SpeechWire Tournament Services - Forensics Tournament Software

Dear Coaches:

The Ball State University Speech Team and Burris Laboratory School are pleased to invite you to the Red Carpet Affair high school speech tournament to be held on the Ball State campus on December 12, 2015. Our one-day tournament will include 3 preliminary rounds and one final round of competition for both varsity and novice competitors…if entry size permits novice sections (e.g. at least 12 novice entries). If entry numbers are smaller, the divisions will be combined and we will recognize top novices at awards. Awards will be presented to the top six speakers in each event and the top five schools.

Registration will be in the lobby of the David Letterman Building from 7:00-7:45 on the day of the tournament. Extemp draw for round one will begin at 8:00, and the first round for all events will begin at 8:30. You will receive an entry confirmation e-mail that will also include directions and parking information. We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful campus. If you have any questions regarding the tournament, directions, or hotels please call or email the tournament director, Michael Storr at mlstorr@bsu.edu or (309) 256-2606. We hope to see you in December for a lovely night (well, morning and afternoon) at the Oscars!

Mary Moore  - Director of Individual Events, BSU

Ashley Coker  - Assistant Director of Individual Events, BSU

Michael Storr - Assistant Coach, Tournament Director, BSU

Fred Shears - Burris Laboratory School

Registration, Tournament Information, Events

We will offer Humorous, Dramatic, Declamation, Discussion, Prose, Poetry, Original Oratory, Impromptu, Foreign Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Memorized Duo, Scripted Duo, Radio Broadcasting, Original Performance, Informative, & POI.

You can only enter 5 students per event with a maximum entry of 60 slots per school. The maximum entry of 60 should include both varsity and novice competitors. For our tournament, novice is defined as a student who has not competed in high school competition prior to Aug. 1, 2015.

Radio – Students will come with prepared material for rounds 1, 2, and 3

Round I – INTERNATIONAL NEWSCAST (2 minutes max…newscast should focus on an issue outside the United States);  Round II - ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL (bring in a self-written commercial advertising a national product, 2 minutes max); Round III – ORIGINAL EDITORIAL (bring in a self-written editorial focusing on any issue related to primary or higher education, 3 minute max); Final round - ON-THE-SPOT (3 minute preparation, 2 minute presentation max; based on an event in previous 10 days and represented in USA Today)

Discussion Topic

The Socratic Seminar format will be used. All necessary material for the discussion will be posted on Speechwire on the Monday prior to the meet.

Extemp

Students will draw rounds 1 and 3 and have their choice of either speech for the final round.

Double Entry

Students may enter two events, with the exception of Discussion. In duo, both contestants may double; however any given student may not participate in two duos of any kind. Those students doubled in Impromptu must go to Impromptu last. Those students doubled in Radio must go to radio first. Double- entered students are responsible for getting to both events during rounds. While judges will be made aware of double entered students on their ballots, students should still inform their judges that they are double entered and if they do not make the round after the round time has elapsed they will receive a last place score for the round. Please remind your students who wish to double that they may have to change buildings between events.

SPECIAL NOTE ON DOUBLING: ONLY students who wish to enter Informative and POI may TRIPLE enter but at their own risk.

Final Rounds

We will have final rounds in both open and novice (when the entry permits). Final rounds will be the six students with the highest ranks and rates (speaker points) from preliminary rounds. We will break ties on speaker points. Final round numbers increase in cases of ties in both rank and rate. Varsity final rounds will have three judges, while Novice final rounds will have only one judge. More judges will be assigned to novice finals if allowed.

Awards

We will have awards for the top six in all events. Sweepstakes trophies are awarded to the top five schools based on final rounds for both varsity and novice events. The point breakdown for varsity and novice events is as follows:

Each school is required to provide one full-time qualified judge for each five entries entered or portion thereof. For example:

We can arrange for hired judges. A hired judge must be hired for two rounds and finals at a cost of $50.00 for every five uncovered entries or portion thereof.

Food - CONCESSIONS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. There are grocery stores close to campus, though, and several pizza places and Jimmy John's deliver to campus.

We should receive your entry no later than 5:00pm, Tuesday, December 8^th. Please use speechwire.com to enter. A fee of $2.50 will be assessed for each drop/add/change after Thursday, December 10^th at noon. A fee of $5.00 will be assessed for each drop/change on the day of the tournament. Please text your same-day drops to Michael at (309)256-2606 as early in the morning as possible. Michael will be awake at 5:00am to address these issues if they arise. In order to ensure the smoothest tournament possible for you/your team and your colleagues/their teams…please text as early as possible. In the text, please identify your school name and the appropriate drops.