Original Poetry

ORIGINAL POETRY OR ORIGINAL PROSE: A participant in Original Poetry or Original Prose will present their own compositions. Good interpretation requires total physical, vocal, and emotional involvement and identification with the characters and scene being presented. As in any type of performance, the degree of emotion depends on the written material. Words serve as the means of presenting to the listener's mind and senses the total experience inherent in the composition. The presentation should involve an audience on an imaginative level rather than a literal one.

The use of materials written by other authors, other than for introductory or transitional segments, may result in the disqualification of the contestant. In addition, since the intent of the event is to highlight original material, use of external sources for introductory or transitional presentations should be minimal. Either humorous or serious compositions are acceptable.

A participant may use the same selection in all rounds or have more than one selection to use from round to round. A contestant may not use a selection from a composition the individual has used in a prior year, except selections used at the Michigan Speech Coaches Association spring tournament last year may be repeated.

GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETATION EVENTS

Script availability: Contestants must have a script, available for a judge to review in the round if requested. The script may be a hard copy of the original, photocopy of the original, or an electronic version on a device that can be made available to the judge in the round. A judge request for a contestant’s script must be made within the time frame of that round of competition. Should a judge need more extensive review time, the judge should make arrangements through tournament officials and the contestant’s coach.

Introduction/transitional material: Contestants may include an introduction with some remarks descriptive of the work, including plot, themes, mood, setting, character, and/or information about the author(s); such information may be used as transitional material. Introductory and/or transitional material is included in the time limits and may include singing, humming, or other creative approaches.

Clothing: Street attire that suggests mood and character is permissible. Costumes that are unique to the stage, such as period dress and robes, are prohibited.

BASIS OF DECISION

Oral Presentation: Original characterizations are encouraged. Only sound created by the voice and the body of the interpreter is allowed. Mechanical aids or instruments are not permitted. Sound made by unaltered chairs, stools, and/or blox are permitted.

Platform Conduct: The contestant may gesture and move around the platform as necessary. Good interpretation requires total physical, vocal, and emotional involvement. The presentation should not be dominated by choreography, and movement should be appropriate to the theme of the presentation. The use of a manuscript or notes is optional. NO hand props, decorative scripts, lighting, scenery, reader’s stands, benches, platforms, or risers are permitted. ONLY chairs, stools, and blox (BLOX with an X is defined as: An object with a flat base, top and sides, typically square or rectangular) are acceptable. Any physical manipulation using a chair/stool/blox during a round is allowable and permissible.

Suitability of Composition: The selection of themes and the development of ideas is the province of the contestant. There is no preclusion on language and/or content; however, the contestant should be aware that audience response to ideas and language will vary. The contestant should reveal a desire to share the composition with the audience. Vocal expression should communicate the meaning of the language of the selection, awareness of relationships between ideas, and emphasis on what is important from what is not. The voice of the interpreter should be clearly audible and responsive to the thought and feeling of the composition.

Timing: Each presentation must be timed. Timing starts when the presentation of the contestant begins. 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.

OI Poetry: Time limit for OI Poetry in high school and/or middle level is two (2) minutes to four (4) minutes.

OI Prose: Time limit for OI Prose in high school and/or middle level is three (3) minutes to five (5) minutes.

Contestant Evaluation: The ballot must be completely filled out and needs to include the contestant's name and code, the author, 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 contestants. All other contestants will receive a rank of 4. The judge shall also assign a percentage score ranging from 100 to 75. No two contestants 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 contestant fails to complete his or her 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. Invitational tournaments may draw in round. Regionals & State Finals use the order as listed on the schematic.