(a) PURPOSE OF THE CONTEST. The purpose of this contest is to encourage the student to understand, experience, and share prose works through the art of oral interpretation.

(1) Oral Interpretation. Oral interpretation, or the study of literature through its performance, can be defined as a combination of analysis, performance and communication skills offered publicly on behalf of literature.

(2) Goals of Oral Interpretation. Oral interpretation focuses on literature in performance through expressive oral reading. The goals of this contest are to encourage the contestant’s exploration of a variety of literary selections and to enhance the performer’s and audience’s appreciation of literature through the performer’s interpretation of the work.

(3) Questions. The oral interpreter should work from these questions:
(A) What elements of the work are important to performance?
(B) What physical, vocal, intellectual, and emotional resources can the performer bring to the work?
(C) How can this work best be communicated to the audience?
(D) What kind of introduction will be most effective?

03/13/2008

JManry