2026-27 UIL Prose Categories

Prose Category A Restrictions

Material chosen for use in Category A of Prose Interpretation shall meet the following restrictions:

(A) A single selection of prose shall be used.
(B) The prose shall be published, printed material, or internet material that shall be published concurrently in hard copy.
(C) Self-authored material shall not be used.
(D) An anonymous work may be used if concurrently published in hard copy.
(E) Selections from plays, screenplays, movies, monologues, songs, or speeches shall not be used.
(F) The use of AI-generated material shall be strictly prohibited.
(G) No contestant shall use the same writer in more than one category in the contest.
(H) No contestant shall use selections from the same literary work more than one year at UIL State Meet.
(I) 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: Igniting the Imagination through Storytelling

Since storytelling is one of the oldest artforms in civilization, the goal of this category is to share meaningful and creative stories through prose. While this reader's choice format allows for flexibility in theme, the contestant should ground their performance in sound literary merit, emotional depth, and a well-developed story arc.

For Category A, students may select from fiction or non-fiction, which may be written or retold by a single author or from a co-authored source. Self-authored materials shall not be used. The author(s) used in this category shall not be used in Category B of prose.

When using copyrighted material, each member school is responsible for obtaining permission from the publisher for their participant to use the material. UIL assumes no responsibilities for copyright permission to perform material.

The introduction shall include the title and author(s) used in the performance.

Documentation Requirements

The contestant shall prepare and provide for the contest director and each judge a hard copy of the current UIL Prose A Documentation online form.
The contestant shall provide proof the selection is published.
The contestant shall also provide proof of prose genre.
If a prose selection is drawn from a book containing mixed genre, the contestant shall provide proof the selection is prose.

Examples of acceptable proof of publication include:

The original published source
Photocopy of the copyright of the original source
Online printout of Library of Congress cataloguing information
If a prose selection is drawn from a literary collection (anthology), 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 prose selection is included in that book.

A printout from an online source proving the selection is included in the published collection. Printouts of online documentation shall include the URL of the website.

Examples of UNacceptable forms of formal documentation include:

Social media
Copying and pasting into a word processing document
Screenshots

AI generated documentation

See the UIL Prose and Poetry Handbook provided online and the official UIL website for expanded, detailed information about acceptable and unacceptable documentation.

Students are urged, but not mandated, to take to the contest site the original published source of the selection.

Prose Category B Restrictions

Material chosen for use in Category B of Prose Interpretation shall meet the following restrictions:

(A) A minimum of one but no more than four prose selections shall be used in this program.
(B) The selection(s) may be published, printed material, or internet material from literary sources; No transcribed material will be allowed.
(C) Selections from plays, screenplays, movies, and monologues shall not be used.
(D) Speeches may be used but may not be the entire performance.
(E) Self-authored materials shall not be used.
(F) The use of AI-generated material shall be strictly prohibited.
(G) No contestant shall use the same author in more than one category in the contest.
(H) No contestant shall use selections from the same literary work more than one year at UIL State Meet.
(I) 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 B: An American Mosaic: The Ties That Define Us

The goal of this category is to explore the spirit of American life. Selections should examine the traditions, landscapes, people, or events that define the American experience. This category explores how both triumph and tragedy can shape our identity.

In this category, the contestant shall read a single literary work of prose, an excerpt of prose, or may create a program containing no more than four literary works of prose.

For Category B, the performance may be selected from fiction and/or non-fiction. Co-authored and anonymous works of prose are permissible. Self-authored materials shall not be used. The author(s) used in this category shall not be used in Category A of prose.

The introduction and/or transitions shall include all titles and authors read in the performance. If the program is woven, the contestant should state it in the introduction, and the different prose works should be distinguishable through interpretation. Brief original transitions may be used to tie the performance together but should be limited.

Documentation Requirements

The contestant shall prepare and provide for the contest director and each judge a hard copy of the current UIL Prose B Documentation online form.
Proof of prose genre shall be required.

See the UIL Prose and Poetry Handbook and the official UIL website for expanded, detailed information about acceptable and unacceptable documentation.

Students are urged, but not mandated, to take to the contest site the original source of each published selection.