Forensics and Performing Arts

This question is asked by many students, teachers, parents, and just ordinary Joe's. Well, although not well publicized, Forensics is a wide-spread event offered across the nation to young people from junior high to college. Riverdale's Forensics team is considered one of the best in the South, as well as the best in Southeast Louisiana. The many events offered at Speech Tournaments provide for a basis of experience in the future for these students. Events like Oratory and Declamation allow for students to modify their public speaking ability. Humorous, Dramatic, and Oral Interpretation provide for performing ability to these possible future actors/actresses. Extemporaneous Speaking, Student Congress, and Lincoln Douglass Debate creates an incentive for possible politicians to research, analyze, and speak on the issues offered for attention. Each student who enters a competition has the energy and desire to do well, thus the reason why Riverdale continually does well at speech tournaments. Below is a listing of descriptions for each event. As you pass through the various results of tournaments, you can see that Riverdale has a variety of talent on its team. Continue, and enjoy.

Humorous Interpretation:

This performing arts event allows for students to provide a humorous type of performance to an audience. Each piece is allocated 10 minutes at the maximum, and each competitor can only move in a 3 foot radius. Normally, pieces are scripts from a movie or play.

Dramatic Interpretation:

This performing arts event allows for students to provide a more serious type of performance to an audience. Each piece is allocated 10 minutes at the maximum, and each competitor can only move in a 3 foot radius. Normally, pieces are scripts from a movie or play.

Oral Interpretation:

This narrative event is very unique. In one round of competition, a piece of poetry is read, while in the following round, a prose is read to the audience. Each piece is performed from a small black binder. The performers generally move their upper-body to add to the performance, but generally, there is not much movement. Each piece is delegated 10 minutes at the maximum.

Declamation:

This performance is almost a recreation of a previous speech made by any person from any time. The competitor makes at the most a 10 minute speech, whether the content be serious or humorous. Movement is allowed, and generally is ranging from the span of a stage, or the span of the front of a classroom.

Original Oratory:

This event allows for the creativity of the competitor to show. The speech should be persuasive in nature. This speech is totally written by the student, and is limited to 10 minutes at the maximum. Movement ranges the same as Declamation. The content of the speech can range from dramatic to funny.

Duo Reading:

This event involves two students coordinated in performance and motion. Each student has a small black binder with their script, and read their performance, normally with the range of motion similar to Oral Interpretation. The competitors may not touch each other, nor look at each other. The performers perform to the audience as though the other competitor was right in front of them, allowing for the audience to see every facial expression. This event is limited to 10 minutes at the maximum.

Duet Acting:

This event is similar to Duo Reading, but the range of motion is unlimited, meaning the performance can take place all throughout the room. The competitors may look at each other, touch each other, and are not using a script. This event can range from dramatic to humorous (generally humorous). The event is limited to 12 minutes maximum. This event is not sponsored by the National Forensic League nor the Catholic Forensic League, but is more of an event for fun. This event is, however, sponsored by the Louisiana High School Speech League.

Extemporaneous Speaking:

This event starts in a preparation room, known as Extemp Draw. In draw, each student at a designated time will draw three prewritten topics, decided on one topic, then proceed to prepare a speech for 30 minutes, using whatever materials they have brought (not including cell phones or laptops). Afterwards, they proceed to their round, where they give a speech for at the maximum 7 minutes. This speech is generally politically focused, normally analyzing the topic for a debate-type speech. The range of motion is that of Oratory.

Student Congress:

Legislative Debate is very unique. It is in a sense a mock-congress, where the competitors are senators/representatives. A presiding officer is elected, and runs the chamber. In advance, a packet of bills and resolutions are written by the competitors and organized and labeled. The students research the legislation in advance. The chamber follows Robert's Rules of Order, modified. They set a docket of debate, and vote after the necessary debate/motions. Each speaker gets 3 minutes to make a speech, and under certain circumstances, get at the most 2 minutes of questioning by the chamber. Speeches range from serious, to political, to even humorous.

Lincoln Douglass Debate:

This event is based on the presidential debates of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglass. In advance, a resolution questioning a moral/ethical stance is given, and the students research whatever necessary. Each student is selected on what side of the debate they will stand (affirmative or negative). Each student follows a process of debate, with speaking time an cross-examination.

Now that you know what we do, we hope that you will enjoy our website, as well as support our causes to advance today's youth to successful public speaking and performing arts.