Duo Commentary

Procedure: The MIFA office will supply specific Commentary speaking topics for regional and state tournament rounds. The Tournament Director supplies topics. Judge(s) receive a copy of the topics for Duo Commentary and the list of speakers in order from the Prep Room. Each round will have a different theme. These themes will be made available at least 24 hours before the start of a tournament. Each duo will draw a total of three topics from a beginning field of 10. The contestants will then choose one of those three topics to speak on. Contestants may use physical or digital means to research for their presentation but must not confer with individuals outside of their duo.

After preparation, the judge and contestants should follow this process:

1. The person in charge of the commentary drawing will provide a master sheet for the judge(s) in each round with the code number of each duo by the appropriate topic. Each duo should give the chosen topic to the judge prior to the presentation. Only one duo per section may speak on a particular topic.

2. Following the presentation, the participants must remain in the contest room until the conclusion of the section unless otherwise indicated by the tournament director. A contestant who leaves the room following their presentation, without permission, may be assigned a rank of four with no percentage points and/or disqualified from further participation in the particular tournament.

3. The judge must return all copies of the commentary speaking topics to the tabulation room with his or her ballot.

BASIS FOR DECISION

Oral Presentation: Speaking time between the two contestants should be balanced and not dominated by one speaker. The delivery of the speech should be enthusiastic, direct, sincere, and communicative. The speakers' delivery should give the impression of genuineness, professionalism, and persuasive argumentation. The speakers’ delivery should be effective in enlisting and holding the interest of the audience. The speakers may deliver the speech from a manuscript, memory, an outline, or any combination thereof. Digital notes are permitted.

Action and Platform Conduct: The speakers should exhibit personality, maintain direct eye contact with the audience, and show physical poise. Contestants may look at each other or make physical contact during the speech but contact should be limited and not dominate the presentation. Prompting from the audience is not allowed and could be the basis for disqualification.

Timing: Each presentation must be timed. Either the judge or an alternate timekeeper, under the supervision of the judge, is responsible for using a stopwatch and for displaying time cards that are clearly visible to the contestant unless the performer prefers not to have visual timing. The number showing on the card should indicate the amount of time remaining. Judges should give an oral report of the actual time at the completion of each performance. Timing must be indicated on the ballot as well as on the contestants' critique sheets. Presentations that do not conform to the suggested time parameters may be penalized at the discretion of the judge. Penalties are not mandatory for timing irregularities.

HIGH SCHOOL: Time limit for Duo Commentary in high school is four (4) minutes to seven (7) minutes.

Contestant Evaluation: The ballot must be completely filled out and needs to include the contestants’ name and code, topic, the rank, the percentage score, and the time of the presentation. Judges are to complete their ballots legibly.

Each judge shall rank the participants as 1,2,3, according to the relative merits of the entries. All other entries will receive a rank of 4. The judge shall also assign a percentage score ranging from 100 to 75. No two entries can be given the same percentage.

All point scores must be assigned in whole integers. One hundred percent must be assigned to the best contestant with the points for all other contestants in the range of 99-75. The assignment of a score between 79-75 should be reserved for special circumstances; such as when a duo fails to complete their presentation, exhibits inappropriate behavior, or performs highly inappropriate material.

Critique sheets and ballots must be returned to the ballot collection/tabulation room at the conclusion of each round.

Note: Please follow the instructions given at the judge’s meeting concerning speaking order. Regionals & State Finals use the order as listed on the schematic.