Categories

1. CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Creative Expression is the performance of material written by the contestant, of which no more than 20% may be material from other sources. It is expected that all materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented orally and in the written text. The mood may be serious, humorous, or both. The objective is to encourage creativity through a variety of genre and performance styles.

2. DISCUSSION

Problem-solving Discussion is an effort on the part of a small group to reach a solution to a problem through informal interchange of facts, inferences, and judgments. This method of discussion seeks consensus rather than majority rule. The focus of this event should be the encouragement of cooperation and critical thinking to arrive at the collective goal of better understanding and problem solving.

3. DUO INTERPRETATION

Duo interpretation features two students interpreting together one or more selections from a single published source, an anthology of prose, poetry, and/or dramatic literature serious and/or humorous, with literary merit and appropriate to the readers.

4. EXTEMPORANEOUS READING

Participation in Extemporaneous Reading will train a student to introduce and read excerpts from prose or poetry for the purpose of appreciation or enjoyment. The student will declare, prior to each draw, his/her choice of genre. Specific sources for reading will be announced in the fall of each year. The League Office will identify specific poems and stories for contests.

5. EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING

The Extemporaneous Speech should be an original synthesis of current fact and opinion on a topic drawn by the contestant. Speakers may choose from either U.S. or International topics. The Judge(s) should consider the quality of information presented by the speaker, together with the speaker's use of that information to support the thesis.

6. GREAT SPEECHES

Great Speeches is an event in which the contestant speaks about either
•a single speech
OR
•an anthology of speeches (not to exceed three) related by common author, theme, or other element.
Each speech (public address) must have been actually delivered before the author's intended original audience. (For example, "Sermon on the Mount" is Biblical Prose; "Antony's Funeral Oration" is Shakespearean Drama.) The contestant's analysis should convey the delight, edification, and challenge of contemporary or historical public address.

7. HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION

Humorous Interpretation uses any published selection, either prose, poetry, or dramatic literature, with literary merit and appropriate to the reader (Published means the speech has an ISBN # or Library of Congress #). The selection shall not have been taken from record or tape. The cutting should amuse, give enjoyment, or create laughter.

8. INFORMATIVE SPEAKING

Informative Speaking is an event in which the student presents an original informative composition of which no more than 10% shall be direct quotation. Quality of thought, research, and composition, as well as delivery, should be considered by the Judges. All materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented both orally and in the written text.The purpose of Informative Speaking is to present information which the audience may or may not possess and which the student believes important for the audience.

9. ORIGINAL ORATORY

Original Oratory is an event in which the contestant presents his/her own PERSUASIVE composition of which no more than 10% shall be direct quotation. Because these orations have been written by the contestants, judges should consider the high quality of thought and composition, as well as, communicative delivery. It is expected that all materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented orally and in the written text.

10. SERIOUS DRAMA INTERPRETATION

Serious Drama Interpretation uses any published selection of dramatic literature (plays, radio plays, television plays, or screenplays) with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. (Published means the speech has an ISBN # or Library of Congress #). The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.

11. SERIOUS POETRY INTERPRETATION

Serious Poetry Interpretation uses any published poetry selection, including lyric novels with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. (Published means the speech has an ISBN # or Library of Congress #). The mood of the cutting is essentially serious. Selections for poetry may be one poem or several poems. The use of gestures is optional.

12. SERIOUS PROSE INTERPRETATION

Serious Prose Interpretation uses any published selection of prose, fiction or non-fiction, excluding lyric novels (Published means the speech has an ISBN # or Library of Congress #). Any selection, with literary merit and appropriate to the reader, that is not poetry, a play or part of a play, or a delivered speech, will be considered prose. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.

13. STORYTELLING

Participation in storytelling should train students to recreate a familiar story extemporaneously. A selected list of fifteen (15) stories will be announced in the fall of each year. The order of presentation shall be determined by lot before the contest begins. Thirty (30) minutes before the contest begins, the first storyteller shall draw three titles. The storyteller shall immediately choose one of them and return the other two, which will then be placed with the other stories remaining to be drawn. The title chosen shall be recorded by the Event Manager. Each of the succeeding performers shall, at intervals of six (6) minutes, in turn, follow the same procedure.