Speech Events - Hawai'i Speech League

Storytelling (ST)

Time limit: 8 Minutes. Storytellers differ somewhat from interpretive arts in the delivery used. Most storytellers use extemporaneous delivery; they have not memorized the author's words (though of course they may if they choose). Presentation shall be from memory and without the use of physical objects or costumes.

Stage movement is permitted.

Selections for interpretation shall be cuttings from published, printed novels, short stories, plays or poetry. Recorded material that is not printed and published is prohibited.

The presentation should include an introduction that is informational, relevant, enticing in content, and conversational in delivery. It must include the author and the source from which the cutting was taken. Effective introductions enhance the presentation and are included, along with transitions, as part of the allocated time. If there is transitional material, it should be purposeful and appropriate.

Singing may be used sparingly if it is part of a character's dialogue. The storyteller should not make singing a major part of the performance.

Contestants should be graded on poise, pronunciation, enunciation, inflection, quality and use of voice, and especially the ability to interpret characters correctly and consistently. Narrative should be vivid and animated so as to be an interesting and integral part of the story and not just "filler" between portions of the dialogue. The cutting should be a story that is clear and easy to follow.

There is no requirement that Storytelling must be humorous.

Re-Use: A student may not use a cutting from the same source that was used by that student in any contest prior to the current school year.

Program Reading (PR)

Time limit: 10 Minutes. This is reading event. A manuscript must be used. Introductory and transitional material may be delivered without reference to a manuscript but the selections must be read.

Each program is to contain three or more separate selections or cuttings from different published prose, poetry, or drama. The cuttings may be from different works by the same author. Selections do not need to be from various literary genres, although variety is encouraged.

Each selection must be appropriately introduced in order to give setting (if necessary), to relate it to the central theme, to establish the proper mood for the audience, and must include the title and author of the selections. These materials must not exceed one-third of the program.

The contestant should be judged on oral interpretation, not acting ability. The interpretation should display a clear understanding of the mood and emotion of the selections. The interpreter may use facial expressions, gestures, postures and character placement, and should display good vocal interpretation techniques. Generally, the performance is more controlled or restrained than a performance in dramatic or humorous interpretation.

Re-Use: A student may NOT use a cutting from a source that student used in any previous contest year.

Humorous Interpretation (HI) and Dramatic Interpretation (DI)

Presentation shall be from memory beginning with the first HSL-sponsored qualifying tournament, and without the use of physical objects or costumes.

Selections for interpretation shall be cuttings from published, printed novels, short stories, plays or poetry. Recorded material that is not printed and published is prohibited. Adaptations may be made only to provide continuity.

Selections should be judged for their appropriateness as contest material and their suitability to the contestant and the audience. The selection should be a scene or series of scenes that are clear and easy to follow.

Contestants should be judged on their ability to help the audience lose recognition of the performers in favor of a sense of the real life portrayal of the character or characters in their selection. They should be judged on how well, within the broad limits of interpretation as opposed to acting, they use vocal and physical mannerisms, gestures, and movements, focal points and/or direct contact with the audience to achieve that portrayal. The number of characters portrayed does not determine the quality of the performance.

Re-Use: A student may not use a cutting from the same source that was used by that student in any contest prior to the current school year.

Duo Interpretation (DUO)

Time Limit: 10 Minutes. Presentation shall be from memory beginning with the first HSL-sponsored qualifying tournament, and without the use of physical objects or costumes.

In Duo Interpretation the performers' roles should be as nearly balanced as possible. If the selection contains narration, either or both of the performers may present the narration.

Selections for interpretation shall be cuttings from published, printed novels, short stories, plays or poetry and may be dramatic, humorous, both or neither. Recorded material that is not printed and published is unacceptable. Adaptations may be made only to provide continuity.

Selections are judged for their appropriateness as contest materials and their suitability to the contestants and the audience. Both a single, sustained scene and a connected, interrelated series of scenes are appropriate for duo interpretation. In either case, the selection should be clear and easy to follow.

Contestants are judged on their ability to help the audience lose recognition of the performers in favor of a sense of the real life portrayal of the character in their selection. They should be judged on how well, within the broad limits of interpretation as opposed to acting, they use vocal and physical mannerisms, gestures, and movements, focal points and/or direct contact with the audience to achieve that portrayal. The number of characters portrayed does not determine the quality of the performance.

Performers may look at each other during the introduction or transitions but otherwise at no time do the performers look at one another, and they are not allowed to touch.

Re-use: A student may NOT use a cutting from a source that the student used in any previous contest year.

Original Oratory (OO)

Time Limits: 10 Minutes. Presentation shall be from memory beginning with the first HSL-sponsored qualifying tournament, and without the use of a prompter or a manuscript.

Orators should not be required to solve any of the great problems of the day. They may simply alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthening its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. Give orators free choice of subject and judge the presentation solely on the effectiveness of its development and presentation.

The composition should be considered carefully for its rhetoric and diction. The use of appropriate figures of speech--similes and metaphors, balanced sentences, parallel construction, allusions, and other rhetorical devices to make the speech more effective-should be judged favorably. Use of English should be more than correct; it should reveal a discriminating choice of words and embody qualities of fine literature. Finally, it should be especially adapted to oral presentation.

Delivery is judged on mastery of the usual mechanics of speech--poise, quality and use of voice, bodily expressiveness--and for the qualities of directness and sincerity that impress the oration upon the minds of the audience.

No visual aids are permitted.

Not more than 150 words of the oration may be direct quotation from any other speech or writing. Extensive paraphrasing from other sources is prohibited.

Re-Use: A student may not use an oration used during a previous contest season.

Impromptu Speaking (IS)

Time Limit: 5 Minutes. Preparation time is five (5) minutes. Contestants may make notes during the speech preparation, but the use of notes, cards, briefs, or other aids is prohibited during the speech.

Maximum speaking time is five (5) minutes. There is NO minimum qualifying time but the contestant must cover the subject adequately. Students are not penalized for brevity unless they fail to cover the topic adequately.

Contestants are handed a slip of paper with three topics on it by one of the judges. They return to their seat to prepare for their speech. When they are ready or 5 minutes has elapsed, they will hand the judge their topic slip and give their speech. As soon as the speech is finished, the judge hads the next contestant their slip of paper to being their 5 minutes of preparation.

Contestants should be held accountable for strict adherence to the topic drawn and discounted severely for shifting to some other topic on which they might prefer to speak. The information presented should be well-chosen, pertinent, and sufficient to support the central thought of the topic.

Impromptu Speaking combines good reasoning and logic, evidence and examples in support of ideas. The speech should have a clear organizational structure and be easy to follow. Contestants should display effective delivery skills including the use of the voice, gesture, poise, diction, fluency and style--and should be effective in enlisting and holding the interest of the audience.

The ideas and style of language in Impromptu Speaking are spontaneous. Impromptu Speaking puts a premium on imagination, personal knowledge, and background. It tends to be somewhat personal in its development of, or reaction to an idea.

United States Extemporaneous Speaking (USX) and International Extemporaneous Speaking (IX)

Time Limit: 7 Minutes. Preparation time is thirty (30) minutes. Contestants may make notes during the speech preparation, but the use of notes, cards, briefs or other aids is prohibited during the speech beginning with the first HSL-sponsored qualifying tournament.

Do not penalize contestants for brevity unless they fail to cover the subject adequately. There is no penalty for overtime unless it is excessive.

Contestants enter the room at staggered intervals to speak. They will hand the judge their topic slip. Contestants may remain in the room to listen to other contestants after they have spoken, or may leave the room.

Contestants should be held accountable for strict adherence to the precise statement of the topic drawn and discounted severely for shifting to some other phrase of the topic on which they might prefer to speak. The information presented should be well-chosen, pertinent to the topic, and sufficient to support the central thought of the topic.

Speakers should organize the material in a logical manner to produce a coherent, intelligible presentation. The speech should contain adequate evidence and examples which support the position the speaker chooses to take in relation to the topic. The speaker should display a clear analysis of the topic. A summary retelling of a magazine article is not a clear display of analytical thinking.

Delivery should be free from marked defects in the mechanics of speech--poise, quality and use of voice, enunciation, fluency, bodily expressiveness-and should be effective in enlisting and holding the interest of the audience.

There is no requirement to take a personal stance on controversial subjects. They may do so, or they may elect to present both sides of the controversy as currently set forth in the public press. They are judged on the effectiveness with which they develop the subject according to their own plan.