Arkansas State Communication Association

Interpretation of Poetry:

The selection should be poetic in form and have literary merit. Reader may use a cutting or two or more short poems with a common theme or a common author.
As an interpretative event, movement should be limited below the waist.
Reader must use a script and, at the same time, direct their attention toward giving meaning to the material.
Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is 4-6 minutes.

Interpretation of Prose:

The selection must have literary merit and be in prose form. Reader may cut or edit, but may NOT use multiple prose sources.
As an interpretative event, not an acting event, characterizations should be presented suggestively rather than literally. Movement should be limited below the waist.
Readers must use a script.
Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is 4-6 minutes.

Words and Music:

The cutting must be from a musical with the relationship of words to music in the selection representative of the two in the musical as a whole.
The cast must include two or more performers. Groups must adapt to the space available.
Groups must provide their own musical accompaniment or recording. Recorded accompaniment is allowed: recorded vocals are NOT.
Only one chair per performer is allowed.
Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is a maximum of 10 minutes.

Reader's Theatre:

Reader's Theatre denotes a group interpretation of material incorporating delineated characters and offstage focus. Use of a narrator is optional. Reader's Theatre emphasizes text and subtext of literature of the listener's intellect and imagination.
Selections may be from any literary form (Prose, Poetry, Drama, Essay, Diaries, Journals, etc.) Use of composite scripts based on a variety of sources is acceptable.
The cast must include two or more readers.
Use of props, costumes, and makeup is not allowed. Scripts are optional.
Chairs will be provided.
Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is a maximum of 10 minutes.

Storytelling:

Selections must be appropriate for children, and may come from a children's folk literature.
Use of script, props, or costumes, is not allowed.
Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is 4-6 minutes.

Mime:

One to three people may be involved in the mime.
No introduction is permitted, and no vocalizations are allowed at any time during the performance.
Instrumental music MUST be used to provide mood and enhance the mime. Sound effects in the music are optional. Each school should provide their own tape/cd player.
Participants may NOT physically touch during the performance.
Time limit is 4-6 minutes.

Extemporaneous Speaking:

Speakers will draw 3 topics within areas of domestic or international current affairs 30 minutes before their speech. Student MUST select ONE topic from those drawn and return others to the draw table before preparing an extemporaneous speech. No coaches are allowed to be present during preparation. Students MUST report to the Extemp prep room to prepare speech IMMEDIATELY after topic is drawn.
Speakers will draw at five minute intervals and will have thirty minutes for preparation. Use of one note card is optional, but heavy dependence on notes in undesirable and will be reflected in a lower rating. Student must present drawn slip to the judge prior to presentation.
Time limit is 4-6 minutes.

Oratory:

The speech must be the original work of the student. No more than 75 words of quoted material may be used and sources must be credited.
The purpose of the speech is to stimulate or persuade.
A manuscript is required. However, the speaker should not rely excessively on the manuscript.
Time limit is 4-6 minutes.

Duet Acting:

This event consists of a cutting from a play and includes only two characters.
The cutting will be presented without scripts, scenery, lighting, makeup, sound effects, or furniture. Two chairs will be provided.
Cutting must contain elements of plot with character development and conflict resolution so that the audience can appreciate the cutting without having seen the play.
Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is 4-6 minutes.

Improvised Duet Acting:

Actors will draw 3 topics 30 minutes before performance and select one topic to improvise. No coaches are allowed to be present during draw or preparation. Topic should be stated in introduction and slip handed to judge prior to performance.
Topic selection should be situation and/or character based.
Presentation should contain essential elements of plot with character development, conflict, and resolution of conflict.
No costumes, props, or makeup will be allowed. Two chairs will be provided and will be the ONLY props allowed.
Good taste in language AND content is expected. Failure to comply will result in judge lowering rank and rating.
Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is 4-6 minutes.

Solo Acting:

The selection must involve ONE character and be taken from a play or material with literary merit.
Selection must be memorized and allow the actor to demonstrate a variety of emotions and reactions in a scene which builds to climax.
One chair will be provided. Use of props, costumes, and makeup is not allowed.
Time limit, inclusive of introduction is 4-6minutes.

Humorous/Dramatic Interpretation:

The selection shall consist of a cohesive cutting from a play of literary merit with two or more characters performed vocally by ONE interpreter.
The reader must carry a script, but the performance must be polished and directed to the audience with focal points.
As this is an interpretive event, movement below the waist should be limited. Vocal/facial characterization is essential.
Costumes, props, or makeup are not allowed.
Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is 4-6 minutes.

Debate:

All rounds will be Cross-EX with an 8-3-5 format and 8 minutes prep.
National debate topic for high schools will be used.
A champ team is any team in which either debater debated prior to the 2004 fall semester.
Any time arriving more than 10 minutes late for a round shall forfeit that round.
There will be at least three preliminary rounds of debate.