Dramatic Interpretation
Students choose, excerpt and/or cut (with due respect paid to issues of literary integrity), and perform a selection or selections of original and/or published dramatic material of literary merit.
After Dinner Speaking
After-Dinner speeches are characterized by humorous content development, creativity, uniqueness, timeliness, clear organization, significance, credible sources, and vocal and nonverbal delivery choices that reflect the speech’s purpose.
Rhetorical Criticism
Rhetorical Criticisms are characterized by enlightening critical insight, in-depth analysis, description and application of rhetorical principles or a theoretical framework, topic significance, credible sources, and vocal and nonverbal delivery choices that reflect the speech’s purpose.
Poetry Interpretation
Students choose, excerpt and/or cut (with due respect paid to issues of literary integrity), and perform a selection or selections of original and/or published poetry of literary merit.
Persuasion
Persuasive speeches are characterized by sound rhetorical strategy, well-supported arguments, credible sources, effective organization, timeliness, significance, and vocal and nonverbal delivery choices that reflect the speech’s purpose.
Duo Interpretation
Students choose, excerpt and/or cut (with due respect paid to issues of literary integrity), and perform a selection or selections of original and/or published material of literary merit. This is not an acting event. Selected literature must present the perspectives of multiple characters, representing those different characters using voice and/or body. The focus of this event is the interaction of multiple and related voices.
Impromptu
Impromptu speeches are characterized by a clearly articulated argument comprising a specific, direct response to the given prompt, well-supported claims, clear structure, uniqueness, and vocal and nonverbal delivery choices that reflect the speech’s purpose.
Extemporaneous
Extemporaneous speeches are characterized by content that is directly and specifically topical, clearly stated and well-supported arguments, demonstration of a knowledge of current events, credible sources, timeliness, and vocal and nonverbal delivery choices that reflect the speech’s purpose.
Prose
Students choose, excerpt and/or cut (with due respect paid to issues of literary integrity), and perform a selection or selections of original and/or published prose material of literary merit.
Informative
Informative speeches are characterized by in-depth content development that likely enhances audience understanding beyond what was previously known, well-established topic relevance, clear organization, credible sources, timeliness, and vocal and nonverbal delivery choices that reflect the speech’s purpose.
POI
In Program Oral Interpretation, students choose, excerpt and/or cut (with due respect paid to issues of literary integrity), and perform a selection or selections of original and/or published prose, poetry, drama, etc., of literary merit. Selections should be constructed around a theme, argument or thesis and should utilize at least two different genres of literature.