JUDGING INTERP

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What is Interp Speaking?

You present poetry, prose and/or play material cut to advance a point/insight you wish to

communicate. In addition to the material that you perform, you also have an introduction stating the

point/insight made by the material, the author(s) of the material, and the title of the piece(s).

Timing

Elementary students speak for up to 5 minutes.

Middle School students speak for up to 7 minutes.

High School students speak for up to 10 minutes.

If a student is 30+ seconds over time, you MUST stop them and they get ranked 1 lower.

What’s in a typical Interp Speech?

--TEASER—a short cutting from the speaker’s literature piece(s)
(note—this is not required; some speakers begin with their introduction)

--INTRO explaining the literature piece(s), stating the author and title, and the argument/point the speaker draws from the piece(s)

--THE CUTTING the longer section of the speaker’s literature piece(s). This is typically most of the speaking time.

Interp Rules

1. Contestants may remain in the room for other speeches.

2. Pieces can be published works or self-penned material that is poetry, prose, or script.

3. Speakers should at most minimally look at the manuscript of their interpretation pieces (on paper or an electronic device)

4. Students may not use props, makeup, or costumes.

5. Expressions, gestures, body positions and upper body movement are allowed as a means of characterization. Full body movement is permitted but movement of your feet should be kept to a minimum usually at most one step from your starting standing position.

6. The title and author for each piece must be identified during the presentation.

Feedback you can give

TEASER/BEGINNING PART OF THE READING

___ You need a teaser

___ I liked your teaser (state why to the right)

___ Your teaser needs to raise more interest

STUDENT INTRODUCTION OF THE PIECE(S)

___ Your introduction needs to describe the piece(s) better

___ You need to state the author(s) and name of the piece(s)

___ State the theme of your piece(s) more accurately

___ Your introduction needs a better theme

___ Explain the theme in more depth

___ Explain how your theme/piece is important/useful

What is a theme? It’s a statement of the point that the piece makes.

THE PIECE(S)

___ I liked your piece(s) (state why in the column to the right)

___ I would suggest different pieces (explain why)

___ You need to cut your pieces differently (explain)

___ The piece is a bit confusing; explain it better in the intro

___ Work on transitions between sections of the pieces

INTERPRETATION PRESENTATION OF THE PIECE(S)

___ You interpreted well (explain why to the right)

___ Read better (explain how to the right)

___ Need to memorize your piece better

___ Work on expressing your characters’ personalities better

___ Distinguish your characters from each other better

___ Work on how you switch from one character to another

___ Work on expressing your character’s feelings better

___ Better express the meaning of what you are reading

___ Reduce melodramatic reading; be more natural

___ Increase your intensity/energy

___ Work on pauses between interactions between characters

___ Work on your hand gestures

___ Work on your body posture and movement

___ Cut out um/uh/okay etc.

___ Use more vocal variety

___ Increase the energy in your voice

___ Speak more quickly

___ Speak slower; use pauses

___ Avoid sighing/breathing loudly as it makes you sound bored

___ You need a focal point; a spot to look while presenting

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