Avondale High School Forensic Team Audition Material/Suggestions

A comprehensive listing of topics and material used in previous competitions is available at the MIFA IE Resources Cut-sheet page.  Any topics/material from these lists would be acceptable to prepare for these auditions.

 While you can use any audition material for any position on the team it would be ideal if you narrow down your approach to 2 or 3 different potential categories. That being said, a willingness to try new things and an interest in more than one event will go a long way towards success!

For Interpretation Categories:

Prepare a 2-minute performance presentation of your favorite novel, short story, or poetry, or a scene from a play or movie.  Theater Audition monologues are acceptable.  Presentations can be narrative and/or include multiple characterizations.  Memorization is not *required* for audition performances.  Previous acting experience is not required.

For Public Address Categories

ANY of the following prompts are acceptable.  You may also choose to present a 2-minute portion of a speech you have already written or a 2-minute original analysis/response to any current event issue or really any topic that interests you.  Organization and clarity of thought in delivery are the key concepts.

(sample Impromptu prompts)

1. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” – Ghandi

2. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” – Spock

3. “Not all who wander are lost.” – Tolkien

4. “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” - Sun Tzu

5. “You don’t have to know what you did wrong. Not everything is a lesson… Sometimes you just fail.” - Dwight Schrute

6. “There is only one day left, always starting over: it is given to us at dawn and taken away from us at dusk.” - Jean-Paul Sartre

7. “Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” - Frank Zappa

(sample Extemporaneous questions)

1. “Should the government place further limits on advertisements that promote gambling?”

2. “To what extent has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health resources?”

3. “What measures should states adopt to combat voter suppression and gerrymandering?”

4. “Should the US Government forgive all Federal student loans?”

5. “Do ethical concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare outweigh the benefits?

6. “Should the US position nuclear weapons in South Korea?”

7. “How can we most effectively protect against gun violence in our schools?

Many other prompts are available at the MIFA Public Address Limited Prep resource page

(sample Broadcasting editorial stories)

Deliver one of the news stories from this link – including a ~60 second original opinionated editorial response on the subject.

In addition to your Audition Material, be prepared to answer some of the following potential Interview questions:

1) What previous experiences have you had with public speaking/performance?

2) What do you (or others) identify as your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to public speaking/performance?

3) What other 2^nd semester commitments do you have for after-school and Saturdays that may conflict with 4n6 obligations?

4) What compels you to be here today? Why do you want to be a part of the Avondale Forensics Program?