UIL Oral Reading

[virtualworldofhp]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "professorphlash" <crabtree at k...> wrote:
> Hey,
> 
> I am asking for help again for one of my daughter's projects. You were 
> so much help when she was trying to come up with a character from 
> British literature to dress as for a party, that I decided to ask for 
> help again.
> 
> She is participating in UIL oral reading, but is getting very little 
> help from her coach on selecting a piece to read for contest. She has 
> to have two pieces: one nonfiction and one fiction. She won't know 
> until she gets to the contest which she will be asked to read. Right 
> now she is working on an excerpt from A CHILD CALLED IT by Dave Pelzer 
> for her nonfiction. Her teacher suggested Prissy's "birthing a baby" 
> scene from GONE WITH THE WIND. She's not sure she can pull that one 
> off, so I suggested maybe something form Harry Potter.  She loves the 
> idea.
> 
> Now, do any of you have a suggestion about which scene would make a 
> good 6-7 minute emotional reading?  If you know any other books that 
> might fit the bill, we would appreciate your input.
> 
> Your friendly begger,
> Professor Phlash

Gee, if only I could help, but I'm having trouble finding pieces
myself! (and I could laugh with glee that someone else actually knows
what this competition is without me having to explain it for 5 minutes
every time!!) My dilemma is finding nonfiction, though.  Personally,
I've been seeking something of the more psychotic/psychopathic nature,
as these pieces do exceedingly well in competition.  What psychopaths
write readable books, though?  I'm actually on the verge of quitting
because I just don't have time to find a new piece (I've had the piece
I'm doing for fiction for two years, so I don't have to worry about that).

Sorry I can't really offer any help to your daughter, but I truly
empathize with her situation! (and good luck, because the competition
is FIERCE stuff!)

-Megan (on a note, what grade is she in?  I actually contemplated
Harry Potter at one point, but it would definitely not be up to
competition standards at a high school level...at least, it would very
difficult to pull off)