I. Speech A. Interpretive B. Original C. Spontaneous II. Debate A. Lincoln-Douglas B. Policy C. Parliamentary D. Public Forum E. Student Congress Speech I.

Dramatic Interpretation (DI) Selections from stories, plays, poems, or other literary material. The student will convey the author's meaning through character voice(s), gestures, and facial expression. Very dramatic and a lot of drama is used in this one. II. Humorous Interpretation (HI) Many aspects of Dramatic Interpretation are included, but Humorous Interpretation includes more humor, it's lighter, and may also contain serious moments. Also includes a lot of drama. III. Thematic Interpretation (TI) In this event, the student attempts to communicate a certain theme, such as "love", by using at least three literary selections. A speaker chooses 3 pieces which tie into a theme, and "act" like that character in this interp. IV. Duo Interpretation (DI) Two students, a duo, will interpret a single selection, such as a short story, a novel, play, poem, or other medium. It is just like dramatic interpretation, except it is interpreted by two students. They look at the audience, and they cannot look or touch one another except during the introduction. A lot of dramatic events and drama is included. V. Oratorical Interpretation (OI)

The selections will be speeches previously delivered in a public forum. This means that the student will interpret speeches that have already been published, like Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream", or any other speech given in an arena. VI. Original Oratory (OO) The student will present a speech that they have written themselves. The subject will vary, but the aim of the speech is to arouse, inspire, and persuade the judge. VII. Original Advocacy (OA) The student will present a persuasive speech that they have written themselves that identifies a problem and offers a clear, concise, and legislative decision that will probably solve the problem. They state 1) The Problem 2) Why the Problem is Troublesome 3) A bill that should be passed, and 4) What the bill will do to the problem VIII. Expository Speaking (Expos) This speech is to inform the judge about a pressing topic, rather than persuade the judge to act in a way. These speeches describe, clarify, illustrate, or define an object, idea, concept or process. Visual and auditory aids are widely used, such as boards on an easel. IX. Original Prose/Poetry (OPP) The presentations in this event are perhaps very varied. The presentations are the original work of the student, and may be a story, poem, essay, or any combination. Subjects may be serious or humorous. X. Extemporaneous Speaking (Extemp) This event is divided into Domestic topics, and Foreign (International) topics. The student has to read news and articles and collect them, and on the day of the speech, the judge will give the student 3 topics, the student picks one topic, and has 30 minutes to prep using the articles they have gathered prior to the tournament. XI. Impromptu Speaking The student prepares the speech in the judge's presence. The topics vary from round to round, some include abstract words such as love, happiness or concrete nouns such as tree, pencil, bagel. After drawing the topic, the student has two minutes to prepare the speech. The speech is 5 minutes long.

Debate I. Lincoln Douglas (LD) LD features one person on each side of a resolution, or topic. The debaters prove right or wrong of a question, and discuss, in conflict what is to be done. The speakers show how their side is better than the other side, and have to prepare cases for the Affirmative and the Negative. At the tournament, they are either chosen to be AFF or NEG. A resolution is kept for 3 months. II. Policy Debate - NOT OFFERED IN SHS Policy features two people on each side of a very interesting and controversial issue. A single topic is used for the entire school year. Policy debaters carry around tubs full of information because evidence is a very crucial element of the debate. III. Parliamentary Debate (Parli) A different topic is used for each round of the debate. There are two teams, each with two persons and designated as the "Proposition" and the "Opposition" prepare to debate. The teams have twenty minutes of preparation time from the announcement of the topic to prepare for each debate. Teamwork is very crucial for this debate. IV. Public Forum Debate (PoFo) Public Forum is an audience friendly debate. There are two teams, each with two persons, and they debate on controversial issues that are usually "stripped" from newspaper headlines. A new topic is announced the first day of each month. A PoFo Debate round begins with a flip of a coin between the competing teams to the side and speaker position. V. Student Congress Congress debate is modeled after the US Congress bills and resolutions, and are debated in "houses" of about twenty competitors.