Dear Coaches:
The Ball State University Speech Team and Burris Laboratory School are pleased to
invite you to the Red Carpet Affair high school speech tournament to be held on the Ball
State campus on December 12, 2015. Our one-day tournament will include 3 preliminary
rounds and one final round of competition for both varsity and novice competitors…if
entry size permits novice sections (e.g. at least 12 novice entries). If entry numbers are
smaller, the divisions will be combined and we will recognize top novices at awards.
Awards will be presented to the top six speakers in each event and the top five schools.
Registration will be in the lobby of the David Letterman Building from 7:00-7:45 on the
day of the tournament. Extemp draw for round one will begin at 8:00, and the first round
for all events will begin at 8:30. You will receive an entry confirmation e-mail that will
also include directions and parking information. We look forward to welcoming you to
our beautiful campus. If you have any questions regarding the tournament, directions, or
hotels please call or email the tournament director, Michael Storr at mlstorr@bsu.edu or
(309) 256-2606. We hope to see you in December for a lovely night (well, morning and
afternoon) at the Oscars!
Mary Moore
- Director of Individual Events, BSU
Ashley Coker
- Assistant Director of Individual Events, BSU
Michael Storr - Assistant Coach, Tournament Director, BSU
Fred Shears - Burris Laboratory School
Registration, Tournament Information, Events
We will offer Humorous, Dramatic, Declamation, Discussion, Prose, Poetry, Original
Oratory, Impromptu, Foreign Extemp, U.S. Extemp, Memorized Duo, Scripted Duo,
Radio Broadcasting, Original Performance, Informative, & POI.
You can only enter 5 students per event with a maximum entry of 60 slots per school.
The maximum entry of 60 should include both varsity and novice competitors. For our
tournament, novice is defined as a student who has not competed in high school
competition prior to Aug. 1, 2015.
Radio – Students will come with prepared material for rounds 1, 2, and 3
Round I – INTERNATIONAL NEWSCAST (2 minutes max…newscast should focus on
an issue outside the United States); Round II - ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL (bring in a
self-written commercial advertising a national product, 2 minutes max); Round III –
ORIGINAL EDITORIAL (bring in a self-written editorial focusing on any issue related
to primary or higher education, 3 minute max); Final round - ON-THE-SPOT (3 minute
preparation, 2 minute presentation max; based on an event in previous 10 days and
represented in USA Today)
Discussion Topic
The Socratic Seminar format will be used. All necessary material for the discussion will
be posted on Speechwire on the Monday prior to the meet.
Extemp
Students will draw rounds 1 and 3 and have their choice of either speech for the final
round.
Double Entry
Students may enter two events, with the exception of Discussion. In duo, both contestants
may double; however any given student may not participate in two duos of any kind.
Those students doubled in Impromptu must go to Impromptu last. Those students
doubled in Radio must go to radio first. Double- entered students are responsible for
getting to both events during rounds. While judges will be made aware of double entered
students on their ballots, students should still inform their judges that they are double
entered and if they do not make the round after the round time has elapsed they will
receive a last place score for the round. Please remind your students who wish to double
that they may have to change buildings between events.
SPECIAL NOTE ON DOUBLING: ONLY students who wish to enter Informative
and POI may TRIPLE enter but at their own risk.
Final Rounds
We will have final rounds in both open and novice (when the entry permits). Final rounds
will be the six students with the highest ranks and rates (speaker points) from preliminary
rounds. We will break ties on speaker points. Final round numbers increase in cases of
ties in both rank and rate. Varsity final rounds will have three judges, while Novice final
rounds will have only one judge. More judges will be assigned to novice finals if
allowed.
Awards
We will have awards for the top six in all events. Sweepstakes trophies are awarded to
the top five schools based on final rounds for both varsity and novice events. The point
breakdown for varsity and novice events is as follows:
VARSITY
6
5
4
3
2
th
th
th
rd
nd
NOVICE
th
place - 2 points
6
place - 4 points
5
place - 6 points
4
place - 8 points
3
place - 10 points
2
st
1 place - 12 points
th
th
rd
nd
place - 1 point
place - 2 points
place - 3 points
place - 4 points
place - 5 points
st
1 place - 6 points
Judge Requirements
Each school is required to provide one full-time qualified judge for each five entries
entered or portion thereof. For example:
1-5 entries = 1 judge
6-10 entries = 2 judges
11-15 entries = 3 judges
16-20 entries = 4 judges
We can arrange for hired judges. A hired judge must be hired for two rounds and
finals at a cost of $50.00 for every five uncovered entries or portion thereof.
Food
Concessions will be available. Please purchase food to help defray the cost of hosting.
Entering the Tournament
We should receive your entry no later than 5:00pm, Tuesday, December 8th. Please use
speechwire.com to enter. A fee of $2.50 will be assessed for each drop/add/change after
Thursday, December 10th at noon. A fee of $5.00 will be assessed for each drop/change
on the day of the tournament. Please text your same-day drops to Michael at (309)2562606 as early in the morning as possible. Michael will be awake at 5:00am to address
these issues if they arise. In order to ensure the smoothest tournament possible for
you/your team and your colleagues/their teams…please text as early as possible. In the
text, please identify your school name and the appropriate drops.
We look forward to seeing you in December!
Michael Storr
mlstorr@bsu.edu
309.256.2606
Tournament Director