Foreign Extemp

National Extemp

Impromptu

Time

7 minute maximum; 30 minutes prior prep time

7 minute maximum; 30 minutes prior prep time

5 minute maximum; 2 minutes prior prep time

Subject

Taken from previous 8 weeks of coverage in Time, Newsweek, US News & World Report

Taken from previous 8 weeks of coverage in Time, Newsweek, US News & World Report

Round 1: quotations
Round 2: general questions
Round 3: single-word abstracts

Research

General reading of 3 primary source magazines; additional particular reading/filing in Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal, National Review, Economist, etc

General reading of 3 primary source magazines; additional particular reading/filing in Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal, National Review, Economist,etc

General reading in a wide variety of sources; vocabulary building; daily conversations & class discussions

Delivery

Memorized outline; conversational, not "preachy"

Memorized outline; conversational, not "preachy"

Memorized outline; conversational, not "preachy"

Topic Selection

Choice from 3 topics prepared by tournament host; files/magazines allowed in extemp prep room only

Choice from 3 topics prepared by tournament host; files/magazines allowed in extemp prep room only

Judge presents topics in competition room; no research material allowed

Dramatic Interp

Humorous Interp

Duo Interp

Thematic Interp

Oratorical Interp

Time

10 minute maximum; no minimum

10 minute maximum; no minimum

10 minute maximum; no minimum

10 minute maximum; no minimum

10 minute maximum; no minimum

Subject

Cutting from a single work; serious

Cutting from a single work; humorous

Cutting from a single work; serious or humorous or both

Cuttings from at least 3 works; based in particular theme

Speech given by a real person

Delivery

Memorized; no props, make-ups, costumes

Memorized; no props, make-ups, costumes

Memorized; no props, make-ups, costumes

May be read; must have manuscript; no props, make-ups, costumes

Memorized; no props, make-ups, costumes

Topic Selection

Monologue or multiple characters; should be in good taste

Monologue or multiple characters; should be in good taste

Multiple characters (single character allowed); presentation balanced between partners should be in good taste

Monologue or multiple characters; should be in good taste

Formal public oration

Oratory

Advocacy

Expository

Prose/Poetry

Time

10 minute maximum; no minimum

10 minute maximum; no minimum

10 minute maximum; no minimum

10 minute maximum; no minimum

Purpose

Persuasive, but no solution needs to be offered

Persuasive, but solution must be offered

Informative

Creative

Subject

Usually philosophical; personal reflections/opinions on a controversial topic; alert the audience to a particular situation; strengthen devotion to a cause; eulogize a person

Practical; suggests governmental remedy to a problem either through creating a law, removing a law, or changing a law

Describes, clarifies, illustrates, or defines an object, idea, concept, or process

Short story, essay, monologue, or play; poetry; or combination of any; may be humorous or dramatic or both

Research

Supportive statements from authority; factual evidence and statistics; no more than 150 quoted words; paraphrases allowed if cited

Supportive statements from authority; factual evidence and statistics; no more than 150 quoted words; paraphrases allowed if cited

Visual aids allowed but not required; supportive statements from authority; factual evidence and statistics; no more than 150 quoted words; paraphrases allowed if cited

Delivery

Memorized

Memorized

Memorized

Memorized

Topic Selection

Should be current, but not overdone; must be of personal interest, easily researched, and in good taste

Should be current, but not overdone; must be of personal interest, easily researched, and in good taste

Must be in good taste

Must be in good taste

Team Debate

Lincoln-Douglas

Parliamentary Debate

Congress Debate

Format

Two teams of two persons each: one team affirms the proposition; one team negates the proposition

One person affirms the proposition; one person negates the proposition

Two teams of two persons each: one team affirms the proposition; one team negates the proposition

A type of group discussion in which participants choose either to affirm or negate a proposition

Time

90 minutes divided among speakers from two teams; maximum length of a speech = 7 minutes; preparation time provided

45 minutes divided between two speakers; maximum length of a speech = 7 minutes; preparation time provided

Approximately 60 minutes divided among speakers from two teams; maximum length of a speech = 7 minutes; preparation time provided

90 minute session: individual speeches have a maximum length of 3 minutes plus 1 minute of cross-examination

Subject

Determined by National Forensic League; based on an question of national or international policy

Determined by National Forensic League; changes approximately once each semester; based on a question of philosophical value

Determined by local tournament; three types of proposition: statements of fact, questions of philosophical value; questions of policy

Determined by local tournament; usually a question of national or international policy

Research

Specific reading in both primary and secondary sources

General reading in both primary and secondary sources; general knowledge

General reading in both primary and secondary sources; general knowledge

Specific reading in both primary and secondary sources

Delivery

Use of notes is allowed; conversational, not confrontational

Use of notes is allowed; conversational, not confrontational

Use of notes is allowed; conversational, not confrontational; wit is encouraged

Use of notes is allowed; conversational, not confrontational