Participation in Extemporaneous Reading will train a student
to introduce and read excerpts from prose or poetry for the purpose of
appreciation or enjoyment. Specific sources for reading will be announced in
the fall of each year. The League Office will identify specific poems and
stories for contests.
Rules – Selection:
The
student will declare, prior to each draw, his/her choice of genre (Prose /
Poetry).
The
order of speaking shall be determined by lot.
Thirty
(30) minutes before the contest begins, the first reader shall draw three
cuttings. The reader shall immediately choose one of them, and return the
other two which will then be placed with the other cuttings remaining to
be drawn.
The
cuttings chosen shall be recorded by the event manager.
Each
of the succeeding readers shall, at intervals of six (6) minutes, in turn,
follow the same procedure.
In
finals at ALL levels of competition, the student may not perform a cutting
that s/he has performed in a preliminary round at that level of
competition.
In the
event that the student draws a previously performed cutting, s/he may draw
a substitute cutting.
After
the contestant has drawn a cutting, the student shall not confer, or have
any communication, with a coach or others until the reading has been
delivered. Each reader shall present the cutting draw slip to the
Room Manager or Judge(s) in the round.
For
poetry, students must read selections in the order listed on the draw
slip.
For prose, students must start at
the beginning of the prescribed cutting and read as much of the complete
cutting as time permits; however, students will be allowed to stop reading
at any point within the last minute.
If the
time has expired, the student shall complete only the sentence already
begun.
Allowable
cutting would include the elimination of "he said" and "she
said" once a character has been established, or the omission of
language objectionable to the contestant.
Rules – Performance:
The
student should be judged on the ability to introduce the excerpt with a
few appropriate extemporaneous remarks, and to read the selection with
effective vocal and bodily expression.
The
student may use a "teaser" as a part of the introduction.
However,
the "teaser" must be a part of the actual drawn section of the
story or poem.
If
the "teaser" appears within the cutting, it may not be
eliminated within the reading presented.
The
use of gestures is optional.
THE
ENTIRE DELIVERY TIME, INCLUDING THE REQUIRED INTRODUCTION, SHALL NOT EXCEED
SIX (6) MINUTES.