Speech

1. Speech • Give speeches! • Acting and Public Address speeches. • Weekly tournaments

2. Benefits Improve rhetorical skills National Forensic League (NFL) College admittance Lost cost Very flexible Lasting memories

3. Informative In this category you write and recite an 8 minute speech on anything you find interesting, and think others will as well. The purpose must be to INFORM and not to PERSUADE, and this is the only category in which you can use visual aids. Traditionally VAs were flat boards with photos or diagrams that you displayed on an easel, but this year the rules have been expanded to allow for the use of 3D props for the first time. If you like to watch documentaries, Food Network, History Channel, etc. you might be interested in this category.

4. Extemporaneous Speaking In this category you draw 3 current event questions out of a hat, and choose one to speak on. You then have half an hour to research, rehearse, and otherwise prepare for a 7 minute speech answering the question you drew. You do NOT use a script or notes to present this speech, thus the term “extemporaneous,” or “on your feet.” You may choose to be in the domestic (U.S. issues) or foreign tract, and in practice you will gather research to use during your prep period. You might like this category if you keep up on current events, politics, or like to debate.

5. Storytelling At the beginning of the year 15 stories are chosen from a particular book. Before each round, you draw 3 titles and choose which story to tell. You then have 30 minutes to rehearse before presenting your 6 minute version of the story. You act out the story playing the role of each character with different voices and postures. You will “tell” each story, not recite it – you use your own words and point of view. Humor is encouraged. This year the stories are all fairy tales from The Brothers Grimm. This is a good category for the person always telling long dramatic stories of their adventures.

6. Original Oratory Orators write and recite a persuasive 8 minute speech on a topic they feel passionate about. The speech should present a solution or urge a change on a significant issue and use evidence, logic, and/or emotion to stir their audience into following their ideals.

7. Humorous Interpretation In Humorous you memorize and perform an 8 minute excerpt from a book or play. Generally you play multiple characters with a unique voice, posture, and facial expression for each, like a “one man/woman show.” Your performance should leave The audience aching with laughter! Good for confident class clowns, comedians, and actors.

8. Dramatic Duo This is the only category where TWO people work together to perform a scene from a book or play. It may be funny or serious or both. The two actors are not allowed to look at each other or touch when they act out their shared scene, they generally stand side by side but act as if they are looking at each other. 8 minute performance.

9. Dramatic Interpretation Individuals perform an 8 minute selection from a play that is serious in nature. Generally, in order to show a range of emotion, selections in drama tend to focus on the very scary/sad/traumatic issues of death, abuse, loss, etc. Actors may perform a single character or multiple roles. This is a good category if you can handle and believably portray serious subject matter.

10. serious Prose is much like dramatic interpretation in that students portray a serious emotional scene, but in this category that scene comes from a book rather than a play. PROSE

11. Students in creative expression write and perform their own 8 minute piece. It may be funny, serious, or both. It may involve one or many characters. You may not use props, but you may move around. You can sing, dance, recite poetry, tell a true or imagined story - the sky is the limit! This is a good category to choose if you like to write and share your own fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, plays, or parody. Creative Expression

12. Discussion is a category unique to Minnesota. Also called “cooperative competition,” students are given a common task and must work together to determine how to complete it. You will bring in evidence and research. Discussion You are judged on your contribution to the group discussion. This category mimics business or committee meetings. The topic this year will be “Democracy” and all tasks will relate to that area, for example you may be asked to think as an election board and decide how state elections are run.

13. Serious Poetry Students in poetry have 8 minutes to perform one or a series of published poems that deal with an emotional topic. Much like drama and prose, the serious nature of this category means that the subjects dealt with are poignant such as racism, addiction, and loss. Poetry may be rhymed or free verse, slow or “slam” style, or may be a selection from a novel in verse. Students who love language and reading poetry may like this category.

14. Extemporaneous Reading This is the only category where you are not allowed to memorize and MUST have the script/book with you. Each year a series of stories and poems are identified become familiar with. At tournaments, students choose either the poetry or prose tract, and draw 3 titles, and choose one to present. You have 30 minutes to prepare, then read the piece aloud with inflection, emotion, eye contact and gesturing. This is a good category if you like to read aloud or do not like to memorize.

15. In this category students identify a speech given by a public figure and alternately perform sections of the speech and give analysis as to why it is considered a “great” speech. There is an 8 minute time limit. Consider this category if you want to both perform a historic speech and offer your own commentary. Great Speeches