GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY PATRIOT GAMES CLASSIC
Event Rules
Rules in printable Word document
Congress: NFL Rules
This is individual debate in a large group setting. Legislative debaters research and write pieces of Congressional legislation that they feel will
better the society in which we live. At a tournament, debaters will then speak on the legislation while using proper parliamentary procedure. Judges
score each competitor based on argumentation ability, speaking technique, knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and overall participation.
Public Forum Debate: NFL Rules
Public Forum Debate is audience friendly debate. You and a partner will debate controversial issues that are "stripped" from the newspaper headlines.
A new topic will be announced the first day of each preceding month at www.nflonline.org. This means we will be using the Public Forum Topic from December.
A Public Forum Debate round begins with a flip of a coin between the competing teams to determine your side and speaker position. Public Forum will test
your skills in argumentation, cross-examination, and refutation.
DUO: NFL Rules
Selections can be either humorous or dramatic. Selections shall be cuttings from published-printed novels,
short stories, plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials. Presentations must be memorized,
without props or costumes. Performers are allowed to represent one or more characters. The time limit is ten minutes.
Declamation: CFL Rules Eligible for Freshmen and Sophomore competitors only
The selection in this category must have been actually delivered in real life as a speech by a speaker other
than the present contestant. Selections may include, but are not limited to professional speeches, public orations,
former competition speeches, eulogies, sermons, etc. The introduction must name the work and author and describe
the actual circumstances under which the speech was originally presented. The original speaker's words may not be
altered for this presentation with the exception that cutting is permitted. The speech must be memorized.
The presentation should not exceed 10 minutes, including at most one minute of introduction and transitional
material other than the author's words
Dramatic Interpretation: NFL Rules
Selections are dramatic in nature. Selections shall be cuttings from published-printed novels, short stories,
plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials. Presentations must be memorized, without props or costumes.
Actors will utilize stationary blocking to enhance the interpretation. The time limit is 10 minutes which includes
an introduction.
Humorous Interpretation: NFL Rules
Selections are humorous in nature. Selections shall be cuttings from published-printed novels, short stories,
plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials. Presentations must be memorized, without props or costumes.
Actors will utilize stationary blocking to enhance the interpretation. The time limit is 10 minutes which includes
an introduction.
Original Oratory: NFL Rules
As orator you will be expected to research and speak intelligently, with a degree of originality, in an
interesting manner, and with some profit to your audience, about a topic you have chosen. Although many
orations deal with a current problem and propose a solution this is not the only acceptable form of oratory.
Your oration may simply alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause,
or eulogize a person. An orator is given free choice of subject and judged solely on the effectiveness of development
and presentation. The time limit is 10 minutes.
Extemporaneous Speaking: CFL Rules
Questions will encompass all areas of foreign and domestic issues. Speakers shall bring the printed topic slip
to the judge(s) in the round. The speaker should be held to strict adherence to the precise statement of the
topic selected and should be penalized for any obvious shift to a different topic. The speech must be extemporaneous,
and delivered without notes. The speech should not exceed seven (7) minutes.
Poetry Interpretation: CFL Rules
The selection should be literature, either as a single piece, a cutting, or a series of short pieces united by
theme or by author. Literature includes all forms of poetry, except plays and oratorical compositions written to be
delivered in real life situations. The author's words as published in the literature may not be altered for this
performance with the exception that cutting is permitted. Since this is to be a reading, the interpreters must
use a manuscript. Speakers may not take lines belonging to one character and apply them to a different
character in the performance. No costumes or properties may be used.
The selection must be delivered from center stage. Movement and gestures, if used, should be appropriate to the
selection. The presentation should not exceed 10 minutes, including at most one minute of introduction and
transitional material other than the author's words.
Prose Interpretation: CFL Rules
The selection should be literature, either as a single piece, a cutting, or a series of short pieces united by theme
or by author. Literature includes all forms of prose, fiction or nonfiction, except plays and oratorical compositions
written to be delivered in real life situations. The author's words as published in the literature may not be altered
for this performance with the exception that cutting is permitted. Since this is to be a reading, the interpreters
must use a manuscript. Speakers may not take lines belonging to one character and apply them to a different character
in the performance.
No costumes or properties may be used. The selection must be delivered from center stage. Movement and gestures,
if used, should be appropriate to the selection. The presentation should not exceed 10 minutes, including at most
one minute of introduction and transitional material other than the author's words.
Storytelling: VHSL Rules
Storytelling features the contestant presenting a children's story, as though the audience consists of a group of
children. Judging is based in storytelling ability. Students are judges in (1) introduction, (2) delivery, (3)
character development through physicalization and vocal variety and (4) entertainment value. No manuscript, prop,
costume, or excessive walking is allowable. The time limit is ten minutes.
Impromptu: VHSL Rules
The impromptu speech is a short, well-organized talk that makes a specific point. A student will blindly draw
three topics from the judge and choose one topic upon which to base the speech. The contestant is to be judges
upon (1) creative development of the topic, (2) organization and logic, (3) support of the speech, (4) adherence to
the topic and (5) delivery - creativity, eye contact, vocal variety and gestures. A 3 X 5 note card is permissible
though not necessary. The time limit is seven minutes from the selection of the topic, preparation, and delivery.
