Wisconsin has 17 forensics events. Students choose to do one or two events each year. The events can be divided into three groupings: Acting Categories, Speech Categories, and Interpretation Categories
ACTING CATEGORIES
*Duo Interpretation*
Duo Interpretation is a performance that creates an atmosphere of time and place, emphasizing development of character and appropriate physical movement. Lines are spoken from memory using offstage focus. (10 min)
Play Acting
Play acting is a scene or cutting from a one play by a group of two to five participants. Lines are spoken from memory and participants move as they would in a fully produced play. Costumes, make up, lights and props are not allowed. (12 min)
*Humorous Solo Acting*
Solo acting is a cutting from drama or other literature adapted to a humorous format, with brief transitions allowed. Costumes, make up, lights and props are not allowed. (10 min)
Storytelling
Students prepare four different stories on four different topics declared for the year and deliver a different story each round. The storyteller must sit in a chair, and may use vocal variation movement to illustrate details of the story. (8 min)
*Serious Solo Acting*
Solo acting is a cutting from drama or other literature adapted to a serious dramatic format, with brief transitions allowed. Costumes, make up, lights and props are not allowed. (10 min)
SPEECH CATEGORIES
Demonstration Speaking
The speaker is instructive and presents information on how to do something or how something works by exhibiting objects or physical activity. (10 min)
Four Minute Speaking
The speech includes well-developed material, which has the primary intent of informing. A range of support materials should be used. (4 min)
Moments in History
The speaker selects a historical topic within the time frame presented each year. The speaker uses information to compose and present a well-organized, informative speech. Visual materials may be used. (6 min)
*Oratory*
Students prepare a well-composed, persuasive speech on a significant topic of their choosing. (10 min)
Radio Announcing
The student presents a well-organized news broadcast with material provided each round. The broadcast must be prepared within 30 minutes and edited to a length of exactly 5 minutes. (5 min)
Special Occasion
The student must choose one of five real life public speaking situations and prepares a speech specific to that prompt. (6 min)
INTERPRETATION CATEGORIES
Farrago
Farrago combines pieces from a variety of literary genres (poetry, short stories, speeches, novels, etc) which address a central, specific theme or emotion. Manuscript use is required. (10 min)
Group Interpretation
This category presents a literary excerpt by 2-5 participants in such a manner that the audience imagines action being described rather than being performed or acted. Manuscript use is required. (12 min)
*Oral Interpretation of Literature (OIL)*
Contestants perform poetry and prose selections in alternating rounds. No original material allowed. Manuscript use is required. (10 min)
Poetry
Contestants choose a poem or group of poems centering on a specific theme or emotion. Original material is allowed. Manuscript use is required. (8 min)
Prose
A selection from prose literature (short stories, novels, essays, etc) centering on a specific theme or emotion is to be read. Original material is allowed. Manuscript use is required. (8 min)
*Events with * indicate NCFL qualifying events.
