Events and Resources

Event Resources - Google Drive Folder

Also, this Google Drive folder is only available to Corvallis School District students. 

Description of Events 

Speech Events

Literary Interpretation for English Language Learners (LIELL): Present a short story or poem or script from a binder. Memorized introduction. ELL students only. 5 minutes with a 30-second grace period. 

Prose Reading: Using a binder, read your short story or selection from a novel. Prose Reading is judged by the drama in your voice. Memorized introduction. 8 minutes with a 30-second grace period. 

Radio Commentary: Your opinion about a current issue. Read your commentary with your back to the judges. A unique feature of radio is that your speech must end between 4:45 minutes and 5:15 minutes - in Open Radio, you can be disqualified if you go over or under that time.  You can use a timer to watch the time. 

Poetry Interpretation: From a binder, present several poems related to a common theme. Memorized introduction. 8 minutes with a 30-second grace period. 

Duo Interpretation: You and a partner present a scene. You are judged on voice tone, timing, and teamwork - however, you cannot fully interact with each other (no touching). No costumes or props. Memorized. 10 minutes. YouTube Playlist

Informative: An informative report with visual aids. Advocacy and entertainment may be included, but the primary task is to inform. Memorized, 10 minutes. YouTube Video Playlist

ADS (After Dinner Speaking): A humorous speech with a point - similar to stand-up comedy. 6 minutes with a 30-second grace period, memorized. 

Original Oratory: This is a persuasive speech that “takes your audience on a mental journey” - essentially, it is a persuasive oration. Needs to express an opinion and follow it through. Up to 10 minutes with a 30-second grace period, memorized. YouTube Video Playlist

Dramatic Interpretation: Find a dramatic scene from a play, short story, or novel. This scene may contain more than one character. Without props or costumes and with some movements, you act all the parts. 10 minutes with 30 seconds of grace, memorized. YouTube Video Playlist

Humorous Interpretation: Find a humorous scene from a play, short story or novel. This scene may contain more than one character. Without props or costumes and with some movements, you act all the parts. 10 minutes with 30 seconds of grace, memorized.  YouTube Video Playlist

Program Oral Interpretation: Using cuttings from at least three genres (prose, poetry, drama, speech, film, quotation, etc), perform a program from a binder that tracks an idea or advocacy. Pieces are cut and spliced in a dramatic order. 10 minutes with 3o seconds of grace. YouTube Video Playlist

Extemporaneous Speaking: Using contemporary news information to address a national, regional, or global question. With 30 minutes of internet prep, build a 7-minute speech (with 30 seconds grace). Attempt to use no notes whatsoever. YouTube Video Playlist

Impromptu Speaking: Given a choice of three topics (generally a quote, a current issue/event, and an abstract noun), speakers present a five-minute speech (with 30 seconds grace) after 60 seconds of prep. The clock is running, though, but the speech should be no more than 5 minutes and 30 seconds. 

Overall Notes: There are no minimum time limits (except for Radio). Memorization is the goal; however,  novice speakers are often not fully memorized. No breach of rules results in disqualification, except for breaking time rules in Open Radio. 

Debate Events

Parliamentary Debate: With a partner, debate against another two-person team from a different school. You’re given a resolution to debate and 15 minutes of prep time before the debate. You’re assigned a side. This is a knowledge-only debate, but internet usage during prep is OKAY. 

• Example resolution: The US Government ought to raise the minimum wage. 

Student Congress: This is essentially mock congress, where participants sit with 20 other students from other schools to pass bills. The docket of bills is set before the tournament, and you and your team research and discuss them. At the congress session, you choose to speak before the assembly - these speeches are lightly prepared or not prepared at all. Participants follow parliamentary procedure, sit according to a seating chart, and are evaluated over the course of the session based on speaking, questioning, and participation. The judge ranks the speakers rather than determining a winner. 

Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Individually build an affirmation and negation case for a set resolution every quarter. The resolution is a value statement; debaters produce research-supported arguments that uphold an ideal. It is a philosophical format. For this quarter, the topic is: 

• Resolved: The United States ought to adopt a wealth tax. 

Policy Debate: With a partner, debate a single nationwide, year-long resolution. The team creates a plan to execute the resolution - which includes much questioning and evidence. This year’s resolution:

• RESOLVED: The United States federal government should significantly strengthen its protection of domestic intellectual property rights in copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks.

Public Forum Debate: A fast-paced debate form where you debate a new policy topic each month. Unique for its crossfire style of questioning, which is an open conversation between opponents. Example monthly topic: 

• Resolved: The United States should substantially reduce its military support of Taiwan.

Big Question Debate: A new and philosophical form of debate based on reasoning and research. Yearly topic: 

• Resolved: Creativity is a more powerful force than intelligence.

This information was originally from the Silverton Fox tournament in the 2019-2020 school year.