Speech Events Offered in the Virginia Forensics Leagues fall into four distinct categories: Limited Prep, Oratory, Scripted, and Interpretative Events.

Limited Prep Events

· Impromptu Speaking

· Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking

· Constitutional Commentary

· Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking

· Duo Improvisational Acting

· Extemp Commentary

Impromptu Speaking  a public speaking event in which a contestant draws a slip of paper out of an envelope. On these pieces of paper are thought-provoking quotations, one word abstracts, and general analytical questions. The speaker then spends two minutes preparing a five minute maximum speech.   Impromptu speaking is similar to Extemp, but far less structured and less evidence-based. I don't mean to discredit Impromptu speakers, since I am one. But Impromptu is less structured in order to allow for true spontaneity. In VaFL, a 3x5 notecard may be used.

Extemporaneous Speaking a public speaking event in which a contestant draws three slips of paper out of an envelope. On these slips are questions on current events, and the contestant must choose the question he/she is most comfortable speaking about. The questions asked of the contestant will deal with current events in either Domestic or Foreign issues, dependent upon the category in which a student registers.  After reading the options, the contestant chooses one topic, and then has half and hour to write and memorize a speech (5-7 minutes). This speech is then delivered in front of a judge who judges the speech based on content, analysis of the question, and delivery. In VaFL, a 3x5 notecard may be used.

Extemp Commentary (only in NoVaFL) like DX or FX, also a limited-prep event in which a student draws three questions and chooses one upon which he or she will then speak.  Extemp Commentary is only a five minute speech with a 20 minute prep.  Extemp Commentary is delivered sitting at a table across from a judge.  Therefore, close communication is the issue in this event.  An organized, cogent, developed, and warranted speech is still in order.  Topics are more broad than DX or FX.  In VaFL, a 3x5 notecard may be used.

Constitutional Commentary a public speaking event patterned to follow the American Legion Oratory Contest Assigned Topics section.  Students will draw a topic slip from the judge in the round, go out into the hall to practice their 3-5 minute speech on the Constitutional topic they drew.  An organized, cogent, developed, and warranted speech is in order.  Topics are chosen from one of the four assigned topics this year by the American Legion.  In VaFL, Constitutional Commentary must be memorized.

Duo Improvisation (only in SWVaFL) a duo event combining Impromptu and Duo Interpretations. Students choose three topics at random, selecting one. Seven minute time limit starts with selection of the final topic. Time can be used up any way possible between preparation and performance.   The students are to present an original and improvised performance.  The performance must involve two or more characters.  The performance is to include a resolution of a conflict, with an obvious beginning, middle and end.  There should be a relatively equal sharing of dialogue between the characters.  Characters can address each other or the audience, as appropriate.  Full range of movement is allowed.  Two chairs/desks may be used, but not required.  No other props, make-up, costumes or lighting may be used.  In SWVaFL, Duo Improv must be memorized.

Oratory Events

· Original Oratory

· Declamation (Oratorical Declamation)

Original Oratory speeches are 10 minutes long.  You write and memorize your speech before the tournament, and usually use the same speech for the whole year. Creativity and good writing ability are a must. And because you must deliver a memorized speech, you must learn to develop a good, natural speaking manner. Original Oratory is a speech to inspire. American Legion Oratories, dealing with an analysis of the Constitution, are not only acceptable, they are encouraged.  Motivational in nature, you're trying to convince your audience to do something, or think of something, in a different fashion This event is very delivery intensive.  If you don't think you can "work a crowd," don't enter this event. In VaFL, the speech must be memorized.

Declamation technically an Interpretive event, though it shares the most in common in terms of delivery with Original Oratory. You take a famous speech of the past, such as Kennedy's Inaugural Address or Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Free at Last" speech, edit it down to ten minutes, and deliver it yourself. This is generally considered an "easy" event, since you don't have to do much work aside from memorization, and Dec. tends to get less respect as an event then it deserves. In VaFL, the speech must be memorized and only open to freshmen and sophomores.

Scripted Events

· Interpretation of Prose

· Interpretation of Poetry

Interpretation of Prose may be either humorous or serious. It must, however, be prose interpretation. This means no plays, musicals, or speeches. Short stories are better for selections. Students must maintain the appearance of reading a script. In VaFL, a script must be used.

Interpretation of Poetry may be either humorous or serious. It must, however, be poetry interpretation. This means no plays, musicals, short stories, essays, or speeches. A long poem is acceptable or a program of various short poems composed according to authorship or theme is also acceptable. Students must maintain the appearance of reading a script. In VaFL, a script must be used.

Interpretive Events
Interpretive events, or “interps,” are the most delivery-intensive of all the public speaking events. They are 10 minute pre-memorized speeches, just like original events, but the resemblance ends there. You do not write your own speeches in this event; rather, you choose a published work (usually a play, poem, story, or famous speech), edit it down to ten minutes, and deliver it to your audience. This is the best event for non-political "actor" types, and Drama students who also take Public Speaking. The events themselves are as follows:

· Storytelling

· Duo Interpretation

· Humorous Interpretation

· Dramatic Interpretation

Storytelling much like G-rated HI. Your audience is pictured as kiddies. So keep it clean, funny, and set for children. You're still looking for funny, feel-good material. Usually lots of physical and situational humor. Though there are exceptions, the oft- accurate stereotype of a Storyteller is a speaker jumping around with hyperactive intensity, making unrealistic faces, using the most outrageous accents possible, and using not-quite risqué humor. Material comes from a published work of "children's literature." Again, you play all of your characters, and you usually have to differentiate their voices/attitudes/ stances a lot so the audience won't mix them up. In VaFL, the speech must be memorized.

Humorous Interpretation is the opposite of Dramatic Interp - you're looking for funny, feel-good material. Usually lots of physical and situation humor. See above in the description of Storytelling about what an HI performance is usually about.  Material comes from a play, as in a D.I., except you want at least four or five characters. Again, you play all of your characters, and you usually have to differentiate their voices/attitudes/stances a lot so the audience won't mix them up. In VaFL, the speech must be memorized.

Dramatic Interpretation uses heart-rending material. Watching a good D.I. is a very cathartic experience.  Most DIers feel spiritually exhausted after performance; they put their whole selves into it. You get your material from a play (nine times out of ten, though some people use dialog from books), usually with only 2 or 3 characters. More characters than that distracts the audience from the dramatic action. Note that you play all the characters; this distinguished D.I. from straight drama, and makes it a speech event. In VaFL, the speech must be memorized.

Duo Interpretation basically a DI or HI with two people performing two or more separate and distinct characters. Contestants may not touch each other or look each other in the eyes. The two must show interaction by doing their individual parts so it appears as though the two are actually talking to each other. All other rules and strategies applying to either DI or HI apply here. In VaFL, a Duo can either be scripted or memorized.

Debate Events

As Debate Events at VaFL usually run three rounds, students may not double-enter debate events, as can be done in Speech Events.

· Lincoln-Douglas Debate

· Public Forum Debate

· Policy (Cross-Examination) Debate

· Legislative Debate (Student Congress)

Lincoln Douglas Debate is one-on-one debate and is primarily focused on competing values. Every two months, a resolution is decided upon by coaches across the nation and it is debated at most tournaments within that two month period.   Resolutions generally take the form in which two values are pitted against each other. After an examination of these resolutions, underlying values will emerge. Debaters then write cases (the affirmative should write a 6 minute case and the negative should write a 3 and 1/2 minute case) that they present and continue the debate in the form of spontaneous rebuttals that should not bring up any new arguments that weren't already addressed in the cases.  In VaFL, LD Debate is Novice (first year), Junior Varsity (second year), Varsity (third year and up). Students are bumped up to the next division when they go 3-0 at any VaFL preliminary tournament.

Public Forum Debate is two-on-two team debate, primarily focused on speaking and persuasive ability.  Every month, a resolution is decided upon by coaches across the nation and it is debated at most tournaments within that one-month period.   Public Forum Debate was created in 2002 as an alternative to traditional team policy debate, which relies heavily on technical jargon, specific case structure criteria, and in some cases, a rapid pace of delivery. The event, originally named for National Forensic League benefactor Ted Turner, was based on his CNN network political/current affairs debate show Crossfire, and stresses persuasive communication to any public audience.

Legislative Debate (Student Congress) replicates the proceedings of the United States Congress. Before each tournament, students write bills and resolutions on a variety of issues pertaining to issues that face the United States Congress. The difference between these two types of legislation is that bills outline the parameters for an act of law whereas resolutions convey the sentiment or opinion of the chamber.  Students are divided into chambers of around 20 students. Each chamber represents a United States House of Representatives. Before the debating portion of the tournament begins, chambers must first vote on Presiding Officers (POs). One PO is elected for each of the three sessions of debate. The contestant who receives the most votes chooses which session he wishes to preside over (a matter of strategy). The Docket is predetermined, based on the date of submission of the legislation and cycling through the four topic areas: Domestic, International, Virginia, and Economic.  After POs are elected and the docket is set up, debate begins. The PO for first session opens debate on the first bill. He or she first calls for an authorship speech. This speech is given by a member of the school which wrote the bill only. It is allowed to be pre-written, so as to introduce the chamber to the intent of the bill and the basic arguments for it. The authorship speech is 3 minutes long and is followed by 2 minutes of questioning. If no one from the school is present to give the authorship, a 3-minute sponsorship speech is given, which is not pre-written. After the authorship, the PO calls for a 3-minute con speech to be given against the bill with 1 minute of questioning. After this cycle, cycles of pro and con speeches with 3 minutes of speaking and 1 minute of questioning are given until either: first, 60 minutes have been spent debating the bill; or, second, the chamber votes of previous question the bill; or, third, the chamber votes to table the bill.