2014-2015 Parents Handbook

2014-2015 Parents’ Handbook

First of all, THANK YOU very much, on behalf of the speech and debate team, for spending your time with forensics students! Most likely you will enjoy the experience, and be inspired by the performances you will see.

VOICES 2013-2014 Tournament Dates:

PHSSL District 10/15 Meets:

· October Meet: October 23 (Lower Merion)

· November Meet: November 20 (Unionville)

· December Meet: December 11 (Interboro)

· January Meet: January 15 (Sun Valley - pending final approval)

· February 3 rounder: February 5 (Marple-Newtown - pending final approval)

· Debate Districts: February 19 - (Harriton)

· Speech Districts: February 21 - (Harriton)

PHSSL States:

- Fri. & Sat., March 20 & 21, 2015 – at Susquehanna Univ.

Katie Frazer

Faculty Sponsor/Coach, Voices – Conestoga Speech and Debate

John Koenig

Faculty Advisor/Coach, Voices – Ethics Bowl

Parents are needed to judge in order to allow Conestoga students to compete. League rules require that we bring one adult judge for each 5 speech entrants, and one adult judge for each pair of debate teams. If we cannot provide judges, we must cut team members. Judges are required to be well-prepared to judge the events. Debate and speech competitors always complain about “bad” judging. While this attitude may just be an excuse a student gives for not doing as well in a given round, we hope that no one will feel justified in ever complaining about Conestoga judges. We will provide sample rules and ballots so that you will know how to judge each event at our tournaments.

Naturally, a certain amount of subjectivity is unavoidable. However, with some guidance you can judge with confidence and provide an informed and useful ballot to the participants. Judge each round as best you can, following the guidelines that you will be given, those on the ballots, and using your own common sense and taste. We trust your judgment, and your decisions will not be questioned! You will be assigned to judge either a Speech Event or one of three Debate events.

VOICES – Speech Event Descriptions

Oral Interpretation of Prose

Selections used in this event must be in prose form. Selections from drama are not to be used. The reader must hold the book or the manuscript. Each reader shall give a brief introduction to the reading. The purposes of the introduction are to arouse the interest of the audience and to provide the necessary background for the reading. All selections must be published or commercially available in print, audio or video form.

Contestants must bring the published copies of their selection in either print, audio or video form, with the title page or audio/video credits included to each PHSSL contest. Failure to provide the published copy or photocopy will result in disqualification from the tournament.

The contestant may sing up to 30 seconds when singing is part of the original selection. Violations will result in disqualification from the tournament.

The maximum time limit for the reading, including the introduction, shall be ten minutes. In all individual events, a grace period of thirty (30) seconds over the event is permitted without penalty. If a student is more than thirty (30) seconds over, that student may not be ranked first. Excessive overtime violations should be penalized more harshly.

Oral Interpretation of Poetry

Selections used in this event must be in poetic form. Speeches and selections from drama are not to be used. The reader must hold the book or manuscript. Each reader shall give a brief introduction to the reading. The purposes of the introduction are to arouse the interest of the audience and to provide the necessary background for the reading.

All selections must be published or commercially available in print, audio or video form. Contestants must bring the published copies of their selection in either print audio or video form, with the title page or audio/video credits included to each PHSSL contest. Failure to provide the published copy or photocopy will result in disqualification from the tournament.

The contestant may sing up to 30 seconds when singing is part of the original selection. Violations will result in disqualification from the tournament.

Impromptu Speaking (only offered at select tournaments)

The speech shall not exceed five minutes in length.

The speech must be delivered without the use of any notes. The student must bring the topic slip to the judge, or a copy of the topic written by the prep room judge. A student who does not speak on the topic drawn will be disqualified from the tournament.

In all individual events, a grace period of thirty (30) seconds over the event is permitted without penalty. If a student is more than thirty (30) seconds over, that student may not be ranked first. Excessive overtime violations should be penalized more harshly.

Dramatic Interpretation

The selection must be serious in nature. Cuttings from more than one published source are not allowed. All selections must be published or commercially available in print, audio, or video form.

Contestants must bring the published copies of their selection in either print, audio or video form with title page or audio/video credits included, to each PHSSL contest. Failure to provide the published copy or photocopy will result in disqualification from the tournament.

The selection is orally presented from memory to evoke a creative imagined response in the mind of the hearer. Characters should be created primarily by voice control and changes in facial expression. Mood and meaning are to be communicated through the use of the voice, gestures, pantomime, and body movement. The interpreter should project the character and action before him/her in the direction of the audience. Any movement, e.g. kneeling, falling down, lying down, which demonstrates acting rather than interpretation is prohibited.

The contestant may sing up to 30 seconds when singing is part of the original scene. All forms of scenery, set, props, costumes, makeup etc., are prohibited. Violations will result in disqualification from the tournament.

The interpreter should maintain offstage focus rather than make eye contact with audience members except in case of direct address, e.g., the Stage Manager in Our Town. The interpreter shall give a brief introduction to the material. The purposes of the introduction are to arouse the interest of the audience and to provide the necessary background for full appreciation and understanding of the reading.

The maximum time limit, including introduction, is ten minutes. In all individual events, a grace period of thirty (30) seconds over the event time limits is permitted without penalty. If a student is more than thirty (30) seconds overtime, that student may not be ranked first in the round. Excessive time violations should be penalized more harshly.

Duo Interpretation

Cuttings from more than one published source are not allowed. All selections must be published or commercially available in print, audio, or video form. Contestants must bring the published copies of their selection in either print, audio or video form with title page or audio/video credits included, to each PHSSL contest. Failure to provide the published copy or photocopy will result in disqualification from the tournament.

Material may be serious, humorous, or both, and must be from only one source. Each speaker may present multiple characters. Speakers may not take lines belonging to one character and apply them to a different character, nor may they add lines to the selection.

Introduction and/or narration may be presented by one or both speakers. If lines from the selections are used in the introduction, the speakers must adhere to rules of the event. Mood and meaning are to be conveyed by use of the voice, gestures, pantomime, and body movement. The interpreter should project the characters and action before him/her in the direction of the audience. The selection is orally presented from memory to evoke a creative imagined response in the mind of the hearer.

Speakers may exchange places, pivot from side to side, turn around, or position themselves behind each other. The duo team may sing up to 30 seconds when singing is part of the original scene.

The violation of the following rules will result in disqualification from the tournament. They must remain standing. Any movement, e.g. kneeling, falling down, lying down, which demonstrates acting rather than interpretation is prohibited. Physical contact with each other is not allowed. No properties or costumes may be used. During dialogue, focal points are to be employed. During direct address, e.g., the Stage Manager in Our Town, eye contact is with specific audience members. Eye contact with specific audience members during introductions, narration and transition is required. The selection must begin from center stage.

Students qualify to the State Tournament as a team; no substitutions are allowed. The maximum time limit, including introduction, is ten minutes. In all individual events, a grace period of thirty (30) seconds over the event time limits is permitted without penalty. If a student is more than thirty (30) seconds overtime, that student may not be ranked first in the round. Excessive time violations should be penalized more harshly.

Humorous Interpretation

The selection must be humorous in nature. Cuttings from more than one published source are not allowed. All selections must be published or commercially available in print, audio, or video form. Contestants must bring the published copies of their selection in either print, audio or video form with title page or audio/video credits included, to each PHSSL contest. Failure to provide the published copy or photocopy will result in disqualification from the tournament.

The selection is orally presented from memory to evoke a creative imagined response in the mind of the hearer. Characters should be created primarily by voice control and changes in facial expression. Mood and meaning are to be communicated through the use of the voice, gestures, pantomime, and body movement. The interpreter should project the characters and action before him/her in the direction of the audience. Any movement, e.g. kneeling, falling down, lying down, which demonstrates acting rather than interpretation is prohibited. The contestant may sing up to 30 seconds when singing is part of the original scene. All forms of scenery, set, props, costumes, makeup, etc., are prohibited. Violations will result in disqualification from the tournament.

The interpreter should maintain offstage focus rather than make eye contact with audience members except in case of direct address, e.g., the Stage Manager in Our Town.

The interpreter shall give a brief introduction to the material. The purposes of the introduction are to arouse the interest of the audience and to provide the necessary background for full appreciation and understanding of the reading. The maximum time limit, including introduction, is ten minutes. NO MINIMUM TIME REQUIREMENT.

Extemporaneous Speaking

The speech shall not exceed five minutes in length. The speech may be informative or persuasive in nature. Up to 50 words of notes may be used. The student must bring the topic slip drawn for that round, to the judge, or a copy of the topic written by the prep room judge. Substituting a different topic for the topic drawn will result in disqualification from the tournament.

Plagiarism or fabrication of evidence is prohibited and will result in a student being disqualified from the tournament.

Extemporaneous Commentary

The speech shall not exceed seven minutes in length. The speech may be informative or persuasive in nature, but should express the speaker’s point of view on the topic. Up to 50 words of notes may be used. The student must bring the topic slip drawn for that round, to the judge, or a copy of the topic written by the prep room judge. Substituting a different topic for the topic drawn will result in disqualification from the tournament.

Plagiarism or fabrication of evidence is prohibited and will result in a student being disqualified from the tournament.

Persuasive Speaking

Students must prepare to speak on a subject of their own choosing. The general purpose of the persuasive speech is to get the members of the audience to change or modify their beliefs, to believe more strongly, or to take a specific action.

The speech may not exceed ten minutes in length. The student is expected to speak extemporaneously. Notes and visual aids may be used. Violations of the following rules will result in a contestant being disqualified from the tournament. Quoted material shall not exceed a total of 150 words. Plagiarism or fabrication of evidence and extensive paraphrasing are strictly prohibited.

Informative Speaking

Students must prepare to speak on a subject of their own choosing. The general purpose of the informative speech is for the members of the audience to gain understanding and/or knowledge.

The speech may not exceed seven minutes in length. The student is expected to speak extemporaneously. Notes and visual aids may be used. Violations of the following rules will result in a contestant being disqualified from the tournament. Quoted material shall not exceed a total of 150 words. Plagiarism or fabrication of evidence and extensive paraphrasing are strictly prohibited.