Exploring argumentation in Oral Interp

Katrese Skinner

El Campo High School Speech and Debate

Who knew wearing multiple hats for UIL could come in handy?• Argumentation in INTERP?

• Program Oral Interp- centers around creating an argument with literature and performance

• Performance Affirmatives in Debate- Use performance to illustrate the impact of a harm.

• UIL makes these worlds collide with Category B- Taking a Stand in Prose and Poetry

Objectives

• This session will be interactive

• You will be required to get up and move

• You will be required to think and talk

• You will be required to share your ideas

• When you are finished, hopefully you will have the beginnings of a game plan for putting together your new selection. . .for TAKING A STAND

A look at prose category B

• Category B: Taking A Stand The goal of this category is to develop a literary program that supports a position using different types of literature to make a persuasive argument. The contestant shall read: • a minimum of 2 different types of literary sources by different authors but no more than 4 sources may be used • majority of the program must be prose; 1 alternative source may be used (but is not required) (More than 1 type of Prose must be used, unless one of the alternative sources is incorporated into the performance.)

Other literary sources used in prose. . (just 1)

• Movie script

• Documentary

• TV Show

• TV Movie

• Radio Show

• Play

• Monologue

Poetry Category B

• Taking A Stand The goal of this category is to develop a thematic program that supports a position by using poetry to make a persuasive argument. The contestant shall read: • a minimum of 2 selections written by different authors but no more than 6 sources may be used • majority of the program must be poetry; 1 alternative source may be used (but is not required) (More than 1 poem must be used, unless one of the alternative sources is incorporated into the performance

Other Sources in Poetry (just 1)

• Play in Verse

• Song

• Podcast Poem

So, those are the rules. . But what do I do???

• Creating a literary argument is similar to many other of our other speech and debate events.

• Like writing an oratory

• Writing a debate case

• Putting together a disadvantage

• Preparing and extemp speech around a topic

What do we know about those events?

• Universal in nature?

• Value Oriented?

• A part of the American way of life?

• Claim – Warrant– Proof?

• Most importantly- choose a topic you are passionate about!

First, we need to figure out what that is

• What is something you feel passionately about?

• What is an argument you want to make?

• Does this argument represent your VOICE?

• IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR ARGUMENT YOU WILL CARE ABOUT YOUR PERFORMANCE

First we are going to brain storm in a similar way that my students brain storm their oratory topics.

• 10 Things I believe are completely wrong and people should NEVER do them

• 10 Things people should do that would make the world a better place. . .

• If I were to create a top 10 list of the most influential moments in my LIFE they would be.

• IF I could write an advice column to help people live a happier more productive life my 10 BEST pieces of advice would be.

DON’T THINK. . JUST WRITE. . . . .

• The more personal the better

• The more specific the better

• Stay away from things that WE ALL would agree with. . . We know murder is wrong! We know lying is wrong. .

• Personalize. . . it lying to make people think you are someone that you aren’t is wrong

• Pick those ideas you find yourself having to explain to others

Okay, now that we have our values, beliefs, ideas flowing. . Try to narrow them down• Look at your list. . .

• What things have you listed that YOU KNOW you can find literary support for in the form of prose or poetry?

• (for the sake of time the rest of this activity is going to be geared toward PROSE arguments. . .but you will see how to make it apply to poetry)

• Choose at least one topic from each of your lists or your favorite 4.

• Turn each one into an argument.

Turn the brainstorming sheet over and fold it in two. . . Where do we get our ideas? YOU!MY ARGUMENTS Books, Movies, TV SHOWS, Documentaries, You tube

stuff seen that supports/ defends/ or illustrates this argument.

It is tough being a teacher!

Gossiping is hurtful and destructive

Not just anyone should be a parent.

Helicopter parents do more harm to their children than good.

Pair up-

• EXCHANGE PAPERS

• Read the arguments

• What movie, TV show, documentary, book, new story, or you tube something. . .have you seen that deals with these arguments?

• Be specific. . .write as much as you can. . .

• NOW ROTATE TO THE NEXT PARTNER. . . .

Putting it all together. . .

• Can you see some themes?

• Do you see which of your arguments have some support in movies, books, etc?

• THIS IS A STARTING POINT not the end. . .

• Make sure you can meet documentation requirements

• Go back and check the criteria for the category. . Are you staying true to your argument?

A note on this activity. . .

• Prose is easier to brainstorm because of the familiarity with outside sources. . .

• If you want to do poetry. . . I suggest having a READ SESSION FIRST. . .

• Bring as many poetry anthologies, books, collections you can carry to class. . .pass them around. . Spend a day just reading and marking poems that you like but make sure you “tag” them like you would an argument. . .

• THEN do stations. . . .but have them think of other songs, poems, or plays in verse that would work with that argument.

RELAX!It will all turn out okay in the end!