Forensics Categories
Interpretive Categories – Acting and Oral Interpretation
Category # of people Memory Aids Time Limit Description
Poetry 1 manuscript required 4 - 8 minutes Read a poem or poems with meaning
and emotion. Need to memorize
introduction and transitions.
Prose 1 manuscript required 4 - 8 minutes Read a piece of prose with meaning
and emotion. Interpret using voice, facial expression and gestures. Need to memorize introduction.
Solo Acting 1 memorized 3 - 8 minutes Act out a short scene, using voice,
gestures, movement and facial
expression. No costumes or props.
May be humorous or serious.
Storytelling 1 no manuscript 4 - 8 minutes Tell a story in third person, in your own
words. Should not sound memorized.
Use vocal variation, gestures, facial and
physical expression.
Non-Original 1 4x6 cards, or 4 - 8 minutes Interpret a speech originally written
Oratory manuscript, or by someone else.
memorized
Group Acting 2-7 memorized 5-12 minutes Act out a literary script with
interaction among characters. No
costumes or props. Movement
expected. Primary focus on performers.
Group 2-7 manuscript required 5-10 minutes Interpret a piece of prose or poetry
Interpretation vocally, not acting it out. Use of voice,
gestures and naration. Primary
focus on audience.
Group 2-4 4x6 notecard ea 4-5 minutes Create “off the cuff” presentation.
Improvisation Topics will be drawn immediately
before speaking. Includes an intro,
body and conclusion. *required
audition
Speech Categories
Category # of people Memory Aids Time Limit Description
Demonstration 1-2 4x6 cards, 4-8 minutes Demonstrate a skill or how to make
Visual aids something
Persuasive 1 4x6 cards 3 ½ - 7 minutes Convince people of something,
any topic, cite sources
Informative 1 4x6 cards 2 - 4 minutes Inform the audience using facts,
Any topic, cite sources
Impromptu 1 one 4x6 card 2-4 minutes Prepare a speech on a common topic Speaking in 2 min. & speak on that topic for 2 – 4 minutes, no grace period
*required audition
Moments in 1 4x6 cards, 3 - 6 minutes Information speech on a topic from
History one visual a time in history (time period TBD)
Aid One visual aide MUST be used.
News Reporting 1-3 news read 5 - 10 minutes Prepare/present TV news program
from a must be current, no more than 2 weeks
manuscript old. Includes news, weather, sports
and an editorial.
Special Events 1-3 4x6 card, 3 - 6 minutes Write/present a creative speech in one
visual aids, situation: Vacation blog, Salute a
attire appropriate Hero, Entertainment Review,
to the presentation Special Events Coverage, or Gossip,
Gossip, Gossip!
Infomercial 1-2 one 4x6 card, 2 ½ - 5 minutes Write/present a speech that emulates
visual aids, a TV infomercial selling a real or
attire appropriate imagined product or service.
to the presentation
Farrago 1 original source or 4-8 minutes Interpret material from a variety of
typed manuscript literary genres (poetry, short stories,
speeches, essays, drama, novels, etc)
that address a central specific theme
or emotion.