Brief Definitions of Events

MEMORIZED EVENTS

Coached by Sara Menssen, Sara Motley

Mentored by Kerrie More

ORIGINAL ORATORY

Also known as Oratory or O.O.

Speech is memorized and is intended to persuade the audience.  Oratory requires willingness to do extensive writing and research.  Time limit is ten minutes.

EXPOSITORY SPEAKING

Also known as Expos

Speech is a memorized speech intended to inform or enlighten the audience.  Visual aids, usually posters, are strongly recommended.  Expos, like Oratory, requires willingness to do extensive writing and research.  Time limit is ten minutes.

MEMORIZED PUBLIC ADDRESS with ANALYSIS

Also known as MPA or "mumpa"

Students present, analyze, and address previously given in an audience-speaker situation.  The speech must be memorized and requires dramatic skills.  Analysis requires writing skills.  Time limit is ten minutes.

INTERP EVENTS

Coached by Greg Adkins, Ryan Motley 

HUMOROUS INTERP

Also known as HOI or HI

Students are to read a published piece of literature that has an appropriate humorous theme.  Gestures are not allowed, however dramatic skills are essential.  Time limit is ten minutes.

SERIOUS INTERP

Also known as SOI, DI or Dramatic Interp

Students are to read a published piece of literature that has an appropriate serious theme.  Gestures are not allowed, however dramatic skills are essential.  Time limit is ten minutes.

DUO ORAL INTERP

Also known as DUO or Duo Interp

Two students (partners) are to perform a published piece of literature that has a humorous or dramatic theme.  Memorization and dramatic skills are essential.  This event is stylized acting.  Time limit is ten minutes.  This is a “varsity-only" event (meaning that it is not offered at one-day invitational JV tournaments).

SHORT PREP EVENTS

Coached by Chere' Anderson, Ivanna Fritz, and Josh Munro

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING

Also known as Extemp or EXT

Extemp is a short prep event focusing on social, political, and international and national current events.  The speaker has thirty minutes to prepare a five to seven minute persuasive speech using a number of current periodicals and student-created files.  Extemp requires a moderate research commitment and the willingness to remain up-to-date on current issues.

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING

Also known as Impromptu or IMP

Impromptu is a short-prep event that focuses on current social issues.  The speaker is given three minutes to prepare a three to five minute speech.  The topics are presented in the form of either quotations or editorial cartoons.  Impromptu requires a light research commitment and the ability to improvise.

LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE

Also known as LD Debate or Value Debate

LD Debate is modeled after the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates during the Civil War period.  LD Debate involves one-on-one debating about topics of moral, political, or social significance.  The national topic changes monthly.  Competitors research each topic and construct cases and arguments.  LD Debate requires moderate to heavy research load and the ability to speak with both prepared and impromptu presentations.  Until January, there is a novice division of this event for newcomers.

LEGISLATIVE DEBATE

Also known as Legi Debate, Parli Debate or Student Congress

Legi Debate is an individual debate modeled after congressional debate.  The topic area changes monthly.  Competitors research each topic and construct bills and arguments.  Moderate to heavy research commitment and the ability to speak in persuasive, prepared and impromptu presentations is essential.  This is a “varsity-only" event (meaning that it is not offered at one-day invitational JV tournaments.

PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE

Also known as Ted Turner Debate, Crossfire Debate or Turner Forum Debate

Public Forum Debate is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution.  A central tenet of the debate is that the clah of ideas must be communicated in a manner persuasive to the non-specialist or "citizen judge".  This new Montana event orgins' come from the popular CNN TV show Crossfire.  The topic area changes monthly.  Competitors research each topic and construct positions and arguments.  Moderate to heavy research commitment and the ability to speak in persuasive, prepared and impromptu presentations is essential.  This is a “varsity-only" event (meaning that it is not offered at one-day invitational JV tournaments