Greetings!

 

The Norfolk Senior High Speech and Debate program will again be hosting the Roger Maxwell Fall Tournament.  The two-day tournament will be held Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14.  Speech events will be held on Friday with debate events following on Saturday.  Registration for the debate portion of the tournament will be available at norfolkne.tabroom.com. 

 

Depending on the number of entries, we plan to run both varsity and novice divisions in all individual events, but only a varsity division in the group events.  If needed, divisions/events may be combined. For example, we may need to run "novice public speaking" or "novice interp" if entry numbers do not warrant separate events in that division.

This tournament is a great way for those rookies to get their feet wet though so please encourage them to "jump in" and try it!

 

The following events will be offered:

 

Speech:

Humorous Interp (V/N)                                 

Dramatic Interp (V/N)

Poetry (V/N)                             

Informative (V/N)

Extemp (V/N)                                              

Entertainment (V/N)

Oratory/Persuasive (V/N)

Impromptu (V/N)

Duet Acting/Duo Interp (V only)                         

OID (V only)  

 

 

Speech events, with the exception of Duet/Duo events, will follow the NSAA rules and timelines. Complete rules are available on the NSAA website: http://www.nsaahome.org/speech. Digital files will be allowed in Extemp. Extemp will have 30 minutes of prep time.  For Duet/Duo, entries may use either duet acting or duo interp style performances with a 12 minute maximum time limit. 

 

Speech registration is available via: www.speechwire.com

Debate registration is available via www.tabroom.com 

 

 

Registration deadline is November 10 at 5 p.m.  The website will be closed at that time.  Fees will be assessed at that time.  Adds/changes after that time must be made by email and will be subject to approval by the tournament directors. Please make sure any late adds have judges supplied. If you have any questions about the tournament, feel free to email: chrisbegeman@npsne.org (debate) or peggybelt@npsne.org (speech).

 

Any speech event with fewer than 18 entries will not break to a final. 

 

Speech

NSAA speech events will follow the NSAA rules and times (rules at www.nsaahome.org), other than Duet Acting/Duo Interp.

For Duet Acting/Duo interp, students may use either type of performance, NSAA acting or NFL Interp.  They may use one table and two chairs, but no other props.  Scripts are discouraged.  Time limit will be 12 minutes.

 

Impromptu topics will vary by round and may include any of the following: quotations, questions, words, or objects. Contestants may choose either humorous or serious interpretations of questions. Please remind your students that this is a "public speaking" event. 

 

Students may enter up to 3 speech events.  Please note, we will not delay the tournament to wait for entries.  If a student is not in the room with 10 minutes left prior to the start of the next round, that student will not compete in the round.  No execptions.  Please plan accordingly.  Students in extemp may lose prep time.  Students in group events must plan appropriately.

 

Any speech event with fewer than 18 entries will not break to a final.  Novice events will have 1 judge in finals.  Final rounds will have 6 competitors in individual events, 5 in duet/duo and 4 in OID. 

 

Tournament Fees and Awards:  Speech Events    $7

Please provide one adult judge for every 5 entries or fraction thereof.  Fees for open judging slots are an additional $15 per entry. 

 

IN BOTH SPEECH AND DEBATE, WE ASK THAT THE JUDGES YOU PROVIDE BE QUALIFIED TO JUDGE BOTH NOVICE AND VARSITY.  IF THIS IS AN AREA OF CONCERN FOR YOU, PLEASE EMAIL BEFORE YOU COMPLETE YOUR ENTRY.  PLEASE DO NOT ENTER A JUDGE AND LIST AS "NOVICE ONLY."  Unless you have prior confirmation, these judges will not be accepted and you will be assessed a judge fee for any judge that is removed.  If  you have  policy entries, you need to bring policy judges.  If you have  LD entries, you need to  bring LD  judges.  We typically run short in these areas, and we need judges.

 

The mugs will be back for both speech and debate.  Awards will be presented to the top six speakers in each individual event on Friday.  The top four debate teams will receive awards.  In congress, the presiding officer(s) and top six speakers will receive awards.

 

Sweepstakes awards will be given for

Top Speech Team 

Top Debate Team 

Richard Cross Top Overall Team (must compete in speech and debate events)

 

Please, please, PLEASE: Make every effort to bring judges.  Out here in the sort of middle of nowhere, our judge pool is shallow, though our judges are deep.  Frankly, we don’t have a lot of judges here.  We would prefer that you bring judges rather than give us money for open judging slots!  We also may be forced to refuse entries if you do not provide enough judges to cover your entry.  Again, this is something we don't like to do, but we don't have many options.

 

Also, please try to use email as much as possible if you need information, have questions, or need to make changes.  Phones and faxes are 20th century.  It makes it much easier for everyone involved if you can use email.  If absolutely necessary, the High School’s phone number is 402.644.2529.

 

 

Tentative Schedule

Friday

Registration 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. (Johnny Carson Theatre)

General Meeting 2:00 p.m.

Extemp Draw 2:00 p.m.

Round I        2:30

Extemp Draw 3:30

Round II   4:00

Extemp Draw 5:00

Round III       5:30 

Dinner Break

Finals Extemp Draw ASAP (hopefully 7:00)

Final Round (all events) ASAP (hopefully 7:30)

Awards        ASAP (In the Little Theatre)

 

 

If you have any questions about the events, feel free to email peggybelt@npsne.org or chrisbegeman@npsne.org.

 

 

We look forward to seeing you in November! 

 

Chris Begeman

Peggy Belt

Amber Doughty

Shawna Schaecher

(vr)