IV. Event Description and Guidelines

•  The AFA-NIET will offer competition in the following events and conflict patterns.

  1. A Events

Impromptu Speaking: An impromptu speech, serious in nature, with topic selections varied by round, and by section. Topics will be of a proverb nature. Speakers will have a total of 7 minutes for both preparation and speaking. Timing commences with the acceptance of the topics sheet. Limited notes are permitted. Each speaker in a given section will choose to speak from one of the same two topics offered.

Informative Speaking: An original, factual speech by the student on a realistic subject to fulfill the general aim to inform the audience. Audio- visual aids may or may not be used to supplement

and reinforce the message. Multiple sources

should be used and cited in the development of the

speech. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time

is 10 minutes including introduction.

Prose Interpretation: A selection or selections of prose material of literary merit, which may be drawn from more than one source. Play cuttings and poetry are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time is 10 minutes including introduction.

  2. B Events

Dramatic Duo: A cutting from a play or plays of literary merit, humorous or serious, involving portrayal of two or more characters presented by two individuals. This material may be drawn from stage, screen, or radio. This is not an acting event; thus, no costumes, props, lighting, etc., are to be used. Presentation is from the manuscript and the focus should be off-stage and not to each other. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

Extemporaneous Speaking: Contestants will be given three topics in the general area of current events, choose one, and have 30 minutes to prepare a speech that is the original work of the student. Maximum time limit for the speech is 7 minutes. Limited notes are permitted. Students will speak in listed order. Posting of topics will be staggered.

Persuasive Speaking: An original speech by the student designed to inspire, reinforce or change the beliefs, attitudes, values or actions of the audience. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Multiple sources should be used and cited in the development of the speech. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes.

Program Oral Interpretation: A program of thematically-linked selections of literary merit, chosen from two or three recognized genres of competitive interpretation (prose/poetry/drama). A substantial portion of the total time must be devoted to each of the genres used in the program. Different genre means the material must appear in separate pieces of literature (e.g. A poem included in a short story that appears only in that short story does not constitute a poetry genre). Only one selection may be original. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including original introduction and/or transitions.

3. C Events

After-Dinner Speaking: An original humorous speech by the student, designed to exhibit sound speech composition, thematic coherence, direct communicative public speaking skills, and good taste. The speech should not resemble a night club act, an impersonation, or comic dialogue. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to

supplement and reinforce the message. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes.

Communication Analysis: An original speech by the student designed to offer an explanation and/or evaluation of a communication event such as a speech, speaker, movement, poem, poster, film, campaign, etc., through the use of rhetorical principles. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Manuscripts are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes.

Drama Interpretation: A cutting that represents one or more characters from a play or plays of literary merit. This material may be drawn from stage, screen, or radio. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

Poetry Interpretation: A selection or selections of poetry of literary merit, which may be drawn from more than one source. Play cuttings and prose works are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes, including introduction.

•  Special Rules:

•  Duet Poetry will not be accepted as a qualifying event for Poetry.

•  Duet Acting will not be accepted as a qualifying event for Dramatic Duo Interpretation.

•  Program-on-a-Theme will be accepted as a qualifying event if the program was entirely of one genre (all prose, all poetry, or all drama).

•  At the AFA-NIET a student may be entered in two Dramatic Duos if both have qualified. The student, however, may not enter another event in that conflict block. Two duos will count as two events.

•  A contestant may not use the same cutting/content or any portion of that cutting/content in more than one prepared event at any given tournament.

•  All materials used in competition shall not have been used by the student in any competition prior to September 1 of the current academic year.

•  All rounds of Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speaking will be timed by the judge or the chair of the judge panel, and time signals will be given to contestants unless otherwise specifically requested.

•  In Extemporaneous Speaking the following rules shall apply:

•  Different topic areas will be used for each round.

•  The use of electronic information retrieval systems during any part of preparation time, is strictly prohibited. The Tournament Director will consider requests for exemptions because

•  of handicaps, etc.

•  Attendance in the Extemporaneous Speaking Preparation Room is restricted to monitors appointed by the Tournament Director and contestants in the event.

•  Because Extemporaneous Speaking is an Individual event, contestants are expected to prepare speeches on their own without consultation with others.

•  The AFA-NIET Committee recommends that minor time infractions should not be a major criteria in judge rankings or ratings.

•  Judges may use their own discretion in determining whether or not audience reaction was influential in the time limit violation.

•  Coaches and students should consider audience reaction in preparing the event.

•  Coaches and/or students must have available at the district and NIET, copies of all interpretive and original events used at the tournament.

•  For interpretive events a copy of the complete original work must be brought to district and the NIET.

•  For all prepared public address, a copy of the complete script shall be brought to district and the NIET, including a bibliography of all cited sources.