Skip to main content
University of Texas at Austin
University Interscholastic League Logo
University Interscholastic League Logo
Leaguer Header Logo

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF
THE UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE

Which Way to Go? A New Literary Journey Soon Begins for Prose and Poetry Students

By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Tuesday, October 02, 2012 11:50 AM

Just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz pondered as she began her journey along the yellow brick road and met up with the Scarecrow at the fork, the new Prose and Poetry State Advisory Committee will be wondering just where to go when they create new high school oral interpretation categories for 2013-14.

The UIL has designed literary categories for the prose and poetry contests since the 1940’s. These contests have their roots early in the League’s existence when, at the first state meet which entailed only debate competition, coaches voted to add Declamation as its second event. Declamation was the forerunner for our current prose and poetry contests.

Early on, the requirement for declamation literature was open, yet strict. From the Constitution, in 1911, the rules stipulated that selections should fall under the general field of good citizenship.

“Each declamation shall consist of a prose selection from some standard author or well-known speaker. The subject-matter of each selection shall be prevailingly serious in tone, and delivered for the purpose of convincing or persuading the audience of certain ideas or truths; in other words, a declamation should not be chosen which is primarily adapted to the purposes of mere entertainment. Poetry (excepting such poetical quotations as may be included in prose selections), “funny " pieces, dramatic readings, and impersonations will not be allowed.”
The Constitution guided students that the selection should deal with noted events of characters in the shaping of American history; fundamental qualities or virtues to incite in hearers’ aspirations toward being better citizens; Texas heroes, history and progress; or present-day public questions or issues.

We’ve come a long way since those early years. Our oral reading contests, as well as our literary categories have grown in their sophistication. In 1950, poetry became a separate event in the UIL program and in 1961 declamation became prose interpretation. For the first time, the League office prescribed five specific poets and five writers for these events.

Defined categories have been the mainstay of UIL interpretation for more than 50 years now, increasing the educational value of the interpretation events. Students are guided to explore a vast array of authors, exposing them to contrasting styles, works and messages.

In the 1960s and 1970s when contestants were required to prepare three categories, there was an emphasis on global literature with categories of modern Canadian, European and Latin American authors. In the 1980s, literary forms became the norm as we read novels, essays, and short stories including legends, myths, fables and tales. The 1990s saw a shift to prize-winning authors and authors celebrating particular regions of the United States. Poetry categories heralded theme-center programs.

In recent years, the specifications for contest literature have allowed more freedom for participants. The current categories are encouraging students to explore contemporary literary forms that might otherwise go undiscovered by high school students and to recognize the relationship between what authors write about and real-world events.

The process of designing categories has also come a long way from earlier times when teachers met for a brief session during the state meet.
A formal committee is appointed, made up of oral interpretation coaches representing each region and conference of the state. These individuals gather ideas from their constituents and research possible categories and documentation. The committee meets in Austin for intense discussion to develop new literary categories that are used in competition for a three-year cycle.

Several goals guide the committee in deliberations. Categories should provide a strong educational experience for contestants. They should engage student interest and be simple to document. Ideally, they will challenge students to read literature they might not otherwise read. Finally, the category descriptors should be clear in both letter of the law and spirit of intent.

Students and coaches are encouraged to submit suggestions. An online form is available on the Oral Interpretation page of the UIL website. There is also a form to complete if you are interested in being considered for an appointment to the committee.

Sessions at the Capital Conference and the Student Activity Conferences were conducted to solicit ideas directly from teachers and teenagers. At the October convention of the Texas Speech Communication Association (San Antonio, October 11- 14) will be a final opportunity for educators to discuss with state officials what they would like for categories. The committee will consider every idea submitted so you are encouraged to brainstorm with your students and send your ideas to the State.

I hope you will think “out of the box”, as I will encourage the committee to do as we tackle contemporary issues of whether or not to include literary works only found online, mixed genre contests, and the possibility of using electronic devices to provide documentation at contest sites. Send me your thoughts pro or con on those issues, too.

Where do we go from here? We don’t have The Wizard to guide us, but if you have the courage to submit extraordinary ideas, with the brains of a talented committee of educators and a League staff with a heart for the students we serve, I have confidence we will be able to Defy Gravity to provide an exciting literary journey for the future in Prose and Poetry Interpretation.

For a historical list of UIL Prose & Poetry Categories, visit the Oral Interpretation webpage of the UIL website.