Welcome to Open Interpretation!

Open FAQs

• Why should I participate in Open Interpretation?

  Interpretation speeches ask students to bring a piece of literature to life through blocking and characterization. Open invites students to: 

  • Engage emotions. As students interpret stories, they can engage the emotions of the audience in a way facts can not. 
  • Shape thinking through stories. By turning a favorite story into an Interpretation speech, students will be able to communicate truth in a manner that resonates with the audience. 
  • Broaden perspectives. Stories broaden students’ perspective as they discover characters whose lives, experiences, and beliefs are very different from their own. 
  • Improve skills. Interpretation speeches challenge students to talk and act like a variety of characters. Open Interpretation can help students to overcome their vocal and physical delivery.

• Can I dance as much as want in my interpretation speech?

  The rules do not prohibit dancing. Judges will determine how effective any dancing is to the speech delivery.

• Can I incorporate sounds effects into my Duo or Open Interpretation speech?

  Yes, sounds effects are permitted and can be appropriate for some interpretations of literature selections.

• Can I use a graphic novel as my literature selection for Duo or Open Interpretation?

  As long as the selection complies with the other rules, you may use a graphic novel as your literature selection. Judges will determine the literary merit.

• I would like to use a movie script for Duo or Open and want to make sure it is allowed under the rules. What does “published” mean?

  The definition of “published” has delineated movie and tv transcriptions in order to distinguish literary works that have been published from creative works that have been produced. Additionally, our events define literature as “plays, prose, or poetry.” Unless a movie is also published as a play, prose, or poetry, it would be prohibited by the rule. More often than not, screenplays are not published plays, prose, or poetry, but are instead a stepping stone to production, and therefore it is very unlikely that a screenplay exists within the rules.

• What does “original dialogue” mean for Duo and Open Interps?

  Original dialogue is dialogue written by the competitor and not the author of the literature selection. In the introduction or conclusion, quoting (and citing) the author’s words for one of the characters is acceptable, but writing dialogue that is delivered as one of the author’s characters is not allowed.

• What is meant by a “single literature selection”? Does this mean that I may not reorder events from my literature selection, or take one cut from the end of the book and place it toward the beginning of the speech?

  You may cut and arrange the dialogue and events as described in the question. “Single” becomes applicable when using a book that contains short stories or other independent works, such as poems. Taking parts of these and weaving them to form a new story is not allowed.

• How does NCFCA view plagiarism?

  NCFCA does not approach a rule infraction as an intentional action, but rather an opportunity for effective communication growth.  The rules and the adjudication process exist to maintain fair play for the competition, which is a tool for growth.  NCFCA does not seek to judge the heart of competitors or affiliate families.  However, we do not deny the refining heart process that happens through the adjudication process; in fact, we embrace it because it allows the Lord to sanctify His children.  This refining is part of how NCFCA, including staff, parents, and students, fulfills our mission, “to challenge and equip ambassadors for Christ to communicate truth with integrity and grace.”  Whether intentional or not, plagiarism will be adjudicated.  Whether this is an area of understanding, skill, or an attitude of obedience

• How can I tell if I’m plagiarizing?

  A bright-line test is to ask, “Is this mine?  Did I make this, or did I receive this?”  As a fundamental commandment, “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15), we ambassadors for Christ should take issues of academic ownership as seriously as we do physical, material ownership.  You should not copy and paste sentences or even phrases and call it yours.  Even if you are summarizing someone else’s ideas, they should receive credit.  If it’s unclear to you, asking for advice from parents and coaches is always wise. 

• If I see a speech on YouTube I really like, can I take most of that content, since it’s not published?

  Being published may seem like a bright line to whether or not one must give credit, but this is not the case.  Supporting material includes any information, details, research, theories, stories, lyrics, tunes, or ideas obtained from another person or source–whether directly quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.  This is regardless of publication.   Therefore, even if you don’t have to pay to watch a YouTube video, copying that content requires citation.  Even if you see a speech given at a dinner event, copying any portion of that content requires citation. Further, if your copied material starts looking like that whole speech, then it is not your speech anymore.  Calling it so would be plagiarism.  It’s important to remember that, speeches must be prepared by the student and delivered during the current competitive season only. (Aside from Apologetics, for which students may use their preparations in subsequent years.) Any supporting material should be just that: supporting the speech that the competitor has crafted.

• Can I reuse my older sibling’s script for an interpretation event?

  A script that is prepared for by a sibling and then delivered in a subsequent season does not conform to the expectation for any speech.  In an interpretative speech, the expectation is that the cutting of the literature selection(s) and the crafting of the introduction/conclusion/narrative sections should be completed by the speaker of that speech in that current season.  In addition, the blocking and characterization should also be original and developed primarily by the speaker. 

  Coaching Tip: Younger siblings or newer competitors who may need more help in the preparation of a speech may choose to use a book that does not require significant cutting.  Also, lots of help from others is encouraged!  

• How much can my family and friends help me with my speech?

  Receiving guidance, inspiration, and mentoring is encouraged as you develop your speech.  In order to be your original work, though, the decisions about the work and the words of the script must be yours. The examples below may help you discern how to receive help while maintaining academic integrity. 

  Student-Driven Process That Produces Speaker’s Original Work:

  • Family coaches you at the dinner table, giving you feedback on your ideas as to how much they like them, and you use what they seem to prefer more.
  • Mom asks questions about your ideas, helping you clarify what you really mean to convey.
  • Brother suggests a couple of other character ideas.  You accept one of those ideas as you refine your storyline.
  • You ask your friend’s opinion about how a scene makes them feel: was it believable?

  Others-Driven Process That Does Not Produce Speaker’s Original Work:

  • Family offers a few written examples of how to make your idea better; you copy and paste some of those since you like them.
  • You assign your siblings different parts of your story, and then you edit them together to make one story.

• Do I have to cite a tune that everyone knows, like “Silent Night”?

  Common knowledge that is known to most people does not need to be cited in any way (e.g., George Washington was the first U.S. President, Jesus rose on the third day, words to a universally known hymn such as “Amazing Grace”).”  Some tunes may fall into the category of common knowledge and not need to be cited.  However, a tune considered “well-known” can be somewhat subjective.  Citing a source is never looked down upon.

• Rules Changes Overview for 2024-2025

  The changes to Speech Rules for 2025 have been approached with three major goals in mind:
  Simplification
  Transparency
  Clarification

  Simplification:
  For the past several years, the Speech Guide has contained General Rules, Timekeeping Rules, Category Rules, Event-Specific Rules, and Script-Submission and Script-Use Rules. The 2025 Speech Rules will only contain rules for each specific event. (i.e., All rules for Apologetics will only be in “Apologetics Rules.”) Timekeeping guidelines, script-submission guidelines, tournament protocols, and other helpful information and examples will still be found in the Speech Guidelines, but will not be considered rules which could receive a penalty.

  Transparency:
  The 2025 Speech Rules will include a Penalty Appendix which explains the type of penalties that can be applied to certain rule violations and examples of each.

  Clarification:
  Most of the changes to the Speech Rules for 2025 come from separating rules that can receive a penalty from tournament protocols and guidelines. Other changes come from rewording rules for the sake of clarity. Any significant rule changes are noted in this document.

• Rule Changes for All Speeches for 2024-2025

  An in-text parenthetical for supporting material is strongly recommended but no longer required. (Ballots will provide the opportunity for judges to weigh academic integrity, so the rules will only require verbal mentions and Works Cited.)

  Timekeeping rules have been simplified. (The simplification allows for less confusion.)

• Which rules changed for Interpretation Speeches for 2024-2025?

  Comics, graphic novels, stand-up comedy acts, and strings of jokes have been removed as prohibited literature selections. All literature selections are still required to meet the other definitions for a published literature selection. (Ballots will provide the opportunity for judges to reflect on the literary merit of the selection.)

  References (e.g., title and author), will be included in the word count for the narrative section. (This rule has been removed to avoid confusion and limit additional rules. The number of words in the title and author is not sufficient for an additional rule.)

  Limited dancing rule removed. (Ballots will provide the opportunity for judges to determine the effectiveness of the delivery.)

  Sound effects rule removed. (Sound effects are not prohibited, but ballots will provide the opportunity for judges to determine the effectiveness of the delivery.)

• What should I do if I see a speech that looks so familiar, like something I’ve seen before?

  In a tournament setting, any observer may bring a question of rules to Compliance during a tournament regarding a speech they saw.  

  A judge should report their concern to Compliance. Sometimes judges do not report because they don’t want to raise a concern if there is a possibility that they are wrong. But what if the judge is right? Luke 8:17 says, “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” If a student has plagiarized, there is a point where that deceit will come to light—either in this life or after. The constructive community of NCFCA is a far better place (and time) for the lesson of integrity to be learned versus later in life (college, workplace, etc.).

  A student may also report a concern of this nature with their parent involved.  This is a good opportunity for the student and parent to love a neighbor as themselves: testing their own motives, humbling themselves to think the best of others, entering into the shared experience of all parties relying wholly on God’s provision, and interceding through prayer on behalf of their fellow brother/sister in Christ and of NCFCA.  

• Where on the ballot can we see timer penalties applied?

  Penalties, including timer penalties, are found at the bottom of the ballot.

• If a penalty is applied to my speech, does Tab change the judge’s original ranking?

  Tab does not change the judge’s original ranking on the ballot.

• How many times do competitors give their speeches during the tournament?

  During preliminary rounds, competitors will give a speech three times for every event in which they are entered. If they advance to elimination rounds, they may give a speech in a SemiFinal or Final round as well.

• When and how do competitors get their ballots?

  After the tournament, ballots will be available from the Ballots button on the right side of the dashboard just above the Tournament Results button.