Learn speech events: rules and tips

Oratory
As orator you will be expected to research and speak intelligently, with a degree of originality, in an interesting manner, and with some profit to your audience, about a topic you have chosen. Although many orations deal with a current problem and propose a solution this is not the only acceptable form of oratory. Your oration may simply alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. An orator is given free choice of subject and judged solely on the effectiveness of development and presentation.

Foreign Extemp
A contestant draws three questions on a foreign topic, selects one, then has 30 minutes to prepare an answer to the question. The contestant utilizes a set of files that he or she has built as a resource for answering the question. Only published materials may be used as resources (books, magazines, newspaper, and on-line resources). At the completion of the 30 minute preparation time, the student will speak on the topic for 7 minutes.

Domestic Extemp
A contestant draws three questions on a domestic topic, selects one, then has 30 minutes to prepare an answer to the question. The preparation, resources, and speech time is the same as International Extemp

Congress
Similar to a "mock congress"; debaters research and write pieces of Congressional legislation that they feel will better the society in which we live, ex. [legalization of gay marriage]
- At a tournament, debaters speak on the legislation while using parliamentary procedure.
-Judges score each competitor based on argumentation ability, speaking technique, knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and participation.

Interpretation
Humorous Interpretation [H.I.]- This is an individual category in which the selections are humorous in nature. Selections are cuttings from published-printed novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials.
-Presentations must be memorized, without props or costumes.
-Actors will utilize stationary blocking to enhance the interpretation.
-The time limit is 10 minutes which includes an introduction.

Dramatic Interpretation [D.I.]-
This is an individual category in which the selections are dramatic in nature. Selections are cuttings from published-printed novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials.
-Presentations must be memorized, without props or costumes.
-Actors will utilize stationary blocking to enhance the interpretation.
-The time limit is 10 minutes which includes an introduction.

Duet Interpretation [Duo]-
This is a two-person category in which the selection may be either humorous or dramatic in nature.
-All other rules are the same as HI/DI. Prose//Poetry-
Prose//Poetry is an interpretation of another author's work. Competitors read the material from a small binder or book they use in performance. Because competitors interpret the literature via facial expressions and eye contact, memorization is generally helpful.
-Time limit is eight minutes Radio-
Radio speaking is the preparation and delivery of a five-minute newscast. Scripts are usually prepared the day before a tournament. Competitors research international, national, and local news, one or more advertisements, sports news, and a weather forecast.
-The time limit is very stringent in Radio, and going beyond a five second grace period above or below the five minute limit results in disqualification.
-Competitors may use a stopwatch to keep track of their own time, and the judge and/or timer keeps track of time as well. Storytelling-
Competitors are given a children's book, fairy tale, fable, myth, legend, or ghost story to read. The speakers give their version of the tale to the judge, in under ten minutes.
-Its only limits are no stage make-up, costumes, or props.
-Different voices and characters are used.

MSHAA Events
Reader's Theater-
Reader's Theater is a group presentation of three or more students of a work taken from prose, poetry, or plays. Competitors use a script, and there is a minimal use of props with complex blocking. -Time limit is thirty minutes -Costumes or stage makeup is not allowed One-Act-
One-Acts are a group presentation of a play that has been cut to fit the 35 minute time restraint (not including the 30 minute set-up time)