FORENSICS EVENT NOTES

SPEAKING EVENTS pre-written and researched speech memorized delivery judged on both the speech and the delivery

INFORMATIVE purpose/content topics should be fresh and relevant to a wide audience vast and varied sources give credibility (give credit inside speech) seeks to give information without persuading

INFORMATIVE Rules must be written by the student maximum length of 7 minutes (should be at least 5 minutes) must be memorized no notes, prompting or visual aids

INFORMATIVE Preparation Choose a topic that is either something new or a new look at something old Begin researching your topic being sure to get accurate source information Select an appropriate organization pattern for the body Write a rough draft with an introduction, body, and conclusion Revise and rewrite Memorize and practice delivery

ORATION Purpose/content topics should be timely and relevant to a wide audience a variety of sources increase persuasiveness (give credit inside speech) seeks to change beliefs and/or behavior of audience

ORATION Rules must be written by the student maximum length of 10 minutes (should be at least 8 minute) must be memorized no notes, prompting, or visual aids

ORATION Preparation Choose a topic that you are passionate about Begin researching your topic being sure to get accurate source information Select an appropriate organization pattern for the body Create a realistic solution Write a rough draft with an introduction, body, and conclusion Revise and rewrite Memorize and practice delivery

INTERPRETATION EVENTS bring meaning to a prose or poetry selection create distinct characters to bring a poem or story to life not acting (uses voice and gestures only) Selection must have dramatic structure with rising action and a climax

PROSE Purpose/content a short story or excerpt from a longer story or novel story should have a clear message can be serious, humorous, or a combination must include an introduction

PROSE Rules can include fiction or nonfiction maximum length of 7 minutes selections must come from published works, not including scripts no props allowed shall NOT be memorized; deliver from a printed manuscript in a notebook stay within the “interp box” introduction must be memorized and delivered with the notebook closed

PROSE Preparation READ, READ, READ, AND READ SOME MORE Read through the entire work looking for a clear message time and then work on cutting the selection to fit within the time limit be sure your cutting maintains dramatic structure write an introduction for your selection develop voices, focal points, and postures for characters practice your interpretation

POETRY Purpose/content a poem, selection from a long poem, or a compilation of poems the poem or program must have dramatic structure can be serious, humorous, or a combination must include an introduction

POETRY Rules maximum length of 7 minutes selections must come from published works, not including scripts no props allowed shall NOT be memorized; deliver from a printed manuscript in a notebook stay within the “interp box” introduction must be memorized and delivered with the notebook closed

POETRY Preparation Same as prose

ACTING EVENTS Part or all of a script or prose piece create distinct characters to bring the selection to life use movement, posture, voice to portray the meaning of the selection The selection must have dramatic structure with rising action and a climax

HUMOROUS SOLO/H.I. Purpose/content a performance of a funny script or prose selection selection should be set up with an introduction

HUMOROUS SOLO/H.I. Rules maximum length of 10 minutes must be memorized and given without prompting may use the entire stage for movement no props or costumes may use one chair must be from a published work (script or prose)

HUMOROUS SOLO/H.I. Rules (cont.) Humorous Interpretation no chair less/limited movement

HUMOROUS SOLO/H.I. Preparation READ, READ, READ, AND READ SOME MORE Read through the entire work looking for a clear message time and then work on cutting the selection to fit within the time limit if too short, locate multiple poems focusing on the same message

HUMOROUS SOLO/H.I. Preparation (cont.) be sure your cutting maintains dramatic structure write an introduction for your selection develop voices, focal points, and postures for characters PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

SERIOUS SOLO/D.I. Purpose/content Same as HSA only a selection with a more serious tone

SERIOUS SOLO/D.I. Rules Same as HSA

SERIOUS SOLO/D.I. Preparation Same as HSA

DUET ACTING/DUO Purpose/content a humorous or serious selection from a prose or script performed by two people set up by an introduction

DUET ACTING/DUO Rules maximum length of 10 minutes no costumes or props 2 chairs and 1 table Duo Interpretation no chairs or table actors have no direct interaction

DUET ACTING/DUO Preparation Same as HSA and SSA

LIMITED PREPARATION Has a specific structure practice before the tournament draw 30 minutes prior to performance

IMPROVISED DUET ACTING Purpose/content an original skit with dramatic structure prepared by 2 students should be introduced with an introduction used to develop improvisation techniques

IMPROVISED DUET ACTING Rules students will draw the following topics 30 minutes prior to performing –draw 3 characters and choose 2 –draw 3 situations and choose 1 –draw 3 locations and choose 1 skits should be between 4 and 7 minutes long students can portray only one character

IMPROVISED DUET ACTING Rules (cont.) no props or costumes 2 chairs and 1 table all dialogue must be original work students must not repeat/copy a scene from a previous tournament

IMPROVISED DUET ACTING Preparation work on character creation work on development of dramatic structure complete practice performances

EXTEMP Purpose/content an event focused on knowledge and analysis of current events creation of a speech answering a question on a current events both foreign and domestic

EXTEMP Rules Topics will come from the following magazines –Time –US News and World Report –Newsweek –World Press Review –Christian Science Monitor Students will draw 3 topics and choose 1 topic 30 minutes prior to speaking

EXTEMP Rules (cont.) students can reference articles or books to prepare the speech articles may be highlighted, but with only one color per article maximum length of 7 minutes brief notes on a 4X6 note card are allowed

EXTEMP Preparation Expose yourself to as much current news as possible (radio, TV, newspapers, magazines) Copy, read, and file articles from the 5 sources of questions highlight important facts and usable quotes in each article (use only one color per article) give practice speeches