Interpretive Events Dramatic Interpretation

Individual Events Explanations & Articles

Debate Explanations (last updated: August 9, 2006)
How to Fit Debate In By Deanna Stollar (last updated: July 26, 2004)
Debate-Why? By Tom Umstattd, ARCoach (last updated: July 26, 2004)

The limited preparation event, Apologetics, is the cornerstone of the Austin Rhetoric Club. Coach Tom Umstattd, strongly encourages all club members over 12 to participate in Apologetics. The DVD videos are posted on Google Video, You Tube or My Space. These videos are listed next to other videos submitted by others. These other videos are likely to contain questionable content. We suggest that you watch the 5 click to see downloads listed below with your children. Currently, there are 2 under apologetics, 1 in Duo Interpretation, and 2 in Persuasive. To see better video recording quality and more IEs, order ARC's DVDs.

Limited Preparation Events

Apologetics

is the Cornerstone Event of the Austin Rhetoric Club. (Sometimes, ARC even goes street witnessing, as David and Thomas are doing in the picture to the right.) Although, no members of ARC are obliged to go with Thomas street preaching, all in ARC over the age of 12 are strongly encouraged to study and compete in Apologetics. At the beginning of the year we will be given a set of about 130 questions concerning our Biblical faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This makes for a great Bible study! Our club members divide up the questions & make note cards which may be taken into competition along with your Bible. Apologetics is a limited preparation speech in which the speaker is given 4 minutes to prepare a 6 minute speech on these topics related to defending his/her faith against detractors. (See website for rules detail) Here they are: http://exp.etelos.com/ruf/RU1_F072505154155_Apol_Docs_03-05.pdf See also http://exp.etelos.com/ruf/RU1_F072505165606_Apol_Questions_10-04.pdf for a list of topics. The above links give general rules & criteria used to judge a good defense of your faith. Click to see the funny and inspirational 8 Reasons Why I Do Not Share My Faith (Scroll down to August 13, click the > arrow. Downloading maybe slow, but this is worth the wait!)

David & Thomas Umstattd "street" witnessing at the Richardson Wildflower Festival: Click to see Thomas Open Air Preach

Impromptu Speaking
The goal of this event is to present an intelligent, well constructed, and creative speech with very limited preparation time. The speaker is given two minutes to prepare a five-minute speech on a quotation or abstraction drawn at random. The speaker draws three topics, chooses one, and returns the other two. Prep time begins when topics are first received. Students may take only blank notepaper and a pen or pencil into the round, but no notes are permitted when delivering the speech. No speakers are permitted to listen to other impromptu speakers before speaking in a given round. Speakers must adhere to and state the topic word-for-word early in the speech. Time signals are to be given in the round.
Prep time: 2 minutes
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 5 minutes

Christina Hastings, 1st Place Oratory in Texas ('05 Junior Div.)

Extemporaneous Speaking
The goal of this limited preparation event is to prepare an intelligent, well-constructed speech on a current events topic. The speaker has thirty minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech on an issue in the news. The speaker receives three topics phrased as questions, chooses one, and returns the other two. Prep time begins at the appointed time and is carefully monitored in the Extemp Prep room. Speakers may refer to published books, magazines, newspapers, journals, and articles, which they or their teammates have brought into the Extemp Prep room during, prep time. Topics are current events, which have occurred in the past ninety days. Speakers must adhere to and state the topic word-for-word early in the speech. Notes, primarily to list evidence, are permitted on a 3 x 5 card, which the speaker may use during the speech. No speakers are permitted to listen to other Extemporaneous speakers before speaking in a given round. Time signals are to be given in the round.
Prep time: 30 minutes
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 7 minutes

Paul Hastings, 1st in Texas in Open Interp. & Nat'l semi-finalist

Interpretive Events

Dramatic Interpretation &

Humorous Interpretation
Through the vehicle of solo performance, the goal of this interpretative event is to re-create the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of a work of literature, or to "bring the literature to life." Selections may be taken from one-character monologues, narratives, or scenes with multiple characters. Non-original work from prose, plays, poetry, or orations, is appropriate, and its title and author must be stated. The use of media scripts is not allowed. While limited singing and dancing are permitted, this is not a vocal or dance recital, and any singing or dancing should be purposeful and motivated by the literature. A previous year's material used in whole or in part is disqualified. The interpreter is allowed 150 original words for introduction, transitions, and explanation. Props, costumes and audio/visual aids are not allowed. The only differentiation between Dramatic Interpretation and Humorous Interpretation is that the latter is humorous in nature, where Dramatic Interpretation is serious in nature.
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 10 minutes

Madeleine Sullivan, 2nd Place in Texas (Junior Division '05)

Duo Interpretation
Through the vehicle of duo performance, the goal of this interpretive event is to re-create the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of a work of literature, and to "bring the literature to life.” Selections may be taken from narratives or scenes with multiple characters and may be humorous or dramatic. Non-original pieces of work from prose, plays, or poetry is appropriate, but media scripts are not allowed. While limited singing and dancing are permitted, this is not a vocal or dance recital, and any singing or dancing should be purposeful and motivated by the literature. The interpreters are allowed a maximum of 150 combined original words for introduction, transitions, and explanation. The two speakers will maintain balanced participation within the piece and are not permitted to look at or touch each other. They should retain an off-stage focus in their conversation with each other. Any previous year's material used in whole or in part is disqualified. Props, costumes, or audio/visual aids are not allowed.
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition - 10 minutes

Click to see, Cynthia & David Umstattd, nat'l semi-finalists

Open Interpretation
Open interpretation provides an unrestricted opportunity for a student to creatively explore and develop the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of any type of literature he or she chooses. Selections may include original work, unpublished work by others, or traditional published material. Any genre is acceptable including but not limited to prose, poetry, storytelling, historical speeches, historical sermons, and thematic selections; however, media transcriptions are not allowed. The title and author must be stated in the speech. While limited singing and dancing are permitted, this is not a vocal or dance recital, and any singing or dancing should be purposeful and motivated by the literature. Any previous year's material used in whole or in part is disqualified. Props, costumes and audio/visual aids are not allowed.
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 10 minutes

Brian Morgan, Region IV marathoner, TX 1st in Apologetics

Platform Events

Original Oratory
This is an open speech category. The purpose of the speech is determined by the speaker. This may include, but is not limited to informing, persuading, entertaining, inspiring, teaching, or a combination thereof. The speech must be original work and scripted word-for-word. Humor and satire are permitted. Speakers are allowed up to 150 words from outside sources with appropriate source citations. Any previous year's material used in whole or in part is disqualified. Props, costumes and audio/visual aids are not allowed.
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 10 minutes

Monica Calderon, national semi-finalist, Region IV iron man

Persuasive Speaking
The goal of this event is to allow the speaker to present a persuasive speech on any subject he or she chooses. The speech must be original work and scripted word-for-word. Humor and satire are permitted. Speakers are allowed up to 150 words from outside sources with appropriate source citations. Any previous year's material used in whole or in part is disqualified. Props, costumes and audio/visual aids are not allowed.
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 10 minutes

Click to see, Cynthia Umstattd, 1st in TX, nat'l semi-finalist Click to see, David Umstattd, national semi-finalist

Expository Speaking
The goal of this event is to explain or expose a particular topic, using visual aids. The speech must be an original work and scripted word-for-word. This is a speech to inform in which the speaker describes, illustrates or defines an object, idea, concept or process. Imaginary topics or subjects are not permitted; humor and satire are permitted. Speakers are allowed up to 150 words from outside sources with appropriate source citations. Any previous year's material used in whole or in part is disqualified. See NCFCA's Expository FAQ for more information.
NCFCA Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 10 minutes

Justin Louis wins 1st in Texas 2006

Debate Even though this web page is about individual events, these are brief descriptions of the 2 types of Debate ARC competes in.

For more information: click here for NCFCA descriptions and click here for a nice UVM paper

Lincoln Douglas Values Debate

LD Debate has a value resolution which uses general terms that are value laden so that through their definition a conflict of values will occur. The affirmative team (only 1 speaker) upholds the resolution, the negative (also 1 speaker) either argues against the resolution, refutes the affirmative case or both. LD Debate has been said to be a friendly discussion about one value versus another around a fireplace with a cup of hot tea. With either kinds of debate, NCFCA topics are never morally charged, where one side or the other would ever have to argue against one's own moral convictions. An example of values maybe justice, freedom, truth, democracy, freedom of the press, etc. Each team typically picks a value & a criterion within which to debate.

"Discussion for elucidating truth; strife in argument or reasoning, between persons of different opinions, each endeavoring to prove his own opinion right, and that of his opposer wrong; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind." Webster's 1828 Dictionary

2006-2007 Lincoln Douglas Debate Topic: "Resolved: democracy is overvalued by the United States government."

Tim Randall, Tim Lambert & Josue Calderon

Team Policy Debate

1 . You will work with a partner. You and your partner form a "debate team". Sometimes you will have to be for the issue (the affirmative) and sometimes you will have to be against the issue (negative). In any instance, you will have plenty of time to get ready for the debate.

2. You will deliver speeches in a format that is unique to debate. The speeches are called constructives and rebuttals. Each person on each team will speak twice. There are affirmative constructives and negative constructives. There are affirmative rebuttals and negative rebuttals.

3. You will learn rules and techniques that may seem strange to you. The way we learn how to debate may at first seem difficult. But once you take on the challenge, you will begin to understand its relationship to debating. The most difficult part of debate is the first few weeks, after that it gets easier and easier once you have learned the rules.

4. We will officially debate only one resolution. Most of our emphasis will be on competitive or tournament debating. In order to compete at tournaments and to give the debaters sufficient time to prepare, a standard topic or resolution is used all year. Thousands of home school students at this very minute are researching and debating the very same issues and ideas that you will be. The resolution determines the debate area. From this area there can be thousands of issues so that each debate round is different is always changing.

5. 2006-2007 NCFCA Team Policy Debate Topic: "Resolved: that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should be significantly reformed or abolished." Click for a history of NATO.

Jonathan Rodgers, Andy Garia, Toni Maisano & Lydia Miller

Junior Track under 13 years-old, no minimum age, the highest level: Region IV Tournament

Junior Impromptu Speaking The goal of this event is to present an intelligent, well constructed, and creative speech with very limited preparation time. The speaker is given 30 seconds to prepare a two-minute speech on a quotation, concrete word or abstraction drawn at random. The speaker draws three topics, chooses one, and returns the other two. Prep time begins when topics are able to be read by the student (or in the case of very young participants, read by the head judge). Students may take only blank notepaper and a pen or pencil into the round, but no notes are permitted when delivering the speech. No speakers are permitted to listen to other impromptu speakers before speaking in a given round. Speakers must adhere to and state the topic word-for-word early in the speech. Time signals are to be given in the round. Prep time: 30 seconds Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 2 minutes	Jack Sullivan, 1st Place in Texas in '06
Junior Interpretation Junior interpretation provides an unrestricted opportunity for a student to creatively explore and develop the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of any type of literature he or she chooses. Selections may include original work, unpublished work by others, or traditional published material. Any genre is acceptable including but not limited to prose, poetry, storytelling, historical speeches, historical sermons, and thematic selections; however, media transcriptions are not allowed. The title and author must be stated in the speech. While limited singing and dancing are permitted, this is not a vocal or dance recital, and any singing or dancing should be purposeful and motivated by the literature. Any previous year's material used in whole or in part is disqualified. Props, costumes and audio/visual aids are not allowed. Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 5 minutes	Jonathan Morgan 1st in Region IV in '06
Junior Oratory This is an open speech category. The purpose of the speech is determined by the speaker. This may include, but is not limited to informing, persuading, entertaining, inspiring, teaching, or a combination thereof. The speech must be original work. Humor and satire are permitted. Speakers are allowed up to 150 words from outside sources with appropriate source citations. Any previous year's material used in whole or in part is disqualified. Props, costumes and audio/visual aids are allowed as in an expository.. Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 5 minutes
Bible Bee This a prepared speech where the young speaker quotes or reads a new and/or Old Testament passage (s) of his or her choice. He/she may talk about what the scripture means to them; up to 5 minutes in length, no minimum. This event was created by ARC, and is not a sanctioned NCFCA event. Speech should be an original work prepared from Bible verse(s). The speaker’s own emphasis and comments about what the scripture passage means is encouraged. The goal of Bible Bee is to motivate students to read, study and memorize the Bible, articulate what the Scripture means to them, and what they believe. The speaker is encouraged to give the scriptural reference(s). Unlike in apologetics or impromptu, all speakers are permitted to listen to each other, whether their turn has come or not. No props nor audiovisuals will be allowed. Maximum Speech Time in Competition: 5 minutes

Speech Wildcard Event

NCFCA Affiliate Members vote determines a new event to be placed under this category for a particular year. After you have signed up to be an NCFCA affiliate, to do so, click www.ncfca.org you can vote on the 2006-2007 wild-card event. The Speech Wildcard Event possibilities are these below.

A. Original Prose or Poetry Interpretation - This is an interpretive event. An interpretation of something that the student has written. Our guess is that it must be an original work with no more than 150 words which quote other sources, and these sources must be sited if/when used. The original work could be a poem, a story, a play, or other prose work.

B. Cultural Interpretation - This is an interpretive event. An interpretation of a ...

C. Thematic Interpretation - This is a unique event involving interpretive speaking skills. Students will weave several pieces of literature together around a common theme (love, patriotism, etc). The student will be evaluated not only on the quality and performance of the literary selections, but also on their skill in analyzing the pieces and effectively developing the theme. The purpose of this event is to develop reasoning and analytical skills, especially as they relate to literature.

The events selected for the last seasons are:

There was no wild-card event in 2005-2006

Oratorical Interpretation 2004-2005

(An interpretation of a famous speech or sermon will be presented (for example, Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" or Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"). The purpose of this event is to help students understand the elements of truly great communication through rhetorical analysis, and to study the historical and cultural context of influential speeches. Some of this material may be incorporated into the presentation.)

Impromptu Apologetics 2003-2004
This is a limited preparation event. Over the year, students will create a card file of quotations and Scripture references related to ten broad areas of Christian apologetics such as the Authenticity of the Bible and the Deity of Christ. At the tournament they will go to their rooms with their card files. They will draw a specific question related to one of the broad areas (The Bible was written by men. How can you claim it is written by God? For example) and will have 3-4 minutes to prepare a 5 minute response. Cards may be used during the presentation. The purpose of this event would be to help students to create a cogent and systematic ability to defend their faith and a resource box to use for the rest of their lives.
The specific rules for this event are forthcoming and will be posted on the NCFCA website.

Duo Impromptu 2002-2003

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For more information about CCofPA see their website from which the above information page was mostly taken. Click here http://www.ccofpa.org

Christian Communicators of Pennsylvania (CCofPA) is a Christian organization, then a communications organization, and then a competitive speech and debate club - in that order.

Our main goals are threefold: first, to raise up young men and women with Godly character; second, to raise up young men and women who can communicate the hope that is within them (the Gospel message) not only through their words, but through their actions and deeds; and third, to raise up young men and women who can winsomely communicate their Christian worldview in the midst of opposition.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A minimum of three or a maximum of ten different Individual Events will be offered at NCFCA sanctioned qualifying tournaments. The above descriptions will give you a general idea of the nature of the 11 different Individual Events approved for competition by the NCFCA. Detailed rules which students are required to follow in preparation for competing in these events are listed in the NCFCA's General Rules for Individual Events.

CCofPA members are required to follow the NCFCA Tournament Rules, as well as maintain CCofPA standards as outlined in the handbook. For a complete set of NCFCA IE Tournament Rules, see the Individual Events Rules.