Prose
All performances must be from a manuscript (which may be in a folder) and students are expected to bring the text to life through vocal nuance, thoughtful pacing, and character portrayal. A strong Prose performance centers on clear narrative structure, emotional connection, and controlled, expressive delivery that helps the audience experience the story.
POI highlights both literary analysis and interpretive performance. Students construct their programs by selecting published material that explores a common theme from multiple perspectives. A strong POI blends emotional depth, narrative clarity, and performative range, often incorporating both serious and humorous moments. Students are expected to portray multiple characters, shift tone and style, and maintain a strong throughline, all without the use of props or costumes (except for the required manuscript).
Compete
- Prose Starter Kit
- Interpretation Textbook
- How to Get Started in Interpretation
- Source Material for Interpretation Events
- National Tournament Script Database
- National Tournament Script List Archive
- How to Pick a Topic & Piece
- How to Cut a Script
- Character Checklist
- Finding the Honest Voice of the Character
- How to Find Your Comedic Voice
- How to Build Character and Environment
- How to Create an Environment in Interpretation
Judge
Is your program new to the NSDA?
Welcome!
Instructions
Welcome Back!
Instructions
- Program advisors can visit www.speechanddebate.org and click Member Login in the top right corner of the page. Use your username and password to log in to your account. Once you’ve logged in, click “Account” in the upper right corner, which will take you to your profile page. Please click “Renew School”, in red, from the left menu and follow the prompts at the top of the page to renew your school.
- High school membership is $149, with an option to upgrade to the all-school team Resource Package for an additional $199. Each individual high school student membership is a one-time $20 fee.
- Middle school membership is $75, with an option to upgrade to the all-school team Resource Package for an additional $199. Each individual middle school student membership is a one-time $10 fee.
- To finalize the renewal, follow the prompts on the page to review the following:
Step 1. Confirm information on the school profile page. Once confirmed/updated, click the “Next Step” button.
Step 2. Confirm the coaches listed. Once confirmed/updated, click the “Next Step” button.
Step 3. Create the invoice. The annual dues are automatically selected. You can use the toggle to select other options such as coach memberships, student memberships, insurance, and the Resource Package. The prices for each item are listed on the right side of your screen, and a running total is at the bottom in blue. When done, “Create Invoice and Proceed to Checkout”.
The system allows you to “Pay Now”, with a credit card or you can email the invoice to yourself or print out the pdf.
Need a Visual? Click here to watch our brief tutorial!
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Prose
PRO • High School Supplemental Event • Middle School Main Event
Prose (PRO) is a five-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) that offers students the opportunity to perform published literature written in everyday language and structure. Unlike Poetry or Drama, Prose reflects the natural patterns of speech and is often drawn from novels, short stories, essays, or other narrative-driven works.
Prose is known for its flexibility, as it may incorporate a range of elements found in other interpretation events. Like Storytelling, Prose often includes a strong narrative arc with clear rises and falls. It can feature character development and dialogue reminiscent of Dramatic Interpretation or contain embedded humor similar to Humorous Interpretation. Because of its broad interpretive scope, students should select material that is appropriate for their age, maturity level, and school or team standards, ensuring their performance is both meaningful and suitable for competition.