All Event Descriptions

Our goal is to maximize the opportunities your team members will have to perform and learn, and to allow competitors to experience a wide variety of forensics events.  To that end, all events are divided into two brackets, allowing students to quintuple-enter (up to two regular events per bracket, plus one supplemental event) and to vie for Individual Sweepstakes Awards. 

Except where otherwise noted, most events will follow the rules of the National Catholic Forensics League.  For Oral Interpretation of Prose, Oral Interpretation of Poetry, and Parliamentary Debate (with some notable modifications—please see below), the rules of the Pennsylvania High School Speech League will be used.  Complete descriptions of each event and its regulations may be found at www.ncfl.org/competition-events and www.phssl.org.  

Debate Events:  â€¨
Both speech and debate events will be scheduled on the bracket system, giving debaters a rare opportunity for multiple-entry.  Policy Debate and Lincoln-Douglas Debate contestants MAY NOT enter another event in Bracket A, but they MAY enter one or two events in Bracket B (including Parli, Congress, Extemp, OO, Prose, and Duo).  Parliamentary Debate contestants MAY NOT enter another event in Bracket B, but they MAY enter one or two events in Bracket A (including Policy, LD, Congress, Dec, Poetry, and DP).  All debaters are also permitted to enter a supplemental event—either Impromptu Speaking, Radio Announcing, or Spontaneous Argumentation.  â€¨â€¨

POLICY DEBATE (Bracket A):  Two-person teams will debate both sides of this year's resolution, which can be found at www.nationalforensicleague.org.  Each side will receive 5 minutes of prep time per round.  Policy contestants MAY NOT enter a second Bracket A event, but they ARE encouraged to enter one or two Bracket B events (including speech events, Congressional Debate, or Parliamentary Debate).  

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE (Bracket A):  Students will debate both sides of the November/December resolution which will be announced on October 1 at www.nationalforensicleague.org.  Each debater will receive 4 minutes of prep time per round.  Lincoln-Douglas contestants MAY NOT enter a second Bracket A event, but they ARE encouraged to enter one or two Bracket B events (including speech events, Congressional Debate, or Parliamentary Debate). 

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE (Bracket B):  While we will largely follow the PHSSL rules for this event (which can be found at www.phssl.org/pdf/ParliamentaryDebateGuide.pdf), Parliamentary Debate at the Wildcat Invitation will have two distinctive features with the aim of encouraging broader participation:  

1.   Rounds will alternate between impromptu debates and prepared debates in the ordinary fashion; however, the prepared topic used at this tournament will be the November Public Forum resolution, which will be announced on October 1 at www.nationalforensicleague.org.

2.   While the speech times will not be changed, we will allow teams comprised of either two or three members to enter this division.  (Students on a two-person team will give alternating speeches.) 

 
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE (Bracket A AND Bracket B): Congressional Debate sessions will run during BOTH Bracket A and Bracket B, and Congress contestants may participate during one or both brackets.  Students MAY enter a second speech event (such as Extemp) during each bracket.  Because of the similar skill-sets involved, Extemp, LD, Policy, and Parli competitors are especially encouraged to consider also entering Congress.  Entries in Congressional Debate will NOT be counted when determining judging quotas.  Students are encouraged to submit as many pieces of legislation as they would like.  Bills and resolutions should be submitted via e-mail to StephanieElizabethBorger@gmail.com.  Legislation will be posted on our Tabroom.com page as it is received.  The tournament staff will supply extra legislation if an inadequate quantity is submitted.


Speech Events:

Events will be scheduled in two brackets.  Bracket A speech events are Dramatic Performance, Oral Interpretation of Poetry, and Extemporaneous Speaking.  (Lincoln-Douglas and Policy Debate rounds will also take place during Bracket A.)  Bracket B speech events are Duo Interpretation of Literature, Oral Interpretation of Prose, Oratorical Declamation, and Original Oratory.  (Parliamentary Debate rounds will also take place during Bracket B.)  Congressional Debate sessions will be offered during BOTH Bracket A and Bracket B.  Students may enter up to two speech events in each bracket (for a maximum total of four regular events).  In addition to these regular events, each contestant may enter one supplemental event—either Impromptu Speaking, Radio Announcing, or Spontaneous Argumentation.  

DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE (Bracket A):  Contestants will perform selections from published plays, scripts, or other fictional or non-fictional works of literature of either a dramatic and/or humorous nature.  No props or costumes may be used.  The time limit is ten minutes, including a brief introduction. While memorization is highly encouraged, the use of notes or manuscripts is not prohibited at this tournament.  (The aim of this policy is to further encourage both meaningful novice participation and diversification of all students’ involvement.  We believe that, at this early point in the season, it’s far more beneficial for students to stretch themselves, give a new event a shot, and receive constructive feedback on substantive elements of the performance, than it is either to be so hung up on “cramming” that the spirit--and much of the educational value--of the event is lost, or to be discouraged from participating at all.)

ORAL INTERPRETATION OF POETRY (Bracket A):  Contestants will perform selections from published works of literature in poetic form; no drama or prose is to be used.  All students are required to hold and read from manuscripts, and no props or costumes are permitted.  The time limit is ten minutes, including a brief introduction.

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING (Bracket A):  Contestants will each select one of three possible foreign or domestic current events questions, and they will have thirty minutes to prepare a speech answering the question, which may not exceed seven minutes in length.  Students may use laptops or other computerized devices during their prep time; every reasonable effort will be made to provide wireless internet access, although functionality of the network cannot be guaranteed . The use of notes is allowed.  All extempers are especially encouraged to consider entering Congressional Debate, as well.


DUO INTERPRETATION OF LITERATURE (Bracket B):  Each pair of students will perform a selection from a published play, script, or other fictional or non-fictional work of literature.  Each performer may portray one or more characters, and no physical contact between the performers is permitted.   No props or costumes may be used.  The time limit is ten minutes, including a brief introduction. While memorization is highly encouraged, the use of notes or manuscripts is not prohibited at this tournament.  (The aim of this policy is to further encourage both meaningful novice participation and diversification of all students’ involvement.  We believe that, at this early point in the season, it’s far more beneficial for students to stretch themselves, give a new event a shot, and receive constructive feedback on substantive elements of the performance, than it is either to be so hung up on “cramming” that the spirit--and much of the educational value--of the event is lost, or to be discouraged from participating at all.)

ORAL INTERPRETATION OF PROSE (Bracket B):  Contestants will perform selections from published works of literature in prose form; no drama or poetry is to be used. All students are required to hold and read from manuscripts, and no props or costumes are permitted.  The time limit is ten minutes, including a brief introduction.

ORATORICAL DECLAMATION (Bracket B):  Each competitor will deliver a speech written by another person, rather than an original work.  The time limit is ten minutes, including a brief introduction.  While memorization is encouraged, the use of notes or manuscripts is not prohibited at this tournament.  (The aim of this policy is to further encourage both meaningful novice participation and diversification of all students’ involvement.  We believe that, at this early point in the season, it’s far more beneficial for students to stretch themselves, give a new event a shot, and receive constructive feedback on substantive elements of the performance, than it is either to be so hung up on “cramming” that the spirit--and much of the educational value--of the event is lost, or to be discouraged from participating at all.)  This event is only open to 9th- and 10th-grade students.

ORIGINAL ORATORY (Bracket B):  Each competitor will present an original speech on a topic of his/her choosing, not to exceed ten minutes in length.  The speech must be the creation of the student who performs it.  While memorization is highly encouraged, the use of notes or manuscripts is not prohibited at this tournament.  (The aim of this policy is to further encourage both meaningful novice participation and diversification of all students’ involvement.  We believe that, at this early point in the season, it’s far more beneficial for students to stretch themselves, give a new event a shot, and receive constructive feedback on substantive elements of the performance, than it is either to be so hung up on “cramming” that the spirit--and much of the educational value--of the event is lost, or to be discouraged from participating at all.)


Supplemental Events:

Our supplemental events are always a highlight of the Wildcat Invitational for competitors, coaches, and audience members alike.  In addition to being a whole lot of fun, these events provide a valuable opportunity for students to gain experience practicing fundamental forensics skills early in the season—without requiring any preparation prior to the tournament.  Each competitor may enter one of the supplemental events: either Impromptu Speaking or Spontaneous Argumentation.  Following the last preliminary round of the regular events, while scores are being tabulated, a single round of the supplemental events will be held.  Supplemental events will not be separated into varsity and novice divisions, and there will be no final rounds in these events.

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING:  Contestants will each select one of three possible speech topics.  Each speaker will have a total of five minutes to divide between preparation and speaking.

RADIO ANNOUNCING:  Contestants will edit and perform a brief radio newscast from a provided script.

SPONTANEOUS ARGUMENTATION: In this quick impromptu debate event, the first contestant in a group gives a one-minute constructive speech in affirmation of a narrow topic, after which the successive students give one-minute alternating negative and affirmative rebuttals.  The first competitor receives one minute of prep time; later contestants must respond immediately without preparation time.


Improvisational Acting Exhibition:

During the time between the conclusion of final rounds and the start of the awards ceremony, all students and adults will have the opportunity to perform in this interactive drama game, or simply enjoy watching.  Participants will be randomly assigned to pairs or small groups and will improvise scenes according to directions and prompts submitted by the audience earlier in the day.  Improv Acting will be an exhibition only, and will not influence either individual or team sweepstakes awards.