The Literary season is approximately one and one half months in length. The season generally begins the end of September and ends with the competition mid November. Literary is open to students in grades sixth through eighth. There are four different types of competition: Individual Events (prepared and impromptu); Duet Events (prepared and impromptu); Chorale Presentation (up to 15 students); and Original Script. At the initial meeting, students choose a piece for a duet or solo or prepare a reading for the chorale tryout. Approximately one and one half weeks after the initial meeting, students tryout for Literary. The tryout is not an effort to limit the number of participants, but to determine who is invested in the program. At the time of tryouts, students must demonstrate he or she has made a serious effort to memorize at least half of the piece. Once the selection is complete, the coaches assign each student or group, to a particular coach who then determines a practice schedule. Coaches typically meet with each participant or group twice a week. Selected students (and a parent) will be asked to sign an agreement that the student understands the practice commitment and date of performance. Failure to fulfill the agreement will result in the student being removed from the team and reimbursing the school the $8.00 entry fee. The competition in November will culminate the activity. Students perform for the judges and receive a score of I, II, or III. The judging criteria are: general interpretation; audience rapport; stage presence; body and facial expressions; articulation; pronunciation; fluency; memory; and participant interaction (duet and chorale reading only). Students are expected to adhere to the “Dress Code” on pages 12 and 13 for the competition. Students are subject to both the Academic and Conduct Eligibility.