Category Descriptions Adapted and Taken from: http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/activitypage.asp?actnum=415
Creative Expression is the performance of material written by the contestant, so no more than 20% may be material from other sources. All materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented orally and in the written text.
Because the presentation has been created by the student, judges should consider evidence of creative imagination in both writing and performance. The mood may be serious, humorous, or both. The objective is to encourage creativity through a variety of genre and performance styles. The total performance should reflect a unity of style, tone and theme.
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.
The discussion will be task-oriented where participants act as members of a group whose goal is most frequently an agreed-upon statement of policy, rules, lists, etc., which may also include rationale.
Duo interpretation features two students interpreting together one or more selections from a single published source or a single anthology of prose, poetry, and/or dramatic literature, serious and/or humorous, with literary merit and appropriate to the readers. The students' script may be limited to a single author or genre but may include material from more than one genre and/or author so long as the material comes from that single published source. Each student may portray one or more characters. Costumes, props, make-up, special lights, scenery, stools, or chairs, music stands, or lecterns may not be used.
Extemporaneous Reading teaches 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. Thirty (30) minutes before the contest begins, the first reader shall draw three cuttings. The reader shall immediately choose one of them, and return the other two which will then be placed with the other cuttings remaining to be drawn. The cuttings chosen shall be recorded by the event manager. Each of the succeeding readers shall, at intervals of eight (8) minutes, in turn, follow the same procedure. In finals at ALL levels of competition, the student may not perform a cutting that she/he has performed in a preliminary round at that level of competition. In the event that the student draws a previously performed cutting, she/he may draw a substitute cutting.
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 subjects for this event shall be taken from the following magazines and newspapers, with an attempt to balance social, economic, and political issues: Time, St. Paul Pioneer Press, U.S. Weekly News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Newsweek.
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 delivered by the speaker before the speaker'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.
Information about each author/speaker, subject, original audience, and occasion must be included in an introduction. During the presentation, the contestant must also justify the selection for presentation to the contestant's immediate audience. The justification need not be an explicit statement, but may include such subjects as the historical or potential importance, language style, rhetorical technique and audience appeal. Comments about textual accuracy and ghostwriting style may be included where appropriate. All materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented both orally and in the written text.
A minimum of 25% of the presentation must be the contestant's own material. How portions of the original speech text are incorporated into the participant's presentation shall be at the discretion of the participant. Statements, analysis and exposition may be either interspersed throughout the presentation or contained in only one or a few portions of the presentation.
Humorous Interpretation uses any published selection, either prose, poetry, or dramatic literature, with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The cutting should amuse, give enjoyment, or create laughter.
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 (including visuals) must be documented in the submitted script (within the text or in a Works Cited listing or both) and orally and/or visually during the presentation. The purpose of Informative Speaking is to present information that the audience may or may not possess and that the student believes important for the audience.
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. All materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented orally and in the written text. The orator should not be expected to solve any of the great problems of the day, but must offer some insight and guidance. The contestant should be expected to speak intelligently and with a degree of originality about the message chosen. The rule does not allow for any type of audience participation.
The composition should be especially adapted to oral presentation, and the orator should employ a variety of persuasive skills and strive for eloquence in style. No particular manner of delivery is required, nor is any particular manner of content organization.
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. The term "dramatic" here refers to the genre of the literature and does not include prose or poetry that is serious. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.
Serious Poetry Interpretation uses any published poetry selection, including novels in verse, with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. Serious dramatic literature written in verse, such as a tragedy by Shakespeare, is considered "Serious Drama" rather than "Serous Poetry." The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious. Selections for poetry may include one poem or several clearly-identified poems.
Serious Prose Interpretation uses any published selection of prose, fiction or non-fiction. "Novels in verse" are typically considered Serious Poetry. 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 is considered prose. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.
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 eight (8) minutes, in turn, follow the same procedure.
Creative Expression is the performance of material written by the contestant, so no more than 20% may be material from other sources. All materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented orally and in the written text.
Because the presentation has been created by the student, judges should consider evidence of creative imagination in both writing and performance. The mood may be serious, humorous, or both. The objective is to encourage creativity through a variety of genre and performance styles. The total performance should reflect a unity of style, tone and theme.
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.
The discussion will be task-oriented where participants act as members of a group whose goal is most frequently an agreed-upon statement of policy, rules, lists, etc., which may also include rationale.
Duo interpretation features two students interpreting together one or more selections from a single published source or a single anthology of prose, poetry, and/or dramatic literature, serious and/or humorous, with literary merit and appropriate to the readers. The students' script may be limited to a single author or genre but may include material from more than one genre and/or author so long as the material comes from that single published source. Each student may portray one or more characters. Costumes, props, make-up, special lights, scenery, stools, or chairs, music stands, or lecterns may not be used.
Extemporaneous Reading teaches 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. Thirty (30) minutes before the contest begins, the first reader shall draw three cuttings. The reader shall immediately choose one of them, and return the other two which will then be placed with the other cuttings remaining to be drawn. The cuttings chosen shall be recorded by the event manager. Each of the succeeding readers shall, at intervals of eight (8) minutes, in turn, follow the same procedure. In finals at ALL levels of competition, the student may not perform a cutting that she/he has performed in a preliminary round at that level of competition. In the event that the student draws a previously performed cutting, she/he may draw a substitute cutting.
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 subjects for this event shall be taken from the following magazines and newspapers, with an attempt to balance social, economic, and political issues: Time, St. Paul Pioneer Press, U.S. Weekly News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Newsweek.
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 delivered by the speaker before the speaker'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.
Information about each author/speaker, subject, original audience, and occasion must be included in an introduction. During the presentation, the contestant must also justify the selection for presentation to the contestant's immediate audience. The justification need not be an explicit statement, but may include such subjects as the historical or potential importance, language style, rhetorical technique and audience appeal. Comments about textual accuracy and ghostwriting style may be included where appropriate. All materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented both orally and in the written text.
A minimum of 25% of the presentation must be the contestant's own material. How portions of the original speech text are incorporated into the participant's presentation shall be at the discretion of the participant. Statements, analysis and exposition may be either interspersed throughout the presentation or contained in only one or a few portions of the presentation.
Humorous Interpretation uses any published selection, either prose, poetry, or dramatic literature, with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The cutting should amuse, give enjoyment, or create laughter.
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 (including visuals) must be documented in the submitted script (within the text or in a Works Cited listing or both) and orally and/or visually during the presentation. The purpose of Informative Speaking is to present information that the audience may or may not possess and that the student believes important for the audience.
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. All materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented orally and in the written text. The orator should not be expected to solve any of the great problems of the day, but must offer some insight and guidance. The contestant should be expected to speak intelligently and with a degree of originality about the message chosen. The rule does not allow for any type of audience participation.
The composition should be especially adapted to oral presentation, and the orator should employ a variety of persuasive skills and strive for eloquence in style. No particular manner of delivery is required, nor is any particular manner of content organization.
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. The term "dramatic" here refers to the genre of the literature and does not include prose or poetry that is serious. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.
Serious Poetry Interpretation uses any published poetry selection, including novels in verse, with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. Serious dramatic literature written in verse, such as a tragedy by Shakespeare, is considered "Serious Drama" rather than "Serous Poetry." The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious. Selections for poetry may include one poem or several clearly-identified poems.
Serious Prose Interpretation uses any published selection of prose, fiction or non-fiction. "Novels in verse" are typically considered Serious Poetry. 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 is considered prose. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.
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 eight (8) minutes, in turn, follow the same procedure.