign and domestic affairs for three months prior to the tournament. Speakers will be given 30 minutes to prepare after drawing from three topics suitable to their area of emphasis. Speakers may use one index card. Maximum time is seven (7) minutes.

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING:

Topics for Impromptu will be quotations. All speakers in a round will speak on one of two quotations, and thus it is necessary that competitors cannot view any contestant before them. Each speaker has a maximum of seven (7) minutes to prepare and deliver a speech. Note cards may be used when preparing and speaking.

INFORMATIVE SPEAKING:

Bid Eligible for the NIETOC

Students author and deliver a ten-minute (10) speech on a topic of their choosing. Competitors create the speech to educate the audience on a particular topic. All topics must be informative in nature; the goal is to educate, not to advocate. Visual aids are permitted, but not required. The speech is delivered from memory.

PROGRAMMED ORAL INTERPRETATION:

Bid eligible for the NIETOC and TOC

Using selections from Prose, Poetry and Drama students create a ten minute performance around a central theme. Program Oral Interpretation is designed to test a student’s ability to intersplice multiple types of literature into a single, cohesive performance. A manuscript is required and may be used as a prop within the performance if the performer maintains control of the manuscript at all times. Performances can also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance and state the title and the author of each selection.