Individual Event Rules and Judge Guidelines

Brief Event Descriptions from the TFA event descriptions and rules (please see the TFA website at www.txfa.org and the TFA Constitution & Bylaws for complete event rules and descriptions and for any updates to those events). The full TFA rules take precedence over all these brief descriptions, which are provided for quick reference and may not include any more recent updates:

DUO INTERPRETATION: Selections used in Duo shall be cuttings from a single source from a published novel, short story, play, poem, or screenplay. Published can mean traditionally printed, commercially available E-Books or PDFs, or material from websites. Coaches and/or students must provide the original source, including ISBN, electronic resource, or website URL, if one exists to the tournament director upon request. Coaches and/or students are solely responsible for providing electronic devices or internet access for verification purposes. A photocopy of the original print source is acceptable if the publication page is included. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification. The selections may be serious or humorous works. Time for presentation shall not exceed ten minutes with a thirty-second grace period. There is no minimum time required. Overtime violators SHALL NOT be ranked first in the round by the judge. Any other penalty is at the discretion of the judge. Judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on official time before enforcing any overtime penalty. Each selection shall include an introduction which shall set the scene and mood and include the title and author of the work. Time for the introduction shall be included in the time limit. Violation shall result in an adverse effect on the team’s ranking in the round. The selection shall be memorized and presented without the use of physical objects (script, props, hand props, or scenery) or costume. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round. In Duo Interpretation focus may be direct during the introduction and the performers may look at each other, but must be indirect (off-stage) during the performance itself. Each of the two performers may play one or more characters, as long as performance responsibility in the cutting remains as balanced as possible. If the selection is prose or poetry and contains narration, either or both of the performers may present the narration.

HUMOROUS and DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION: Selections used in Dramatic or Humorous Interp shall be cuttings from a single source from published novels, short stories, plays, poems, or screenplays. Published can mean traditionally printed, commercially available E-Books or PDFs, or material from websites. Coaches and/or students must have the original source, including ISBN, electronic resource, or website URL, if one exists to the tournament director upon request. Coaches and/or students are solely responsible for providing any electronic device upon which electronic sources may be verified. No tournament is ever responsible for providing electronic devices or internet access for verification purposes. A photocopy of the original print source is acceptable if the publication page is included. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification. The selection shall be memorized and presented without the use of physical objects (script, props, hand props, or scenery) or costume. Students should avoid movement in the presentation that would distract from the literature itself. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round. The contestant shall name the author and the title of the selection being presented during his/her performance. Violation shall result in being ranked down in the round. Maximum time shall be ten minutes with a thirty-second grace period. Overtime violators SHALL NOT be ranked first in the round by the judge. Any other penalty is at the discretion of the judge. Judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on official time before enforcing any overtime penalty. Transitional phrases may be used in Dramatic/Humorous Interpretation but must meet the following word requirements. Violation will result in disqualification.

a. No selection may use more than 100 total transitional words.

b. These words cannot be used to write new scenes to any piece of literature.

c. The 100 words cannot all be used in one particular location within the selection.

d. All transitional phrases must be written in the margin, by hand, on the copy of the piece of literature for checking in case of protest. At TFA State, this will be used to check that the number does not exceed the 100-word limit.

e. Introductions do not count as part of the transitional phrases.

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING (IX & USX): There are two divisions: United States and Foreign. Topics are phrased in the form of a question. Students are given thirty minutes to prepare the speech. Contestants may refer to files containing books, book excerpts, periodicals, online retrievals from mass media publications, and/or photocopies of any of the above. A note card may be used in preliminary rounds but is not permitted in any elimination rounds. Time limit is seven minutes maximum with a thirty-second grace period. Overtime violators SHALL NOT be ranked first in the round by the judge. Any other penalty is at the discretion of the judge. Judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on official time before enforcing any overtime penalty.

The use of electronic devices (i.e. laptops, tablets or phones) by the competitors may be used during draw to retrieve information online or saved onto a storage device with the following provisions:

a. Competitors found engaging in online communication with other individuals not directly participating in the round will be disqualified.

b. Tournament hosts are under no obligation to provide internet access to competitors.

ORIGINAL ORATORY: The contestant may not use an oration which he/she used in any TFA contest prior to the current school year. Any appropriate subject may be used, but the orator must be truthful. Any nonfactual reference, especially a personal one, must be so identified. Violation shall result in ranking down in the round in which the violation occurred. Not more than 150 words of the oration may be direct quotation from any other speech or writing, and such quotations shall be identified in the written copy of the speech. A written copy of the oration must be available to the tournament director upon request. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification. Extensive paraphrasing of any source is prohibited. Time limit shall be ten minutes maximum with a thirty-second grace period. There is no minimum time required. Overtime violators SHALL NOT be ranked first in the round by the judge. Any other penalty is at the discretion of the judge. Judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on official time before enforcing any overtime penalty. The oration shall be memorized and presented without the use of notes, visual aids, or costume. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round.

ORAL INTERPRETATION(PROSE/POETRY): Students present selections in TWO FULLY DEVELOPED categories -- prose and poetry, alternating from round to round. Each selection must be a maximum of ten minutes in length. The student must hold a manuscript and appear to be reading. Maximum time shall be ten minutes with a thirty-second grace period. Overtime violators SHALL NOT be ranked first in the round by the judge. Any other penalty is at the discretion of the judge. Judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on official time before enforcing any overtime penalty. The specific for Oral Interp come from the NCFL:

The speaker shall prepare two programs of manuscript-based literature substantially different in content, author, and/or original source. Each program shall consist of a single piece, a cutting, or a series of short pieces united by author or theme. One program shall be published prose; the other, published poetry. If using a series of pieces, all titles and authors must be cited. Each program must contain an introduction for purposes of explication, setting, or selection transitions. Lines attributed to one character in the published source must not be attributed to another character in the performance. The author's words as published in the literature must not be altered for the presentation with the exception that cutting is permitted. The literature chosen may include any form of prose or poetry, fiction or non-fiction. Drama, including theatrical monologues, is prohibited. Speeches written to be delivered in real-life are prohibited. Speakers may use a persona and/or character voices, but it is not necessary. No properties except a manuscript or binder may be used. Using “properties” means manipulating articles of clothing or objects to enhance the performance. Speakers using properties and/or wearing costumes will be disqualified. Only the performer’s feet may touch the ground.

INFORMATIVE SPEAKING: An informative speech is an original speech designed to explain, define, describe, or illustrate a particular subject. The general purpose of the speech is for the audience to gain understanding and/or knowledge of a topic. Any other purpose such as to entertain or to convince shall be secondary. The use of audio/visual aids is optional. Maximum time shall be ten minutes with a thirty-second grace period. Overtime violators SHALL NOT be ranked first in the round by the judge. Any other penalty is at the discretion of the judge. Judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on official time before enforcing any overtime penalty. This contest comprises only memorized speeches composed by the contestants and not used by them during a previous contest season.

Not more than 150 words of the oration may be a direct quotation from any other speech or writing, and such quotations shall be identified in the written copy of the speech. Extensive paraphrasing of any source is prohibited. Violation shall result in disqualification from the tournament. A written copy of the oration must be available to the tournament director upon request. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.

PROGRAM ORAL INTERP: POI is a program of oral interpretation of thematically-linked selections chosen from at least two genres: prose, poetry, drama (plays). At least two pieces of literature that represent at least two separate genres must be used. Unlike the other interpretation events, Program Oral Interpretation may use multiple sources for the program. All selections must be verbally identified by title and author. Competitors are encouraged to devote approximately equal times to each of the genres used in the program. This distinction pertains to these genres as a whole, not types of literature within a genre (such as fiction/nonfiction). Prose expresses thought through language recorded in sentences and paragraphs: fiction (short stories, novels) and non-fiction (articles, essays, journals, biographies). Poetry is writing which expresses ideas, experience, or emotion through the creative arrangement of words according to their sound, their rhythm, their meaning. Poetry may rely on verse and stanza form. The use of a manuscript during the performance is required. Common practices include the use of a binder or folder. Reading from a book or magazine is not permitted. The intact manuscript may be used by the contestant as a prop, so long as it remains in the contestant’s control at all times. No costumes or props other than the manuscript are permitted. The contestant must address the script; however, introduction and transitional material may be memorized. Maximum time shall be ten minutes with a thirty-second grace period. Overtime violators SHALL NOT be ranked first in the round by the judge. Any other penalty is at the discretion of the judge. Judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on official time before enforcing any overtime penalty. Transitional phrases may be used in Program Oral Interpretation but must meet the following word requirements. Violation will result in disqualification.

a. No selection may use more than 100 total transitional words.

b. These words cannot be used to write new scenes to any piece of literature.

c. The 100 words cannot all be used in one particular location within the selection.

d. All transitional phrases must be written in the margin, by hand, on the highlighted photocopies of the original source material for checking in case of protest. At TFA State, this will be used to check that the number does not exceed the 100-word limit.

e. Introductions do not count as part of the transitional phrases.

NOTE: All HIRED judges are required to be on stand-by during off-rounds. We ask all school affiliated to judges to please check at the judge table in Hospitality (UTC 2.102A) to pick up any last second fills during your off-rounds.

After the conclusion of the round, please submit round ranks and ballot comments promptly and return to Hospitality as convenient.

We ask that all judges direct their attention to writing ballots of the highest quality. Forensics is first and foremost an educational activity, and ballots are the best source for reactions and suggestions for improvement. Please do not use profanity of any kind on ballots. Please also refrain from the use of any cell phone or social media activity during rounds and insure the same of all students competing or observing rounds.

Ballots are online using the Tabroom.com system. Round assignments will be sent to judge email accounts. Judges should login using their Tabroom account for access to ballots to be used in rounds. We ask judges to arrive at competition rooms at least 5 minutes prior to the round start time, and to please press the “start round” button as soon as they are situated in their competition rooms.

Comments should be written with constructive suggestions in mind. A rationale for the ranking should be included as part of the comments.

Please also allow students who are cross-entered during a pattern or who must depart in time for an Extemp Draw or to get across campus to leave early if necessary. Students who do not meet either of these circumstances should not depart rounds until the last speaker has performed. Please adjust speaking order, if necessary, to allow cross-entered students to perform and depart as soon as possible.

During the round, please keep time for all of the performances and indicate the elapsed time on the ballot. Time signals MUST be given in the two Extemporaneous events. For prepared events, please honor requests for time signals, even though they may distract from your full enjoyment of the presentation. Please do not disclose ranks or ratings to competitors. NOTE: All events have a 30 second grace period. A student who goes beyond that 30 second grace period may not be ranked first in the round. Otherwise, ranking is at the discretion of the judge, and judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on the official time before enforcing any overtime penalty.

Please write your comments during the performance. Do not wait until the end of each presentation to record your comments. This will help to insure that rounds proceed according to the time schedule.

All judges in our system will have been given a sheet of preliminary assignments. ALL SCHOOL AFFILIATED JUDGES ARE COMMITTED TO AT LEAST THE NEXT ELIMINATION ROUND BEYOND THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR STUDENTS’ ROUNDS. This means that all judges will be used for each of the quarter-final rounds, and schools with continuing entries after that will be used for semis and finals.

REMINDER: Judges who fail to pick up assigned ballots will render their students ineligible for elimination round competition and fees will be assessed.