2025 Tournament Director: Amy Janz
Assistant Tournament Director: TBD
2025 Tournament Events
SPIRIT OF COMPETITION
While this competition is meant to be a “fun” tournament, we expect a reasonable level of professionalism and decorum. In the “spirit of competition,” students should be prepared accordingly. Pieces should reach minimum time recommendations, be reasonably prepared, and be appropriate for presentation to a public audience (see Standards for Performance, below). Further, performance pieces should never ridicule or degrade other participants, schools, or the activity. Pieces should meet the standards for appropriateness used during the regular competition season. Failure to meet these standards may incur scoring penalties or other team sanctions determined appropriate by the tournament director and/or the MSCI Executive Board. MSCI shall base these decisions on the seriousness of the rule infringement.
STANDARDS FOR PERFORMANCE
All performances should be appropriate for a general audience. Although these presentations are not specifically designed for children, the material should be deemed suitable for family viewing. The material may contain little to no violence, no strong language, no drug use or references and no sexual dialogue or situations. The performances can contain witty jokes and humor and some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation, but they are common everyday expressions. It is expected that in all categories these considerations will still be followed.
Duo Interpretation (5 - 8 minutes) Duo Interpretation is the presentation by two participants of a single selection of humorous or serious literature from any genre or a selection that combines genres (e.g. drama and prose). The art of interpretation is to be regarded as re-creating believable characters in the selection presented. Duo Interpretation will follow all normal MIFA rules for the event. Performances must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA rules apply. Ballot Here
Nat-Geo Interpretation (5-8 minutes) Performers will immerse themselves in the captivating world of nature documentaries found on either National Geographic or Animal Planet channels. This event will feature a blend of storytelling, narration and animal interpretation that invites audiences to experience the thrill and wonder of the animal world. Choose an episode of any Call of the Wild type show (i.e. Animals Gone Wild, Africa’s Wild Side, Big Cat Tales, etc.) and create a cutting from the episode’s transcript that brings to life the captivating experience of your chosen animal. Performances must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA rules apply. Ballot Here
Mini-Multiple - Storytelling Edition (7-10 minutes) Mini-Multiple - Storytelling Edition is the presentation of a selection of literature appropriate for young children (picture books, fairy tales, legends, etc) by three to five participants. Think: storytelling with partners. The entire script (including original transitions, introductions, and conclusions) must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA Multiple rules apply. Ballot Here
Pop Culture Analysis (5-8 minutes) Pop Culture Analysis is an original persuasive speech that discusses any aspect of pop culture from any era. Speakers can persuade how their pop culture phenomenon has influenced society, values or trends; examine how it has impacted historical events, social movements, culture, or controversies; analyze the key figures, creators, and their roles in shaping the phenomenon, or investigate the impact and implications of audience reception and engagement surrounding the phenomenon. The speech should be presented in a persuasive manner to lead the audience to accept the presenter’s interpretation and analysis.
Performances must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA rules apply. Ballot Here
Soapbox Sales (3-4 minutes) Soapbox Sales is a quick sales pitch for an existing product or service designed for maximum impact. Imagine a bustling street corner with a sea of distractions. You have moments to captivate passing pedestrians with a narrative that resonates, identifies needs, and offers solutions in order to make the sale. Use creativity, personality, human psychology, etc. to maximum effect to immediately hook your potential customers. Visual aides are optional but if used must originate and fit into pockets. Performances must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA rules apply. Ballot Here
Impromptu-Declamation (6 minutes). Schools are limited to a maximum of three entries in this event. Impromptu-Declamation combines both MIFA events into one. Contestants will perform a tournament selected oration written by another person and have limited time to prepare a spontaneous/unrehearsed performance. Contestants will receive declamation type speech and will use their prep time to read through it and think about the best way to perform the speech. contestants will use their six minutes to peruse a declamation speech script, consider the best way to perform it, and then perform the speech much like an audition reading. Each round will have a theme such as historical, literary, or pop culture. Ballot Here
Poetry Slam - Students perform their original poetry in a spoken-word competition evaluated by 5 judges (scored on a scale of 1-10, using one decimal point). Poems must be no longer than 3 minutes. Students may not use any props, stools, or musical accompaniment. Poems and physical actions must still comply with the Standards For Performance, found above. The high and low score will be dropped and the three remaining scores will be added together to determine the poet’s score for the round. There will be a .5 deduction for each 10 seconds the poem goes over 3 minutes, with a 10-second grace period. This means that the penalty goes into effect at 3:11. All participants need to be prepared with a minimum of 3 poems, as students may not repeat poems and will need a third poem if they qualify for the final round. There will be 2 preliminary rounds of slam, so each poet will read at least twice. Students will be placed in sections of 4-8 for each flight. There may be 2 or more flights of slammers in each round. The final round will take place in the theatre during lunch. After finals, Slam participants will eat lunch and spend the remainder of the day participating in a writer’s workshop.
Progressive Debate – In Progressive Debate individuals, as opposed to teams, debate. Debaters will present using the April NSDA Public Forum topic. There will be approximately 4-6 debaters in each round. Speaker number one will present a short constructive speech (3 minutes). Speaker two will cross examine speaker one (2 minutes). After the cross examination, speaker two will present a rebuttal to speaker one (3 minutes), then immediately move into their own constructive arguments (3 minutes). Debaters will continue until the final speaker. The first speaker will cross examine the last speaker and then present a rebuttal to the last speaker’s arguments. Speakers will be scored like an individual forensic event. Judges often will be lay judges with no special debate training.
While this competition is meant to be a “fun” tournament, we expect a reasonable level of professionalism and decorum. In the “spirit of competition,” students should be prepared accordingly. Pieces should reach minimum time recommendations, be reasonably prepared, and be appropriate for presentation to a public audience (see Standards for Performance, below). Further, performance pieces should never ridicule or degrade other participants, schools, or the activity. Pieces should meet the standards for appropriateness used during the regular competition season. Failure to meet these standards may incur scoring penalties or other team sanctions determined appropriate by the tournament director and/or the MSCI Executive Board. MSCI shall base these decisions on the seriousness of the rule infringement.
STANDARDS FOR PERFORMANCE
All performances should be appropriate for a general audience. Although these presentations are not specifically designed for children, the material should be deemed suitable for family viewing. The material may contain little to no violence, no strong language, no drug use or references and no sexual dialogue or situations. The performances can contain witty jokes and humor and some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation, but they are common everyday expressions. It is expected that in all categories these considerations will still be followed.
Duo Interpretation (5 - 8 minutes) Duo Interpretation is the presentation by two participants of a single selection of humorous or serious literature from any genre or a selection that combines genres (e.g. drama and prose). The art of interpretation is to be regarded as re-creating believable characters in the selection presented. Duo Interpretation will follow all normal MIFA rules for the event. Performances must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA rules apply. Ballot Here
Nat-Geo Interpretation (5-8 minutes) Performers will immerse themselves in the captivating world of nature documentaries found on either National Geographic or Animal Planet channels. This event will feature a blend of storytelling, narration and animal interpretation that invites audiences to experience the thrill and wonder of the animal world. Choose an episode of any Call of the Wild type show (i.e. Animals Gone Wild, Africa’s Wild Side, Big Cat Tales, etc.) and create a cutting from the episode’s transcript that brings to life the captivating experience of your chosen animal. Performances must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA rules apply. Ballot Here
Mini-Multiple - Storytelling Edition (7-10 minutes) Mini-Multiple - Storytelling Edition is the presentation of a selection of literature appropriate for young children (picture books, fairy tales, legends, etc) by three to five participants. Think: storytelling with partners. The entire script (including original transitions, introductions, and conclusions) must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA Multiple rules apply. Ballot Here
Pop Culture Analysis (5-8 minutes) Pop Culture Analysis is an original persuasive speech that discusses any aspect of pop culture from any era. Speakers can persuade how their pop culture phenomenon has influenced society, values or trends; examine how it has impacted historical events, social movements, culture, or controversies; analyze the key figures, creators, and their roles in shaping the phenomenon, or investigate the impact and implications of audience reception and engagement surrounding the phenomenon. The speech should be presented in a persuasive manner to lead the audience to accept the presenter’s interpretation and analysis.
Performances must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA rules apply. Ballot Here
Soapbox Sales (3-4 minutes) Soapbox Sales is a quick sales pitch for an existing product or service designed for maximum impact. Imagine a bustling street corner with a sea of distractions. You have moments to captivate passing pedestrians with a narrative that resonates, identifies needs, and offers solutions in order to make the sale. Use creativity, personality, human psychology, etc. to maximum effect to immediately hook your potential customers. Visual aides are optional but if used must originate and fit into pockets. Performances must comply with the Standards For Performance. All other MIFA rules apply. Ballot Here
Impromptu-Declamation (6 minutes). Schools are limited to a maximum of three entries in this event. Impromptu-Declamation combines both MIFA events into one. Contestants will perform a tournament selected oration written by another person and have limited time to prepare a spontaneous/unrehearsed performance. Contestants will receive declamation type speech and will use their prep time to read through it and think about the best way to perform the speech. contestants will use their six minutes to peruse a declamation speech script, consider the best way to perform it, and then perform the speech much like an audition reading. Each round will have a theme such as historical, literary, or pop culture. Ballot Here
Poetry Slam - Students perform their original poetry in a spoken-word competition evaluated by 5 judges (scored on a scale of 1-10, using one decimal point). Poems must be no longer than 3 minutes. Students may not use any props, stools, or musical accompaniment. Poems and physical actions must still comply with the Standards For Performance, found above. The high and low score will be dropped and the three remaining scores will be added together to determine the poet’s score for the round. There will be a .5 deduction for each 10 seconds the poem goes over 3 minutes, with a 10-second grace period. This means that the penalty goes into effect at 3:11. All participants need to be prepared with a minimum of 3 poems, as students may not repeat poems and will need a third poem if they qualify for the final round. There will be 2 preliminary rounds of slam, so each poet will read at least twice. Students will be placed in sections of 4-8 for each flight. There may be 2 or more flights of slammers in each round. The final round will take place in the theatre during lunch. After finals, Slam participants will eat lunch and spend the remainder of the day participating in a writer’s workshop.
Progressive Debate – In Progressive Debate individuals, as opposed to teams, debate. Debaters will present using the April NSDA Public Forum topic. There will be approximately 4-6 debaters in each round. Speaker number one will present a short constructive speech (3 minutes). Speaker two will cross examine speaker one (2 minutes). After the cross examination, speaker two will present a rebuttal to speaker one (3 minutes), then immediately move into their own constructive arguments (3 minutes). Debaters will continue until the final speaker. The first speaker will cross examine the last speaker and then present a rebuttal to the last speaker’s arguments. Speakers will be scored like an individual forensic event. Judges often will be lay judges with no special debate training.