NITOC Speech Competition Events
Judge Orientation for Speech Events: We understand that each Stoa tournament around the country may use different Judge Training presentations at local tournaments throughout the year. To ensure that all our judges are judging from the same, national mindset for NITOC, we will present a mini Speech Judge Orientation at our Opening Ceremonies for our parents and coaches so everyone will be on the same page at NITOC. For those unable to attend the presentation at Opening Ceremonies, we will provide more JOs throughout the week of NITOC (including right after the Opening)
NITOC 2016 will offer 12 Individual Events (Speech Events) grouped into four main disciplines and Breakout Impromptu
Interpretive Speeches:
Dramatic Interpretation: In Dramatic Interpretation the competitor creates a serious, original rendition from a single piece of literature which captivates and moves the audience.
Duo Interpretation: In Duo Interpretation two competitors create an original rendition from a single selection of literature which captivates and moves the audience.
Humorous Interpretation: In Humorous Interpretation the competitor creates an amusing, original rendition from a single piece of literature which captivates and entertains the audience. Stand-up comedy, or telling a series of jokes without a corresponding plot, is not Humorous Interpretation.
Open Interpretation: In Open Interpretation the competitor creates an original rendition from a selection or selections of prose or poetry (including unpublished work) which captivates and moves the audience.
Limited Preparation Speeches:
Apologetics: In Apologetics, the competitor is given four (4) minutes to prepare a speech that defends a tenet of the Christian faith. The speaker crafts a speech to reach those curious, not in agreement, or Biblically uninformed with persuasiveness and reasoning.
Extemporaneous Speaking: In Extemporaneous speaking the competitor answers a given question based on a recent event in the news. The competitor, alone or as part of a club, researches national and international current events and may create reference files of newsworthy information.
Mars Hill Impromptu: The competitor uses books, movies, and other genre to discuss the appeal and impact of the theme(s) within the topic, holding them up in light of Christian truth found in the Bible.
Platform Speeches:
Expository Speaking: An Expository speech is a prepared speech, written by the competitor, which explains or “exposes” a topic usually with the help of visual aids.
Original Oratory: An Original Oratory is a prepared speech, written by the competitor, on a topic of the speaker’s choice.
Persuasive Speaking: A Persuasive speech is a prepared speech, written by the competitor, which advocates a specific position or course of action.
Wild Card Event Speeches:
Monologue: A Monologue is a speech from a single character. The competitor interprets a monologue from a single published source. No original material for the monologue selection is allowed. A portion of the presentation may include a brief analysis, background, and/or context of the monologue. Entire presentation has a maximum time of five minutes.
Reminder for Monologue: This is not a Platform Speech in which "eye contact" is on the ballot. As in any interpretive event the student may or may not make eye contact depending on their interpretation of the selection.
Motivational Speaking: This platform speech is intended to motivate or inspire the listener. This is not a persuasive speech, but a stirring one with a message intended to uplift an audience. A single prop may be used as an object lesson or to illustrate a point.
Break Out Event
Impromptu: In Impromptu speaking the competitor is given two (2) minutes to prepare a speech on a randomly drawn quotation or topic.
Pattern A:
Apologetics
Dramatic Interpretation
Expository
Extemporaneous
Open Interpretation
Original Oratory
Pattern B:
Duo Interpretation
Humorous Interpretation
Mars Hill
Monologue
Motivational
Persuasive
Breakout Event:
Impromptu
Tournament Seeding and Ranking
Speech events at the Stoa National Invitational Tournament of Champions will be seeded based on the rankings on the Speechranks website. Seeding is based on a student’s three best performances during the speech and debate season. This provides a motivation toward continued excellence throughout the year, as that excellence is rewarded at NITOC.
Preliminary Rounds of speech will be “power protect” rounds. In Speech Events, all preliminary rounds will spread the top-ranked students, one per classroom, equal to the number of classrooms per event. This has advantages for both the top-ranked students and those that are not highly ranked as the competition is spread more evenly among the rooms.
For the top students, this means they will not have to compete against the other top students in prelims. This should increase their chances of advancing to outrounds. For the lesser-ranked students, this means they will not have to endure a prelim round with all the top-ranked students in their room. This should also increase their chances of advancing to outrounds.