SpeechWire Tournament Services - Forensics Tournament Software

Dear Colleagues,

The Virginia Intercollegiate Forensic Association (VIFA) was created to share ideas about forensics and host an event that would celebrate performances in Public Address, Oral Interpretation, and Limited Preparation. This organization aims to bring Universities and Community Colleges together within Virginia and the District of Columbia, no matter the size or affiliation of the program or even if the institution has an “official” forensics program.

To continue this celebration and further our mission, VIFA and team at George Mason University would like to cordially invite you and your students to attend the 6th Annual Virginia/D.C. Championship, hosted on GMU’s campus.

The tournament will take place on Saturday, February 16, 2019. We offer the 11 AFA-NIET individual events, along with Oratory. The top two students in Oratory will be offered the opportunity to compete at the nation’s oldest public speaking competition, the Interstate Oratorical Association Tournament (invite here) hosted April 27th-28th at West Chester University.

We hope you join us in February! Details on events offered and tournament logistics can be found on the following pages.

Andrew Eilola Karin Nordin

Interim Director of Forensics Doctoral Student & Forensics Coach

George Mason University George Mason University

reilola@gmu.edu knordin@gmu.edu

218-290-5574

EVENTS

Impromptu Speaking: An impromptu speech, substantive in nature, with topic selections varied by round and by section. Topics will be derived from quotations. 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.

Informative Speaking: An original, factual speech by the student on a realist 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.

Prose Interpretation: An original or selections of prose material of literary merit, which may be drawn from more than one source. Focus of this event is on the development of the narrative/story. Play cuttings and poetry are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time is 10 minutes including introduction.

Dramatic Duo: A cutting from one or more texts of literary merit, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of two or more characters presented by two individuals. The material may be drawn from any genre of literature. 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 event, 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. Student will speak in listed order. Postings 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 genres of interpretation (prose/poetry/drama). A primary focus of this event should be on the development of the theme through the use of narrative/story, language, and/or characterization. Only one selection may be original. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

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 reinforced 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. The focus of this event is on the development of characterization. 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. A primary focus of this event should be on the development of language. Play cuttings and prose works are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

Oratory (rules from IOA website):

1. The oration must be delivered without the aid of notes or manuscript.

2. No oration shall contain more than 1800 words. (Although no minimum word limit is established, a 1500 word minimum is suggested.)

3. For purposes of definition, quoted words are those written or spoken by a person other than the orator. Such quoted matter shall be limited to 20% of the total number of words in the oration. Direct discourse, dialogue or other stylistic devices within quotation marks created by the orator SHALL NOT be included in the 20% total.

4. All quoted materials shall be documented.

ENTRY INFORMATION

• The State Tournament is closed to Virginia and D.C. schools only

• Each team may only enter 4 entries per event

• Students may enter a maximum of 3 events per bracket; 2 duos count as 2 events.

• The deadline for entry is Tuesday February 12th at 5pm

• Entry fees are $8 per event slot on Saturday

• Please provide a qualified judge for every seven event slots.

• Hired judges are available at $10 per uncovered slot.

• Drop fees are original entry fee plus $10 penalty after entry deadline; plus $20 if on Saturday or Sunday.

• Dropped judges after the entry deadline will each be assessed a $150 fee in addition to standard judge fees.

• To register (in all cases we will confirm): go to Speechwire.com under VIFA

SCHEDULE:

8:00am - 8:30am Registration (Lobby of Robinson B facing the Mason Pond Pkg. Deck)

8:30am Extemp Draw

9:00am IA (Extemp/POI/Per/Duo/Informative/Oratory)

10:15am IB (Impromptu/DI/ADS/CA/Poetry/Prose)

11:45pm Extemp Draw

12:15pm IIA

1:30pm IIB

2:30pm Extemp Draw

3:00pm Finals A

4:15pm Finals B

ASAP Awards

COMPETITION AND AWARDS

• The tournament will offer 2 rounds of preliminary competition and a final round.

• We will offer an award for the top six entries in each individual event (two awards for duos).

• The top three open and community college schools will each receive an award.

• We will use AFA-style rules and tabulation.

• The tournament will feature a cross-examination period in the extemporaneous speaking final. After each extemporaneous speech, a fellow contestant will have three minutes to question the speaker in any manner they so choose. The questioning period is open, and similar to the AFA style of cross-examination used in the final round- the questions and answers will continue back and forth until either the questioner chooses to stop or three minutes have elapsed. The questions can be about anything from issues that the speaker failed to consider, clarification of the speech, analytical/logical questions, etc...: it is up to the questioner to decide his or her own objectives and goals for the questioning period.

• Some logistical notes:

• When 1st speaker is ready to perform, both 1st and last speaker will go to the competition room. After 1st speaker performs, last speaker will question the first speaker. At the conclusion of the questioning period, the last speaker will return to the preparation room, and 1st speaker will stay to question the 2nd speaker. The 2nd speaker will question the 3rd speaker, etc…

• Questioners may take notes while listening to the speeches that they will eventually question. However, they may not use those notes during the questioning period itself.

• It is up to the judges to decide how the questioning period plays into the ranking and evaluation of the round.

• The time limit on the questioning period is 3 minutes. Time signals will be given. Once three minutes have elapsed, the speaker should be given a small amount of time to complete the response that they are currently giving.