MSHSL offers 13 different categories in which to compete. Here is a brief description, in alphabetical order:
*Creative Expression: In this category you write and perform your own work (humorous or serious). This category is pretty much any thing goes (to a limit, of course). If you are an excellent writer and are a natural performer who likes to be the center of attention, this category is for you.
**Discussion: In this category you are part of a small group that must accomplish a task given to you at the tournament. You are required to do research on your topic to prepare for this event. Each year’s topic is different. The discussion topic for the 2023 speech season is: Workplace Workforce and The Nature of Work If you are good at doing research, organizing that research, and especially good at working in a group, this could be the category for you.
*Drama: This category requires you to perform your interpretation of a cutting from a dramatic play or screen play. If you like to act, or have drama experience, this is the category for you.
*Duo: This category is similar to Prose, Humorous, etc., except that you perform a cutting from a play (serious or humorous in nature) with a partner. The selection is required to have two or more characters; the characters must relate to each partner (a man must play a man, and vice versa), and you can not make any eye contact or physical contact with your duo partner at any times other than in your intro or during transitional statements. Since this category requires the commitment of two people, be sure you have a partner you know you can work well with. If you love to act and you know of someone who’d make a perfect duo partner, this category is for you.
*Extemporaneous Reading: In this category you will draw a cutting from a story or poem and then are given 30 minutes to prepare a reading of the selection. You are given a list of the stories and poems at the beginning of the season in order to familiarize yourself with them. This year's prose selections are taken from The Moth Presents All These Wonders edited by Catherine Burns. This year's poetry selections are taken from The Name She Gave Me by Betty Culley. If you are a reader who can bring drama and excitement to your reading, this is the category for you.
**Extemporaneous Speaking: In this category you will choose (draw) a current events question. You will then have 30 minutes to prepare a 6 to 7 minute speech on that topic. This sounds difficult, but if you love reading the newspaper or weekly magazines such as Newsweek, and can think on your feet, this is for you.
**Great Speeches: In this category you take a speech that has made a significant impact on a group of people and then you analyze the speech. The analysis includes things such as extended metaphors repeated throughout the speech, the speaker’s skill in relating to the audience, the historical background of the speech and its speaker, etc. You will perform both the original speech as well as your own analysis of that speech. This is a challenging, yet rewarding, category. It’s perfect for those talented in social studies and literary analysis.
*Humorous: In this category you perform a piece of humorous literature. Are you the class clown? Are you good at creating funny voices, faces, and gestures? If so, this category just might be for you.
**Informative: In this category you write and perform a speech to inform your audience of a significant/interesting topic. Two and/or three dimensional visual aids are encouraged to help in your explanation.
**Original Oratory: In this category you write and perform your own persuasive speech. This category is wonderful for those students who hold strong opinions and have the skill to uphold those opinions with research.
*Poetry: In this category you perform your interpretation of a long narrative poem or a series of poems by the same author or connected by a common theme. This category also requires performance skills, as well as analytical skills.
*Prose: In this category you perform your interpretation of a short story, excerpt from a novel, or work of nonfiction of your choice. This requires performance skills such as gesturing, the use of different voices, the ability to bring different characters to life, etc. If you like to read this is a good category for you.
*Storytelling: If you are animated and like telling fairy tales or folk tales, this is the category for you. You are given a list of fairy tales and/or folk tales (usually fifteen) from around the world to prepare in your own personal way (memorization is not required, but you must remain true to the essence of the story). This year's stories are compiled from The Gutenberg Project, an online database for stories. This category requires a person who is excellent at creating different voices, animal noises, and who is not shy to do anything in front of people. Very entertaining category.
*Interpretive Categories: Creative Expression, Drama, Duo, Extemporaneous Reading, Humorous, Poetry, Prose, Storytelling
**Public Address Categories: Discussion, Extemporaneous Speaking, Great Speeches, Informative, Original Oratory