Oral Interpretation

This week we will learn... The definition of Oral Interpretation (OI) The history and parts of dramatic structure The art of preparing literature for performance through applying structure and collage techniques.

Our emphasis will be on...

What is Oral Interpretation? Oral Interpretation (OI) is the skill of reading aloud to convey an author’s message. OI is primarily an Oral/Aural performance. OI is not memorized, but performers are very familiar with their literature. Program Oral Interp ProsePoetry Out Loud

How do I choose my material?

Ask yourself... What matters to me? What moves me? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What sort of drama/comedy do I gravitate toward?

Double Check... What is the message of the material, beyond plot? Is it interpretable, Can I make it my own? Is it original? Is the topic fresh or overdone? Does it have Literary Merit?

Oral Interpretation Assignment Choose Literature of High Merit, that you respond to. Shape it into a 1-2 minute performance script. Prepare and apply vocal techniques by using a Marked Score. Rehearse and Perform an Oral Interp

A lot of different ideas...

The idea that is clear...

Freytag’s Pyramid

Freytag's Pyramid Exposition – “Skillfully written exposition tells the where, when, what and who in a brief, unobtrusive way...It also sets the atmosphere and mood.” Rising action – “Goals and obstacles revealed, lifting the level of interest.” Climax – Point of Change Falling Action – Significant incidents following climax Denouement / Conclusion - “the solution of the mystery, the outcome of the story” Pg

Forensics Pyramid

Steps to Cutting Literature Identify the climax Note what contributes to the climax and which can be eliminated. Identify the essential circumstances Consider character development. Consider balance of humor and drama. Cut and substitute for language and content Confirm a clear beginning, middle and end. Eliminate chapters, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and words to get into the time limit

Cross-Cutting Multiple Selections Children’s Literature A Character break’s into Poetry/Prose/CD Lyrics Story within a story, mother reading to children. Once character tells jokes from a joke book, or facts from the almanac Poetry Back to back Poems with a common theme or Author-- Connected by a word Several characters reading different texts that interrupt and overlap each other  new found dialoguing Prose Use Poetry or Lyrics to emphasize the moral of the story. Choose a character to obsess over another type of Literature. Splice two voices together in a way that tells a bigger story (An optimist and a pessimist, a child and a grandmother, a criminal and a cop)

Transitional Material: Words added by the performer for 3 purposes: 1. Substitution for inappropriate language 2. Substitution for inappropriate content 3. Transition between scenes, when material has been cut for other reasons. Not for adding pop-culture references, jokes or extraneous storylines.

Structure Map Structure Map Assignment My Name Date Block Structure Element Book / Page Number Brief Description Exposition Rising Action Climax Denouement / Conclusion 1. My Literature Title, Author 2. My Other Literature Title, Author 3. Write the story in your own words. In the space of 1 paragraph.

Brilliant Examples of Cuttings from Full-length Literature Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: utube.com/wa tch?v=4lKlMll9 Rdw utube.com/wa tch?v=4lKlMll9 Rdw Charlotte’s Web: outube.com/ watch?v=0Z7 BNgIVC98&fe ature=related outube.com/ watch?v=0Z7 BNgIVC98&fe ature=related The Witches: outube.com/ watch?v=mjR 97oeBor4&fe ature=related outube.com/ watch?v=mjR 97oeBor4&fe ature=related