Special Fling Event Descriptions
The following 7 events are special events that are not part of the 11 regular MMSSL events. Any tournament host may choose to offer all or some of these additional events at their option. These Fling events are designed to require minimal or no preparation, be different and fun while still offering students the opportunity to speak in a wide variety of unique ways. Recently, some tournament hosts have also chosen to include a debate event called Big Question Debate within the fling events. Big Questions Debate requires advance preparation. You may also review the individual Fling Event Ballots and Special Judge Instructions available on the MMSSL website under the EVENTS tab.
*UPDATED AS OF SPRING 2022: Fling Event Descriptions for Virtual Competition:
Haiku in a Hurry: In this solo event a student will pull three prompts at random, quickly select one and have five minutes in which to prepare and present a Haiku poem (3 Lines: 5 Syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables) inspired by the chosen “jump start.” Students may use a 3x5 index card to compose their poem and are required to read the "jumpstart" as the poem's title when they deliver their Haiku. Judge will provide audible, oral time signals while the student is composing their Haiku poem and visual signals once they begin to speak. Please note: In this category, it is vital to comment upon both the content and the delivery of the student’s Haiku poem. Time limit: 5 minutes with a 30-second grace period including both the preparation and delivery, divided at the student's discretion. Judges must provide oral and visual time signals.
Impromptu Children’s Literature: In this solo event a student will pull 3 short, one-page stories and quickly decide which they would like to perform. The timer begins when they make their selection. They then prepare and practice aloud to a wall while making decisions on voices, pops, gestures and tone while a judge provides audible, oral time signals. Note: Students are not judged during practice. Once the performer is ready, they will present the piece utilizing appropriate skills to bring the story to life, using no props or costumes. Students should strive to bring the material to life in a natural, realistic and believable way. Students are required to read the title and author of the work when they begin. Judges should switch to visual time signals once the student has begun to perform. Time limit: 7 minutes with a 30-second grace period, including prep time, divided at the student's discretion. Judges must provide oral and visual time signals.
Impromptu Sales: In this solo event, the student will pull one image of an object (which may be familiar but most likely unknown) from a “for sale bag” and then have 5 minutes to both prepare and present a short, coherent “sales pitch” inspired by the newly named picture in hand. Students may use one 3 X 5 card to prepare. Judges should provide audible, oral time signals while the student is preparing and then switch to visual time signals once the sales pitch begins. The presentation should have a logical beginning, middle and end and should be designed to “sell” that item to the audience. The presentation may be humorous or serious in nature and knowledge of the true function of the item is unnecessary. It is an opportunity for a contestant to be creative and imaginative. Time limit: 5 minutes with a 30 second grace period for both preparation and delivery, which may be divided at the student’s discretion. Judges must provide oral and visual time signals.
Team Improv: This is a two-person event. After pulling two character slips and two location/object slips the team will consult and plan with each other to create a skit utilizing the four prompts. Judges will provide audible, oral time signals while the team prepares and switch to visual time signals once the skit begins. This event challenges the team (each portraying one character) to create a dynamic skit utilizing appropriate vocal expression, gesture, and interaction between partners. As a unit, the two performers will vocally and physically respond to each other’s verbal and non-verbal cues so that the environment is created in the minds of the audience. Performers may not use notes, props or costumes. Both students should participate in the presentation and create a well-organized and balanced skit with a beginning, middle and end. It may be either humorous or serious in nature.
Time limit: 7 minutes with a 30-second grace period, including prep time, divided at the
students' discretion. Judges must provide oral and then visual time signals.
Tongue Twister Races: In this solo event, students first check in, give their ballots to the judges, and be informed of the speaker order. Then all but the first speaker will leave the room to wait quietly down the hall out of hearing. The first student will then be given the short tongue twister and have 30 seconds to practice it, un-judged, while timed by the judge (it is recommended that speakers practice this out loud to a wall like a warm up). The judges will inform the speaker when the practice time is complete; judges will reset the timer and indicate they are ready. The student will then deliver the tongue twister with clarity, diction, reading for meaning and with correct pronunciation as quickly as possible but trying to be without stumbles or errors. Students will be evaluated on all these skills, and being errorless will be more important than speed. Once the student has finished, they will go into the hall and invite the next speaker into the room. They will then return to the room as well to serve as respectful audience for the rest of the round.
30 seconds for preparation; performance has no time limit – self-limiting by length.
You’re the Expert: In this solo event a student will pull 3 “expert” titles/ professional expertise areas written on the outside of folded, sealed interview questions (without opening or pre-reading the questions) from a master envelope and quickly select one expert to portray. The other two experts should be returned to the master envelope. The student should then hand the chosen folded interview questions to the judge, and move to the front of the room. The judge will open the expert interview questions paper, start the timer and read the interview questions, one at a time and pausing to allow the student to answer each in turn. The paper will have a total of 5 questions to ask the “expert” about his/her selected field. Knowledge of the expert’s field is not required and the responses may be humorous or serious in nature, however, students should strive for a natural, realistic and convincing portrayal. Content and delivery should both be evaluated.
Maximum time: 7 minutes with a 30 second grace period or 5 questions,
whichever comes first.
Big Question Debate: (From NSDA website) Big Question Debate is designed to enhance students’ debate experiences, opening their minds and encouraging them to engage in life discussion that may not align with their previously held beliefs. Whether or not students change their opinion, the rich experience of this debate event will advance their knowledge, comfort, and interest in learning more about the subject matter. The same question is debated the entire season, students must prepare to argue both the Affirmative or the Negative, students may enter individually or in pairs, and the NSDA question for the season and the NSDA format will be followed. This event consists of specifically timed sections and a single round takes approx. 40 minutes. Judge instructions and ballot instructions will be posted at a later date.
Impromptu Children’s Literature: In this solo event a student will pull 3 short, one-page stories and quickly decide which they would like to perform. The timer begins when they make their selection. They then prepare and practice aloud to a wall while making decisions on voices, pops, gestures and tone while a judge provides audible, oral time signals. Note: Students are not judged during practice. Once the performer is ready, they will present the piece utilizing appropriate skills to bring the story to life, using no props or costumes. Students should strive to bring the material to life in a natural, realistic and believable way. Students are required to read the title and author of the work when they begin. Judges should switch to visual time signals once the student has begun to perform. Time limit: 7 minutes with a 30-second grace period, including prep time, divided at the student's discretion. Judges must provide oral and visual time signals.
Impromptu Sales: In this solo event, the student will pull one image of an object (which may be familiar but most likely unknown) from a “for sale bag” and then have 5 minutes to both prepare and present a short, coherent “sales pitch” inspired by the newly named picture in hand. Students may use one 3 X 5 card to prepare. Judges should provide audible, oral time signals while the student is preparing and then switch to visual time signals once the sales pitch begins. The presentation should have a logical beginning, middle and end and should be designed to “sell” that item to the audience. The presentation may be humorous or serious in nature and knowledge of the true function of the item is unnecessary. It is an opportunity for a contestant to be creative and imaginative. Time limit: 5 minutes with a 30 second grace period for both preparation and delivery, which may be divided at the student’s discretion. Judges must provide oral and visual time signals.
Team Improv: This is a two-person event. After pulling two character slips and two location/object slips the team will consult and plan with each other to create a skit utilizing the four prompts. Judges will provide audible, oral time signals while the team prepares and switch to visual time signals once the skit begins. This event challenges the team (each portraying one character) to create a dynamic skit utilizing appropriate vocal expression, gesture, and interaction between partners. As a unit, the two performers will vocally and physically respond to each other’s verbal and non-verbal cues so that the environment is created in the minds of the audience. Performers may not use notes, props or costumes. Both students should participate in the presentation and create a well-organized and balanced skit with a beginning, middle and end. It may be either humorous or serious in nature.
Time limit: 7 minutes with a 30-second grace period, including prep time, divided at the
students' discretion. Judges must provide oral and then visual time signals.
Tongue Twister Races: In this solo event, students first check in, give their ballots to the judges, and be informed of the speaker order. Then all but the first speaker will leave the room to wait quietly down the hall out of hearing. The first student will then be given the short tongue twister and have 30 seconds to practice it, un-judged, while timed by the judge (it is recommended that speakers practice this out loud to a wall like a warm up). The judges will inform the speaker when the practice time is complete; judges will reset the timer and indicate they are ready. The student will then deliver the tongue twister with clarity, diction, reading for meaning and with correct pronunciation as quickly as possible but trying to be without stumbles or errors. Students will be evaluated on all these skills, and being errorless will be more important than speed. Once the student has finished, they will go into the hall and invite the next speaker into the room. They will then return to the room as well to serve as respectful audience for the rest of the round.
30 seconds for preparation; performance has no time limit – self-limiting by length.
You’re the Expert: In this solo event a student will pull 3 “expert” titles/ professional expertise areas written on the outside of folded, sealed interview questions (without opening or pre-reading the questions) from a master envelope and quickly select one expert to portray. The other two experts should be returned to the master envelope. The student should then hand the chosen folded interview questions to the judge, and move to the front of the room. The judge will open the expert interview questions paper, start the timer and read the interview questions, one at a time and pausing to allow the student to answer each in turn. The paper will have a total of 5 questions to ask the “expert” about his/her selected field. Knowledge of the expert’s field is not required and the responses may be humorous or serious in nature, however, students should strive for a natural, realistic and convincing portrayal. Content and delivery should both be evaluated.
Maximum time: 7 minutes with a 30 second grace period or 5 questions,
whichever comes first.
Big Question Debate: (From NSDA website) Big Question Debate is designed to enhance students’ debate experiences, opening their minds and encouraging them to engage in life discussion that may not align with their previously held beliefs. Whether or not students change their opinion, the rich experience of this debate event will advance their knowledge, comfort, and interest in learning more about the subject matter. The same question is debated the entire season, students must prepare to argue both the Affirmative or the Negative, students may enter individually or in pairs, and the NSDA question for the season and the NSDA format will be followed. This event consists of specifically timed sections and a single round takes approx. 40 minutes. Judge instructions and ballot instructions will be posted at a later date.