Oral Interpretation

Oral Interpretation

This week we will learn...

• The definition of Oral Interpretation (OI)

• The history and parts of dramatic structure

• The art of preparing literature for performance through applying structure and collage techniques.

Our emphasis will be on...

Successful Communication of Mean-ing

55% Non- Verbal Communication

38% Verbal Communication

7% - The Words we

use

What is Oral Interpretation?

• Oral Interpretation (OI) is the skill of reading aloud to convey an author’s message.

• OI is primarily an Oral/Aural performance.• OI is not memorized, but performers are very

familiar with their literature.

Program Oral Interp

Prose Poetry Poetry Out Loud

How do I choose my

material?

Ask yourself...

• What matters to me? • What moves me?• What are my strengths and

weaknesses? • What sort of drama/comedy

do I gravitate toward?

Double Check...

• What is the message of the material, beyond plot?

• Is it interpretable, Can I make it my own?

• Is it original? Is the topic fresh or overdone?

• Does it have Literary Merit?

Oral Interpretation Assignment

Choose Literature of

High Merit, that you respond to.

Shape it into a 1-2 minute

performance script.

Prepare and apply vocal

techniques by using a Marked

Score.

Rehearse and Perform an Oral

Interp

A lot of different ideas...

Aristotle

Beginning

Middle

and End

The idea that is clear...

Aristotle

BEGINNING

MIDDLE

AND END

Freytag’s Pyramid

Freytag's Pyramid • Exposition – “Skillfully written exposition tells the

where, when, what and who in a brief, unobtrusive way...It also sets the atmosphere and mood.”

• Rising action – “Goals and obstacles revealed, lifting the level of interest.”

• Climax – Point of Change• Falling Action – Significant incidents following

climax• Denouement / Conclusion - “the solution

of the mystery, the outcome of the story”

Pg 255-259

Forensics Pyramid

Steps to Cutting Literature

Identify the climax

Note what contributes to the climax and which

can be eliminated.

Identify the essential

circumstances

Consider character development.

Consider balance of humor and drama.

Cut and substitute for language and

content

Confirm a clear beginning, middle

and end.

Eliminate chapters, paragraphs,

sentences, clauses and words to get

into the time limit

Cross-Cutting Multiple Selections

Children’s Literature• A Character break’s

into Poetry/Prose/CD Lyrics

• Story within a story, mother reading to children.

• Once character tells jokes from a joke book, or facts from the almanac

Poetry• Back to back Poems

with a common theme or Author--Connected by a word

• Several characters reading different texts that interrupt and overlap each other new found dialoguing

Prose• Use Poetry or Lyrics

to emphasize the moral of the story.

• Choose a character to obsess over another type of Literature.

• Splice two voices together in a way that tells a bigger story (An optimist and a pessimist, a child and a grandmother, a criminal and a cop)

Transitional Material:Words added by the performer for 3 purposes:

1. Substitution for inappropriate language 2. Substitution for inappropriate content3. Transition between scenes, when material has been cut for other reasons.

Not for adding pop-culture references, jokes or extraneous storylines.

Structure Map Structure Map Assignment

My NameDateBlock

StructureElement

Book / Page

Number

Brief Description

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Denouement / Conclusion

1. My Literature Title, Author

2. My Other Literature Title, Author

3. Write the story in your own words. In the space of 1 paragraph.

Brilliant Examples of Cuttings from

Full-length Literature

Harry Potter and the

Sorcerer’s Stone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lKlMll9Rdw

Charlotte’s Web:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z7BNgIVC98&feature=related

The Witches: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjR97oeBor4&feature=related