Speech Activities (The "Rule Book")

In August 2018, the Forensic Council established a Rules Committee to update Speech Activities. The committee is comprised of various representatives of the existing event committees. Their goal is to have initial revisions complete and published by October 30, 2018 at which time they will be posted below. In the meantime if you have any questions please feel free to contact any of the reps listed below or MIFA staff. 
Rules Committee 
Chair: Ruth Kay, Detroit Country Day School
Debate: Ryan Nierman, Groves HS
IE: Jeff Butts, Henry Ford II HS
Middle Level: Theresa Weiler, Detroit Country Day School
Original: vacant
Theatre: Kirstin Carolin, Henry Ford II HS (Studio Productions)
     Michael Sheldon, Avondale HS (Main Stage)
     Michael Clemmons, Woodhaven HS (Both)

DEBATE EVENTS

Changes 2018-19

• Participation at the Spring MSCI Tournament no longer counts against eligibility
  
• Public Forum & Policy events will now award speaker trophies at the State Tournament
• Legislative scoring will now be cumulative rather starting Super Session with a clean slate

Rules for Debate Events 

• Legislative
• Policy
• Public Forum

Individual Events

Changes for 2018-19

• Oratory time limit is now 5-8 minutes
• Impromptu prompts may now come from quotes, editorials, resolutions or visual cues
• Regionals & States advancement changes are described HERE

​Frequently Asked Questions

Rules for High School Individual Events
​
​Interpretation (Interp) category Ballots:
Dramatic Interpretation
Poetry  Interpretation
Prose Interpretation
Storytelling
Duo Interpretation
Multiple Interpretation

Public Address (PA) category Ballots:
Broadcasting
Extemporaneous
Impromptu
Informative
Oratory
Sales

Middle School Level Debate

Changes for 2018-19
​

Rules for Middle Level Public Forum Debate

Middle School Level Individual Events 

Changes for 2018-19

• ​Addition of Broadcasting

Rules for Middle School Individual Events
​Interpretation (Interp) category Ballots:
Dramatic Interpretation (ML)
Original Poetry/Original Prose (ML)
Poetry  Interpretation (ML)
Prose Interpretation (ML)
Storytelling (ML)
Duo Interpretation (ML)
Multiple Interpretation (ML)

Public Address (PA) category Ballots:
Broadcasting (ML)
Extemporaneous (ML)
Impromptu (ML)
Informative (ML)
Oratory (ML)
Sales ​(ML)

Middle School Level Theatre Festival

Changes for 2018-19

• This is a brand new event offering for this school year. It will be patterned off the HS Studio Productions event. More details to follow soon.

Rules for Middle Level Theatre

Original Content Events

Changes for 2018-19

Rules for Film Fest
Rules for Original Poetry
Rules for Original Prose
Rules for Poetry Slam

Theatre Festival Events

Changes for 2018-19 to Main Stage

Changes for 2018-19 to Studio Productions

• Eliminated all additional "set" pieces. Only the Common Set may be used
  
• "Props" which may be carried into the performance area by one student are allowed 
• No additional lighting is allowed. Only up/down general lighting as provided by the host
• The ballot has been revised to minimize points for technical elements and maximize points in the other areas

Rules for Main Stage
​Rules for Studio Productions