Ok, ok, ok not that kind of "forensics". And after doing a bit of research, it looks like the organizations FKA National Forensics League is now the National Speech and Debate Association. My favorite high school teacher of all time convinced me to join the team when I was a sophomore in HS. With all of the different "interpretation" events, and Oration events, it taught me a whole lot about writing, voice, and characters. Think of it like a "no costume or props one act". All of the students had to find their source material, edit it, practice it, and act it. I barely scratched the surface but I was so hooked.
So I'll post of my favorites in subsequent threads! I'll put the "rules" below for some context as to why they are doing their pieces like they are. The audio may be a bit :wack: but be nice to these older videos.
Interpretations (Humorous and Dramatic): Using a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece up to ten minutes in length. With a spotlight on character development and depth, this Dramatic Interp focuses on the student’s ability to convey emotion through the use of a dramatic text. Humorous Interp is designed to test a student’s comedic skills through script analysis, delivery, timing, and character development. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance, and state the title and the author.
Duo Interp: Two competitors team up to deliver a ten-minute performance of a published play or story. Using off-stage focus, competitors convey emotion and environment through a variety of performance techniques focusing on the relationships and interactions between the characters. No props or costumes are used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the students to contextualize the performance and state the title and the author.
Original Oratory: Students deliver a self-written, ten-minute speech on a topic of their choosing. Limited in their ability to quote words directly, competitors craft an argument using evidence, logic, and emotional appeals. Topics range widely, and can be informative or persuasive in nature. The speech is delivered from memory.
