2012-2013 Prose Categories
Rules as printed in the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules take precedence over all other printed or online materials.
Prose Category Restrictions
Material chosen for either category of prose interpretation shall meet the following restrictions: (A) all selections shall be published, printed material; Internet material shall be published concurrently in hard copy; (B) selections from plays or screenplays shall not be used: (C) speeches shall not be used; (D) no contestant shall use an individual writer in more than one category in the contest; (E) no contestant shall use selections from the same literary work more than one year at UIL State Meet; (F) selections shall be read in the English translation; however, incidental use of foreign language words and phrases in any selection may be used as in the original.
Category A: Generation X, Y and Beyond
The goal of this category is for the student to explore contemporary authors. The contestant shall perform a single prose selection from a printed, published work by a single author born in 1960 or after. The selection for this category may include but is not limited to short stories, novels, science fiction, fiction, nonfiction, wit and humor, or fantasy. The selection shall not include speeches, one-person theatre or theatrical monologues. The author used in this category shall not be used in Category B of prose.
Documentation Requirements
In order to meet category restrictions, the contestant shall provide proof the selection is published in hard copy. Examples of acceptable proof include the original published source or a photocopy or online printout of the Library of Congress cataloguing information. If the selection is drawn from a literary collection, the contestant shall supply the original source or a photocopy of the table of contents that designates the title of the book and proof the specific selection is included in that book. A printout from an online source proving the selection is included in the published collection is acceptable.
For Category A, the contestant shall also provide documentation that the writer was born in 1960 or after. Examples of acceptable documentation include the original or photocopy of an encyclopedia or reference book, or other published biographical information that verifies the author's date of birth. Correspondence from the author or publisher, a published newspaper, magazine article or book jacket that verifies the author's date of birth are acceptable. Copyright date of publication is not acceptable documentation.
If an online source is used for documentation, contestants shall print the page of the site from which the documentation was retrieved. Printouts of the documentation shall include the URL of the website downloaded in the header or footer. See the UIL Prose and Poetry Handbook and the official UIL website for detailed information about acceptable and unacceptable documentation.
Students shall not be allowed to compete without sufficient documentation. Contest directors will be instructed to ask for documentation of date of birth and proof the selection is published in hard copy prior to the beginning of the round. Documentation check may be done in advance of the meet, in a general assembly for contestants in the prose contest, or in the room(s) where contestants will be judged.
Bibliographic Information
Students are urged to take to the contest site the original published source of the selection.
Category B: In the News
The goal of this category is to explore works of prose related to a newsworthy event. The contestant shall perform a single prose selection or program of prose from printed published work(s), related to a significant news story. Newsworthy events include lead stories of regional, national, or international impact. The introduction should explain how the newsworthy event is related to the selection(s) being read. The selection(s) may be fiction or nonfiction, written by one author or a collaborative work by two or more authors, or anonymous, but no more than four prose selections shall be performed. The program may be woven or may incorporate transitions. If the program is woven, it shall be stated in the introduction. The news article may be woven into the program but shall not make up the entire program. The author(s) used in this category shall not be used in Category A of prose.
Documentation Requirements
In order to meet category restrictions, the contestant shall provide proof the prose selection(s) is/are published in hard copy. Examples of acceptable proof include the original published source or a photocopy or online printout of the Library of Congress cataloguing information. If the selection is drawn from a literary collection, the contestant shall supply the original source or a photocopy of the table of contents that designates the title of the book and proof the specific selection is included in that book. A printout from an online source proving the selection is included in the published collection is acceptable.
In addition, the contestant shall provide proof the selection(s) is/are related to a newsworthy event. Acceptable documentation of the newsworthy event shall be printed from one of the following:
- http://www.History.com/this-day-in-history;
- http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/index.html;
- headline or lead story with the URL downloaded in the header or footer on the printed page;
- the original published news story; or
- photocopy of the published news story.
Approved online sources may also be used for documentation purposes. If an online source is used, contestants shall print the page of the site from which the documentation was retrieved. Printouts of the documentation shall include the URL of the website downloaded in the header or footer. See the UIL Prose and Poetry Handbook and the official UIL website for acceptable and unacceptable online documentation.
Students shall not be allowed to compete without sufficient documentation. Contest directors will be instructed to ask for this documentation and for proof the selection is published in hard copy prior to the beginning of the round. Documentation check may be done in advance of the meet, in a general assembly for contestants in the prose contest, or in the room(s) where contestants will be judged.
Bibliographic Information
Students are urged to take to the contest site the original published source(s) of the selection.
