Event Descriptions/Rules

Event Descriptions/Rules

For FSH Catholic Middle School Tournament

Dramatic or Humorous Interpretation:

The selections will come from stories, plays, poems or other published material. Performed material must come from a single source/author. The student will convey the author’s meaning through character voice(s), gestures, and facial expressions. It’s ok to cut the piece to fit within the time limit.

1. 10 minute maximum, 30 second grace period. There is no minimum time. Time signals may be given if the speaker requests them but are not necessary. Overtime for audience reaction should not draw penalty. Speakers should announce the name of the author and the name of the piece.
2. Selection must be taken from a single published work and contain no more than 150 added words, including the introduction. Speakers may play multiple characters or not.
3. Use of notes is allowed, though memorized performances should be given more consideration when judging.
4. No props or costumes allowed. Performers may kneel, fall down, etc (a chair would be considered to be a prop)
5. Violations of the rules may be weighed in by the judge (exception would be time violations)

Duo Interpretation:

Two students interpret a selection taken from a short story, a novel, a play, a poem, or other published literary material. Performance is interpreted from a single selection and each student presents one or more characters. Students must maintain “off-stage” focus; that is, they may not look at each other during the presentation and they may not touch each other. It’s ok to cut the selection to fit within the time limit.

1. 10 minute maximum, 30 second grace period.There is no minimum time. Time signals may be given if the speaker requests them but are not necessary. Overtime for audience reaction should not draw penalty.
2. Speakers are allowed to touch or make eye contact DURING THE INTRODUCTION ONLY. Selection must be taken from a single published work and contain no more than 150 added words, including the introduction. Speakers may play multiple characters or not.
3. Use of notes is allowed, though memorized performances should be given more consideration when judging.
4. No props or costumes allowed. Performers may kneel, fall down, etc (a chair would be considered to be a prop)
5. Violations of the rules may be weighed in by the judge (exception would be time violations)

Declamation (aka Oral Interpretation)

The speech must come from previously delivered in a public forum. The student’s aim is to effectively convey the message intended by the original speaker. Examples - JFK’s Inaugural Speech, Gettysburg Address, Tina Fey’s Acceptance Speech for the Mark Twain Prize. It’s ok to cut the speech to fit within the time limit.

1. 10 minute maximum, 30 second grace period. There is no minimum time. Time signals may be given if the speaker requests them but are not necessary. Overtime for audience reaction should not draw penalty.
2. Speech must have originated as a public address given by a real person to an audience. A speech may be entertaining but stand-up comedy routines are prohibited.
3. Speaker should identify the original speaker, date and place of the originally delivered speech and a title if there is one. Failure to do so should be noted on the ballot. Report any suspected violation to the tabroom official.
4. Use of notes is allowed, though memorized performances should be given more consideration when judging.
5. No props or costumes allowed. Performers may kneel, fall down, etc (a chair would be considered to be a prop)
6. Violations of the rules may be weighed in by the judge (exception would be time violations)

Impromptu Speaking:

In this event, the student actually prepares the speech in the judge’s presence. The topics vary by round from quotations to general current events to abstract words to concrete nouns. After drawing the topic, the student has five minutes to prepare the speech

1. 5 minute maximum and 15 second grace period. There is no minimum time. Each speaker gets 5 (FIVE) minutes of prep time.
2. Judge gives each speaker a choice of 3 topics on a slip of paper - topics will be provided with the judge ballot. Speakers may spend their prep time in any manner they choose - they may pace, make notes, but no sources may be consulted during prep time.
3. Speeches may be humorous or serious and should be judged on content, organization, use of language, analysis, adherence to the topic, creativity and delivery.
4. Use of notes is allowed, though memorized performances should be given more consideration when judging.
5. No props or costumes allowed. Performers may kneel, fall down, etc (a chair would be considered to be a prop)
6. Violations of the rules may be weighed in by the judge (exception would be time violations)

Original Oratory:

The student will present an original speech written by that student. The subjects vary considerably; but, regardless of the topic, the student's aim is to persuade the audience to think a certain way or do something or to inspire.

1. 10 minute maximum, 30 second grace period. There is no minimum time. Time signals may be given if the speaker requests them but are not necessary. Overtime for audience reaction should not draw penalty.
2. Presentation is the original work of the speaker. Any appropriate subject may be used. Speeches may be humorous or serious and should be judged on content, organization, use of language, analysis, adherence to the topic, creativity and delivery.
3. No more than 150 words of the speech may be direct quotations from another speech or writing. Quoted words exceeding 50 from a single source must be verbally attributed.
4. Use of notes is allowed, though memorized performances should be given more consideration when judging
5. No props or costumes allowed. Performers may kneel, fall down, etc (a chair would be considered to be a prop)
6. Violations of the rules may be weighed in by the judge (exception would be time violations)

Original or Interpreted Poetry:

The presentations in this event are perhaps the most varied. The poems will be the original works of the student or a poem(s) of a single published author.

1. 10 minute maximum, 30 second grace period. There is no minimum time. Time signals may be given if the speaker requests them but are not necessary. Overtime for audience reaction should not draw penalty.
2. Presentation may be the original work of the speaker. Any appropriate subject may be used. The subject matter may be serious or humorous or both and should be judged on the effectiveness and creativity of the delivery only.
3. Presentation may be an interpretation of a published poem. If not the original work of the speaker, the speaker should announce the name of the author and name of the piece. The subject matter may be serious or humorous or both and should be judged on the effectiveness and creativity of the delivery only.
4. Use of notes is allowed, though memorized performances should be given more consideration when judging
5. No props or costumes allowed. Performers may kneel, fall down, etc (a chair would be considered to be a prop)
6. Violations of the rules may be weighed in by the judge (exception would be time violations)