Program Oral Interpretation
This event is ideal for students who enjoy crafting arguments and exploring a variety of voices, demonstrating the ability to embody multiple perspectives with controlled and intentional delivery. Successful performers show strong thematic and argumentative clarity, a breadth and depth of emotion, and a solid familiarity with poetic and prosaic conventions. Students should choose material appropriate for their age, maturity level, and school or team standards, building a balanced program that is both meaningful and engaging.
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
- What to Expect Competing in Program Oral Interp
- Introduction to Program Oral Interpretation
- Program Oral Interpretation Getting Started Guide
- Champion Q+A – Isabella Royer
- Program Oral Interp Breakdown
- 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
Final Round Videos
Program Oral Interpretation
POI • High School Main Event • Middle School Main Event • Also known as Programmed Oral Interpretation
Program Oral Interpretation (POI) is a ten-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) that challenges students to weave together multiple genres of literature: prose, poetry, and drama, into a cohesive, theme-driven performance. Each program must include at least two of the three genres, though many students choose to incorporate all three, with the goal of crafting a compelling argument or central message supported by the selected texts. Performers begin with an original introduction written by the student, which frames the theme and identifies the titles and authors of the pieces used.