Dramatic Interpretation or Interpretive Reading or Cross-examination Debating

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Dramatic Interpretation:

 

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This is a memorised selection chosen from plays which are of literary merit and which have been published. A simple costume and one prop are permitted but are not mandatory. Items of furniture (i.e. chairs or desks) are not counted as a prop. Music will not be permitted.  Students should select a blank background where possible. The time limits are from 5 to 12 minutes, including a brief introduction of 30 to 60 seconds. The introduction should give the background of the author and the work, and some indication of the particular interest or appeal of the selection. There will be a time penalty of 2 points for presentations which are up to 30 seconds under 5 minutes or up to 30 seconds over 12 minutes. There will be a time penalty of 10 points for presentations under 4 minutes and 30 seconds or over 12 minutes and 30 seconds. Salutation is optional.

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Interpretive Reading:

 

Each participant should read, not recite, a passage of prose or poetry (or a collection of poems), serious or humorous, with an appropriate brief introduction. Published speeches may not be used unless the speeches are part of a novel or published fictional story. Plays or excerpts from plays may not be used. The intent is to get students to engage with works of literary merit. Newspaper articles, blogs, and student work, although arguably of literary merit, may not be used. 

 

If you are at all uncertain, check with the organizer well before the tournament, rather than risking your reading being disqualified. The piece or collection of pieces must be selected by the competitor before the tournament and must have been published. Past efforts have included everything from Dr. Seuss to Maya Angelou. Reading from an e-book or tablet is allowed. You may not read from your computer screen. 

 

The time limits are from 5 to 11 minutes, including an introduction of about 30 to 60 seconds. The introduction should contribute to the overall effectiveness of the reading. Judges will be concerned with how much the reader’s voice and presentation add to the material rather than with the talent of the author. Please note that this is a reading, not a dramatic presentation. While the use of facial expressions and gestures is encouraged where appropriate, they should not distract from the primary emphasis in this category. Competitors may stand or sit but should not move around excessively. Neither props nor costumes may be used. 

 

There will be a time penalty of 2 points for speeches which are up to 30 seconds under 5 minutes or up to 30 seconds over 11 minutes. There will be a time penalty of 10 points for speeches under 4 minutes and 30 seconds or over 11 minutes and 30 seconds. Salutation is optional. Competitors would normally present the same reading for both preliminary rounds and the final. 

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Cross-Examination Debating:​

 

As this is a prepared event, with the topic for debate (in the form of a question) provided in advance of the tournament.

 

Order of speaking: 

1st Affirmative (6 minutes) followed by Cross-ex by 2nd Negative (3 minutes)

1st Negative (6 minutes) followed by Cross-ex by 1st Affirmative (3 minutes) 

2nd Affirmative  (6 minutes) followed by Cross-ex by 1st Negative (3 minutes)

2nd Negative (6 minutes) followed by Cross-ex by 2nd Affirmative (3 minutes)

 

Intermission (3 minutes) 

 

Rebuttals (3 minutes each):

 

1st Negative 

1st Affirmative 

2nd Negative 

2nd Affirmative

 

 

Each constructive speaker is granted a 30 second grace period to finish his/her speech after the allotted time has expired. Judges will disregard anything said after the expiration of the grace period. Cross-examinations. 3 minutes each. The cross-examiner must stop speaking as soon as the time expires. 

 

If a question has been asked, but the time allotted expires before the respondent is able to answer it, or to complete an answer, the respondent may choose whether to answer it. If an answer is attempted, it may continue briefly beyond the time. Rebuttals. 3 minutes each. These speeches must end when time expires. There is no grace period. Judges will disregard anything said after time expires. ​​​​​​​​​