Prose & Poetry
Encyclopedia
Prose & Poetry, or Prose-Poetry (sometimes Original Prose & Poetry), is a competitive speech event practiced by state high-school forensics
or debating associations such as the Ohio High School Speech League
and the California High School Speech Association
, but not by the National Forensic League
(NFL). The NFL does have consolation events in Prose Interpretation
and Poetry Interpretation at the National Tournament, but these are only open to competitors who qualified in other events and were eliminated before the late elimination rounds.
Competitors in Prose & Poetry (short form: P-P) read an unmemorized cut of prose or poetry, which is typically read from a small black binder. A short memorized introduction precedes the prose or poetry reading. The time limit for these events is typically seven minutes, occasionally with a 30 second grace period, though in some areas the time limit is ten minutes. Competition rules are the same as for NFL interpretation events.
In the California High School Speech Association
, the event is more similar to Original Oratory
in the sense that competitors have a ten-minute time limit on a memorized original work; it works much as an interpretation event with emphasis on acting as well as speaking, but is not cut from an outside source.
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
or debating associations such as the Ohio High School Speech League
Ohio High School Speech League
The Ohio High School Speech League is the body that organizes high school forensic competition in the state of Ohio. The OHSSL provides all of the National Forensic League events, but several other events including Oratorical Interpretation, and Prose & Poetry. In the 2001-2002 season Impromptu...
and the California High School Speech Association
California High School Speech Association
The California High School Speech Association, or CHSSA, is a speech and debate organization offered to all schools in the state of California. It is the governing body for local and state speech and debate competitions in California, with higher-level competition under the auspices of the National...
, but not by the National Forensic League
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
(NFL). The NFL does have consolation events in Prose Interpretation
Prose Interpretation
Prose interpretation is a non-memorized event in which competitors choose a published piece of work that is not poetry or drama. The piece should be cut to no more than 10 minutes...
and Poetry Interpretation at the National Tournament, but these are only open to competitors who qualified in other events and were eliminated before the late elimination rounds.
Competitors in Prose & Poetry (short form: P-P) read an unmemorized cut of prose or poetry, which is typically read from a small black binder. A short memorized introduction precedes the prose or poetry reading. The time limit for these events is typically seven minutes, occasionally with a 30 second grace period, though in some areas the time limit is ten minutes. Competition rules are the same as for NFL interpretation events.
In the California High School Speech Association
California High School Speech Association
The California High School Speech Association, or CHSSA, is a speech and debate organization offered to all schools in the state of California. It is the governing body for local and state speech and debate competitions in California, with higher-level competition under the auspices of the National...
, the event is more similar to Original Oratory
Original Oratory
Original Oratory is a competitive event in the National Forensic League, National Catholic Forensic League, and other high school forensic competitions in which competitors deliver an original speech on a subject of their choosing, though the speech must be factual....
in the sense that competitors have a ten-minute time limit on a memorized original work; it works much as an interpretation event with emphasis on acting as well as speaking, but is not cut from an outside source.