ORGANISED BY:

PEJABAT PENDIDIKAN DAERAH LUBOK ANTU

MANAGED BY:
SK RIDAN
 KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Poetry Recitation is a competition organized by the Ministry of Education. The

competition aims at encouraging the use of English through meaning, sound and
of the linguistic styles of poetry. It boosts students’ performance and creativity as
they express themselves confidently in the English language.

“Poetry Recitation is about conveying a poem’s message through its language.

All words of the poem must be pronounced correctly, paying attention to the
volume, rhythm and intonation to enhance the recitation. A strong performance
will rely on a powerful internalization of the poem rather than distracting dramatic
gestures”.

2.0 ELIGIBILITY

2.1 This competition is open to students of government-aided secondary

schools from Form 1 to Form 3 only.

2.2 Each team comprises 2 members from the same school.

2.3 The winners from the previous year may participate in the current year but
the text and presentation must not be an exact replica.

3.0 COMPETITION FORMAT

The competition is divided into two sections as follows:

3.1 Section 1: Prepared Poem

3.1.1 Participants will recite a prepared poem on a given theme for not
less than 5 minutes and not more than 7 minutes.

3.1.2 A bell will be rung at the 7th minute to indicate the end of the
presentation time.

3.2 Section 2: Impromptu Poem

3.2.1 All participants will be given a theme and a quarantine time of 10

minutes to prepare their impromptu poem.

3.2.2 Each contestant will get their turn to present their impromptu poem.

3.2.3 The time allocated for the recitation of the impromptu poem is not
less than 2 minutes and not more than 3 minutes.

3.2.4 A bell will be rung at the 3rd minute to indicate the end of the
presentation time.

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 KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023

4.0 TEXT

4.1 The poem must be entirely authentic and original and must never have
been published or have won a prize in any other competition prior to this
competition. The text of the poem will be based on themes decided by the
organizers.

4.2 The theme for year 2023 is ‘The Way I See The World’.

4.3 Materials presented must not touch on sensitive issues, such as race,
religion, stereotyping, politics etc.

4.4 3 copies of the prepared poem must be submitted to the organiser two
weeks prior to the competition.

4.5 The prepared poem must be typed on an A4 paper (Times New Roman /
Arial, font size 12).

5.0 TYPE OF POEM

It is highly recommended that poems are written:

5.1 in metre or verse expressing various emotions;

5.2 using a variety of linguistics such as imagery, metaphors, simile,

onomatopoeia to convey the poem’s message effectively;

5.3 using metre and rhyme (to distinguish prose from verse);

5.4 in stanzas that convey the specified theme;

5.5 so that the presentation / recitation of this poem will cover the time frame
of the competition.

6.0 RECITATION

6.1 Participants are not allowed to refer to any notes or printed materials
during the presentation of the prepared poem. The poem must be recited
as it appears on the judge’s copy (ref: 4.4).

6.2 Participants must not present a commentary of the poem.

6.3 Participants must start the recitation by mentioning the title and the writer
of the poem.

6.4 There should be no inclusion of singing, music, props or artificial sound

effects.

6.5 A theatrical performance of the poem is not allowed.

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 A panel of 3 judges will be appointed for all the rounds at all levels. The
competition at the state level will be judged by a panel of 3 judges,
appointed by the organizing PPD and JPN Sarawak.

NO POSITION PRIZE & CERTIFICATES

1 1st PLACING PRIZE & CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
2 2ND PLACING PRIZE & CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
3 3RD PLACING PRIZE & CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
4 4TH PLACING PRIZE & CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
5 5TH PLACING PRIZE & CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
6 6TH PLACING CERTIFICATION OF PARTICIPATION
AND ONWARDS
KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023

KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION

COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023
LEVEL / YEAR

TIME SHEET

Contestant No. Time (Prepared) Time (Impromptu)

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Timekeeper's
Name
Signature

Date
 KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023

KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023
LEVEL / YEAR
SCORE SHEET

Physical Voice & Dramatic Level of Evidence of Overall

Contestant
Presence Articulation Appropriateness Complexity Understanding Performance Total Time Remarks
No.
(10 m) (30 m ) (20 m) (10 m) (10 m) (20 m)
1

2
3
4
5
6
7

*Judges are not allowed to refer to texts while the teams are performing.

Maximum Marks Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent

10 1- 2 3- 4 5- 6 7- 8 9 -10
15 1-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 13-15
30 1-6 7-12 13-18 19-24 25-30

Signature :

Judge’s Name :

Date :
 KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023

KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023
LEVEL / YEAR
SCORE SHEET

Physical Voice & Dramatic Level of Evidence of Overall

Contestant
Presence Articulation Appropriateness Complexity Understanding Performance Total Time Remarks
No.
(10 m) (30 m ) (20 m) (10 m) (10 m) (20 m)
9

10
11
12
13
14
15
16

*Judges are not allowed to refer to texts while the teams are performing.

Maximum Marks Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent

10 1- 2 3- 4 5- 6 7- 8 9 -10
15 1-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 13-15
30 1-6 7-12 13-18 19-24 25-30

Signature :

Judge’s Name :

Date :
 KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023

KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION

FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023
LEVEL / YEAR

FREQUENCY COUNT

JUDGE
FINAL
PLACING 1 2 3 4 5
PLACING
CONTESTANT NO.

Position Name Signature

Chief Judge

Judge 2

Judge 3

Judge 4

Judge 5

Date
 KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023

KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION

FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023
LEVEL/YEAR

RESULT SLIP

PLACING CONTESTANT TITLE OF POEM SCHOOL / STATE

NO.

FIRST

SECOND

THIRD

FOURTH

FIFTH

Position Name Signature

Chief Judge

Judge 1

Judge 2

Judge 3

Judge 4

Date
 KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023

Evaluation Criteria: A Comprehensive Guide for Competitors and Judges

PHYSICAL PRESENCE

Eye contact, body language, and poise.

Tips:
• Present yourself well and be attentive. Use good posture. Look confident.
• Use eye contact with the entire audience. Don’t focus solely on the judges.
• Nervous gestures, poor eye contact with the audience, and lack of poise or confidence will
detract from your score.
• Relax and be natural. Enjoy your poem—the judges will notice.

Qualities of a strong recitation:

Ease and comfort with the audience. Engagement with the audience through physical presence,
including appropriate body language, confidence, and eye contact—without appearing artificial.

VOICE AND ARTICULATION

Volume, pace, rhythm, intonation, and proper pronunciation.

Keep in Mind: Participants will use a microphone at the National Finals

Tips:
• Project to the audience. Capture the attention of everyone, including the people in the back
• row. However, don’t mistake yelling for good projection.
• Proceed at a fitting and natural pace. Avoid nervously rushing through the poem. Do not
speak so slowly that the language sounds unnatural or awkward.
• With rhymed poems, be careful not to recite in a sing-song manner.
• Make sure you know how to pronounce every word in your poem. Articulate.
• Line breaks are a defining feature of poetry. Decide whether a break requires a pause and,
if so, how long to pause.

Qualities of a strong recitation:

All words pronounced correctly, and the volume, rhythm, and intonation greatly enhance the
recitation. Pacing should be appropriate to the poem.

DRAMATIC APPROPRIATENESS

Recitation is about conveying a poem’s sense with its language. It is closer to the art of oral
interpretation than theatrical performance. (Think storyteller or narrator rather than actor.) A strong
performance will rely on a powerful internalization of the poem rather than distracting
dramatic gestures. You represent the poem’s voice, not a character’s. You must subtly enhance
the understanding and enjoyment of the poem without overshadowing the language.

Tips:
• Do not act out the poem. Too much dramatization distracts from the language of the poem.
Movement or accents must not detract from the poem’s voice.
• You are the vessel of your poem. Have confidence that your poem is strong enough to
communicate without a physical illustration. Let the words of the poem do the work.
• Depending on the poem, occasional gestures may be appropriate, but the line between
appropriate and overdone is a thin one. When uncertain, leave them out.
• Avoid monotone delivery. However, too much enthusiasm can make your performance
seem insincere.
 KARNIVAL PERPADUAN BAHASA INGGERIS: POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2023

Qualities of a strong recitation:

The dramatization subtly underscores the meaning of the poem without becoming the focal point.
The style of delivery is more about oral interpretation than dramatic enactment. A low score in
this category will result from recitations that have affected character voices and accents,
inappropriate tone and inflection, singing, distracting and excessive gestures, or
unnecessary emoting.

LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY

A poem with complex content conveys difficult, sophisticated ideas, that are challenging to
comprehend and express. A poem with complex language will have intricate diction and syntax,
meter and rhyme scheme, and shifts in tone or mood. Poem length is also considered in
complexity. Please keep in mind that longer poems are not necessarily more difficult. Poems with
significantly challenging content and language may not need length to score well.

Tips:
• For competitions beyond the classroom level, select poems of various styles, time periods,
themes, and tones. Diversity of poem selection will allow judges to see your mastery of
various elements of complexity.
• Make sure each poem you choose is one that speaks to you. If you are able to connect with
a poem, that internalization will ripple positively throughout all of your scores.

EVIDENCE OF UNDERSTANDING

This category is to evaluate whether you exhibit a true understanding of the poem in your
recitation.

Tips:
• You must understand the poem fully. Be attentive to the messages, meanings, allusions,
irony, tones of voice, and other nuances in your poem.
• Be sure you know the meaning of every word and line in your poem.

Qualities of a strong recitation:

The meaning of the poem is powerfully and clearly conveyed to the audience. The interpretation
deepens and enlivens the poem. Meaning, themes, allusions, irony, tones of voice, and other
nuances are captured by the performance. A low score will be awarded if the interpretation
obscures the meaning of the poem.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

This category is to evaluate the degree to which the recitation has become more than the sum of its
parts.
• Did you captivate the audience with the language of the poem?
• Did you bring the audience to a better understanding of the poem?
• Did your physical presence, voice and articulation, and dramatic appropriateness all seem on
target and unified to breathe life into the poem?
• Did you understand and show mastery of the art of recitation?

Judges may also consider the diversity of your recitations with this score; you are less likely to score
well in overall performance when judges note that your style of interpretation remains the same
regardless of poem choice. A low score will be awarded for recitations that are poorly presented,
ineffective in conveying the meaning of the poem, or conveyed in a manner inappropriate to the
poem.