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Purpose
The purpose of interpretive reading is to develop the skill of interpreting prose or poetry, and deliver it to an audience through oral reading.
The purpose of a declamation is to develop the skill of interpreting prose or poetry, and deliver it to an audience without the use of the written work.
Definition
Interpretive Reading/Declamations should enable the audience to appreciate a literary selection.
Aim
The speaker should, through careful selection of material and skillful presentation, help the listener clearly understand, feel, and enjoy the message, imagery, and literary beauty of a piece of prose or poetry.
Rules
Original material is acceptable, but not necessary.
More than one selection may be used.
An introduction is required, but transitions are optional.
Both introduction and transitions must be memorized.
An interpretive reading selection must be read, while a declamation must be memorized.
No costumes or props, or prompters may be used.
The time limit for both categories is three to five minutes.
A selection of Interpretive Reading must be mounted on construction paper.
The student will declare on the judging form whether the selection is Interpretive Reading or Declamation.
Suggestions
Choose prose or poetry which has universal appeal, vivid language, or listener interest. In other words the selection should "say something" to the reader.
The material may be edited, being aware of the unity, integrity, feel, characterization, and sound of the selection.
If multiple selections from short stories, novels, drama, essays, or poetry are used, transitions may help to create a unifying theme or emotion.
Introductions must be used to introduce the selections and should increase listener understanding and appreciation.
The delivery of the reader should enable the listener to better understand, feel, and enjoy the selection.
Delivery should include meaningful variations in pitch, loudness, and tone of voice.
Delivery should skillfully make use of pace, cadence, rhythm, and rhyme.
Delivery also includes the appropriate use of facial expression, gestures, eye contact, and bodily movement.
Whether in prose or poetry, the reader should strive to create or recreate a scene, emotion, or feeling. To achieve this, poetry should be read by sentence and thought-group, rather than by line.