Speech Category Information
Forensics allows you to express yourself through a variety of genres/categories, such as drama, poetry, declamation, prose, and Multiple Reading. A brief description of all categories are listed below. You will choose which genre/category with which you would like to be involved. You will then choose a piece of writing from that genre/category that you would like to work on throughout the entire forensics season to perform at the tournaments.
Your child can look up speeches on their own that they would like to perform. I also have several scripts for students to look through if they would like to get some ideas. Remember speeches can be any published piece. I have had students in the past choose from an array of published writing pieces from presidential addresses to chapters from their favorite novel. I can guide your child in the selection process.
Types of Speeches:
Drama: A dramatic presentation of a selected portion of a play, movie, television script, etc. This can include a monologue, dialogue, or a soliloquy. A speech in this genre is any published movie, play, or book where the character is acting as someone else in first person. No narration is included. A drama piece must be five to eight minutes long.
Poetry: presenting one longer poem or a selection of poems. Example: A collection of poems by Dr. Seuss Poetry reading(s) must be four to seven minutes long. Scoring Ballot
Declamation: Declamation is reading a speech that has been presented in a public forum by another individual. Example: Presidential speeches A declamation speech must be five to eight minutes long.
Prose: Telling of a story through narration (this may include some dialogue, but must have narration). A prose selection can be from any novel, movie, or play, much like drama. A prose piece must be five to eight minutes long.
Multiple Reading: This category allows small groups to present a selection delivered in the style of a radio drama. Many pieces from novels, video scripts, etc.... are appropriate to use here. Two to five members make up one team. Multiple Reading pieces must be five to eight minutes long.
Introductions are required for certain categories. The criteria for the introduction can be found on the rubric for that category.
A 30 second grace period is given to each of the maximum times above.