Competition Categories

These are the competition categories for a forensics tournament. Click a link below to view the definition of a particular category:

Persuasive Speaking	Informative Speaking	Extemporaneous Speaking
Humorous Interpretation	Competition Categories	Dramatic Interpretation
Serious Poetry	Children's Literature	Serious Prose

Contestants write a speech prior to competition time on any topic that interests them. During the competition, the contestant is given ten minutes to convince the judge of the validity of the contestant's argument. (That's the standard ten minutes plus a one minute grace period.) Similar to Debate Team, this category is both popular and competitive.

Like persuasive speaking, contestants write a speech prior to competition time on any topic that interests them. However rather than trying to persuade the judge, the contestant is given ten minutes to inform the judge about an unusual or interesting topic. (That's the standard ten minutes plus a one minute grace period.) Contestants may use props, posters, or other visual aids during their presentation. Not as popular as persuasive speaking, many students cross over between persuasive and informative speaking.

Humorous Interpretation is one of the most popular topics in forensics competitions. Contestants must also prepare a one minute introduction to their piece. The contestant then has eleven minutes to complete their piece. (That's the standard ten minutes plus a one minute grace period.) Monologues cannot be of the contestant's own work, even if it has been published. Some choose to use humorous newspaper columnists, such as Dave Barry. Other contestants take excerpts from humorous books, such as Douglas Adam's works. As one of the most popular topics, humorous interpretation is also one of the most competitive.

Dramatic Interpretation allows contestants to perform almost any monologue that does not fall under the category of 'Humorous.' Many contestants choose to perform monologues that bring out a powerful emotion, others choose to perform classical pieces. Monologues cannot be of the contestant's own work, even if it has been published. Contestants must also prepare a one minute introduction to their piece. The contestant then has eleven minutes to complete their piece. (That's the standard ten minutes plus a one minute grace period.)

Extemporaneous Speaking is one of the most demanding categories in the forensics competition. Contestants must prepare a speech, at competition time, when given a topic by the judge. Topics often deal with the most current, though rarely controversial, events. Contestants are prepared with a file, containing newspaper, magezine, and internet articles. From this file, a contestant has a set time to prepare a speech, citing a required number of sources. Speeches are usually clocked at about four minutes. Extemporaneous Speaking is one of the hardest and most rewarding categories in forensics.

The category of Children's Literature allows contestants to read any material to a judge in a tone that would make the piece appealing to children. The piece does not necessarily have to be a children's book. Contestants must prepare an introduction that does not exceed one minute. The contestant then has eleven minutes to complete their piece. (That's the standard ten minutes plus a one minute grace period). Typically, the judge is interested in seeing a contestant that can read the piece in a calm, soothing voice, while making the book sound exciting. Contestants in this category often qualify for finals.

The Poetry category allows contestants to perform published poetic pieces that do not belong in the Dramatic or Humorous Interpretation categories. Poems cannot be of the contestant's own work, even if it has been published. Contestants are given time to convince the judge that the contestant fully understands the nature, rhythm, and meaning of the poem; the contestant must be able to convey these topics to the judge. The contestant has eleven minutes to complete their piece. (That's the standard ten minutes plus a one minute grace period). Contestants in this category often qualify for finals. Despite the name of this category, many contestants do well with less serious, even humorous, pieces.

This category is for serious pieces where the dialouge typically covers less than fifty percent of the piece. This category and Dramatic Interpretation are often mixed up. The contestant has eleven minutes to complete their piece. (That's the standard ten minutes plus a one minute grace period). Despite the name of this category, many contestants do well with less serious pieces.