Speech Team

Welcome to the home page of the Culver Speech team. Our 2006-2007 season was another amazing year of competition, culminating with seven teammates placing at the State Finals, including three forensics state runners-up and a Class AA State Runner-Up honor for the entire team! The 2007-2008 season has strong potential in continuing our trend of success. With 30 team members returning for this year and high interest among potential recruits, we're excited about the possibilities for the season. Hopefully we can match, if not surpass, last season's results. Feel free to explore the following options for more information about the team:

Overview

TEAM BACKGROUND

We are a member of the Indiana High School Forensic Association (IHSFA) and compete in a full season of speech tournaments from November through mid-March.   We are also a chartered member of the National Forensic League (NFL), which allows us participation in NFL sponsored events including voting power on issues that could affect change in NFL policies and constitution and membership to the NFL for individual competitors and coaches. In order to join the NFL, a competitor must earn a minimum of 25 points in sanctioned speech tournaments.

SPEECH (FORENSIC) EVENTS

In the IHSFA, the following events are included in speech competition:

Dramatic Interpretation: A 5-10 minute memorized excerpt that is taken from a play, novel, or short story of recognized literary quality which has been published in print.

Humorous Interpretation: A 5-10 minute memorized excerpt that is taken from a comedy, satire and/or humorous play, novel, or short story.

Poetry Interpretation: A 5-10 minute poetry program, which includes more than one poem and also is based on an over-arching theme. Not memorized.

Prose Interpretation: A 5-10 minute excerpt from a novel or short story that emphasizes narrative rather than dialogue. Not memorized.

Duo Interpretation: Two students interpret a dialogue scene or scenes from a play, screenplay or novel. They do not use props, costumes, or visual contact between them. Both can incorporate multiple characters if they wish.  Duo can be scripted or memorized.

Original Performance: A 5-10 minute piece, written by the competitor(s) performing it.  Original Performance can incorporate any of the "theatrical" interpretations performance styles: Dramatic, Humorous, Poetry, Prose, or Duo.  It can be scripted or memorized.

Oratorical Interpretation: A 5-10 minute memorized interpretation of a speech given originally by someone else.

Original Oratory: A 5-10 minute memorized persuasive speech on a thought-provoking issue or idea. The speech is written by the performer. No more than 150 words of quoted material may be used.

Extemporaneous Speaking: The speaker draws 3 current event topics and chooses one on which to speak for a maximum of 7 minutes. The speaker has 30 minutes of preparation time. There are two separate divisions: United States (Domestic) and Foreign.

Impromptu: Students are given a topic (word, current event, quote) 30 seconds before they speak. They then deliver a memorized, maximum 5 minute speech on the subject.

Broadcast: Students are heard, not seen, to determine their effective use of radio speaking. In the course of four rounds, they deliver a newscast, commercial, editorial and an on-the-spot delivered from their imagination.

Discussion: Students participate in a problem-solving discussion. The topic changes three times a year. Demonstration of reasoning skills and an ability to discuss cooperatively with the members of the group to select a "best" solution is encouraged.