Individual Events
Speech Interpretation Events
Dramatic Interpretation (DI)
A 10-minute interpretation of a cutting from a published work (novel, short story, play or poetry) that is serious in tone and memorized
Duet Acting (Duet)
A memorized 10-minute cutting from a published play involving two people and that may use two chairs
Duo Interpretation (DUO)
A 10-minute interpretation of a published text (a play, a fictional or nonfictional work, or a poem) involving two people that is memorized and does not allow direct focus or contact between students
Humorous Interpretation (HI)
A 10-minute interpretation of a cutting from a published work (novel, short story, play or poetry) that is humorous in tone and memorized
Poetry Interpretation (Poetry)
A 10-minute cutting from a published poem (or collection of poems) that uses a manuscript
Prose Interpretation (Prose)
A 10-minute interpretation of a cutting from a published work of prose fiction (short stories, novels) and/or nonfiction (articles, essays, journals, biographies) that uses a manuscript
Program Oral Interpretation (POI)
A 10-minute interpretation of a cutting from a collection of published works including at least two different genres of literature (drama, prose fiction or nonfiction, and poetry)
Storytelling
A 5-minute interpretation of a common story. The Storytelling theme changes each tournament. (9th and 10th grade only beginning with the 2017-2018 season)
A 10-minute interpretation of a cutting from a published work (novel, short story, play or poetry) that is serious in tone and memorized
Duet Acting (Duet)
A memorized 10-minute cutting from a published play involving two people and that may use two chairs
Duo Interpretation (DUO)
A 10-minute interpretation of a published text (a play, a fictional or nonfictional work, or a poem) involving two people that is memorized and does not allow direct focus or contact between students
Humorous Interpretation (HI)
A 10-minute interpretation of a cutting from a published work (novel, short story, play or poetry) that is humorous in tone and memorized
Poetry Interpretation (Poetry)
A 10-minute cutting from a published poem (or collection of poems) that uses a manuscript
Prose Interpretation (Prose)
A 10-minute interpretation of a cutting from a published work of prose fiction (short stories, novels) and/or nonfiction (articles, essays, journals, biographies) that uses a manuscript
Program Oral Interpretation (POI)
A 10-minute interpretation of a cutting from a collection of published works including at least two different genres of literature (drama, prose fiction or nonfiction, and poetry)
Storytelling
A 5-minute interpretation of a common story. The Storytelling theme changes each tournament. (9th and 10th grade only beginning with the 2017-2018 season)
Speech Limited Preparation Events
Extemporaneous Speaking (Extemp)
A 7-minute speech prepared in 30 minutes using a pre-prepared file containing published magazines, newspapers, articles, etc. on the student’s choice of three topics provided by the tournament director
Impromptu Speaking (Impromptu)
A speech prepared and delivered in 7 minutes using no external sources or pre-prepared material on a topic provided by the tournament director
A 7-minute speech prepared in 30 minutes using a pre-prepared file containing published magazines, newspapers, articles, etc. on the student’s choice of three topics provided by the tournament director
Impromptu Speaking (Impromptu)
A speech prepared and delivered in 7 minutes using no external sources or pre-prepared material on a topic provided by the tournament director
Speech Oratorical Events
Declamation (Dec)
A memorized 6-10 minute speech given by someone else at an earlier point in history (9th and 10th grade only)
Expository (Expos)
A 5-minute informative speech that is the original work of the student (9th and 10th grade only beginning in the 2017-2018 season)
Informative Speaking (Info / Inform)
A memorized 10-minute speech on any appropriate subject that is the original work of the student and that is not persuasive (11th and 12th grade recommended)
Original Oratory (OO)
A persuasive, memorized 10-minute speech on any appropriate subject that is the original work of the student (11th and 12th grade recommended)
A memorized 6-10 minute speech given by someone else at an earlier point in history (9th and 10th grade only)
Expository (Expos)
A 5-minute informative speech that is the original work of the student (9th and 10th grade only beginning in the 2017-2018 season)
Informative Speaking (Info / Inform)
A memorized 10-minute speech on any appropriate subject that is the original work of the student and that is not persuasive (11th and 12th grade recommended)
Original Oratory (OO)
A persuasive, memorized 10-minute speech on any appropriate subject that is the original work of the student (11th and 12th grade recommended)
Debate Events
Congressional Debate (CD, Congress)
A simulation of the U.S. legislative process, students generate a series of bills and resolutions prior to a tournament then deliver alternating speeches for and against the topic in a group setting
Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD)
A one-on-one debate in which students argue the relative merits of a value proposition that changes every two months during the school year
Policy Debate (Policy, CX)
A debate in which two-member teams of students present and refute well-reasoned cases on an annual topic
Public Forum Debate (PF)
A debate in which two-member teams of students present dueling extemporaneous speeches on a topic that changes monthly
A simulation of the U.S. legislative process, students generate a series of bills and resolutions prior to a tournament then deliver alternating speeches for and against the topic in a group setting
Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD)
A one-on-one debate in which students argue the relative merits of a value proposition that changes every two months during the school year
Policy Debate (Policy, CX)
A debate in which two-member teams of students present and refute well-reasoned cases on an annual topic
Public Forum Debate (PF)
A debate in which two-member teams of students present dueling extemporaneous speeches on a topic that changes monthly