Full Long-Term Problem

Odyssey of the Mind Problem No. 5:
Seeing is Believing Divisions: I, II, III & IV
Introduction
It is common to fear the unknown. This fear can often lead to avoidance or the inability to act. However, brave explorers,
scientists, and everyday people have proved that conquering the fear of the unknown can lead to great achievements. What
if we never sent a man to the moon because we were afraid of what we’d fi nd? ...or across an ocean? ...or even at the other
end of a telephone call? Our world would be a much smaller place. In this problem, OotM teams have the opportunity to
show what can happen when we let curiosity overcome fear of the unknown.
A. The Problem
The problem is to create and present an original performance about a community that feels threatened by something
in a location its members have never visited. They will then use a team-created method to select one or more Travelers
to visit and explore the location. While at the location, a Traveler will send a message home to convince the community
that there is nothing to fear. The performance will also include a narrator character, two rhymes, and a moving set piece.
The creative emphases of this problem are on the performance, the community, how the Traveler is selected, the
rhymes, and how the set piece is designed to move.
The Spirit of the Problem is for the team to create and present an original performance about a community that
feels threatened by something in a location its citizens have never visited. The community uses a team-created method
to select Travelers to visit and explore the location, where one of the Travelers sends a message home that there is
nothing to fear. The performance will also include a narrator character, two rhymes, and a set piece that moves.
B. Limitations (Italicized words/terms are defi ned on Page 5 in the Problem Glossary or in the 2013-2014 Odyssey of
the Mind Program Guide.)
1. General Rules: Read the 2013-2014 Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide. This manual includes basic limitations
for this problem and the forms required for competition. This problem cannot be solved without referring to the
Program Rules section of the guide.
2. Problem Clarifi cations: The Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide explains the types of questions about the rules
that will be clarifi ed and the ways to submit those questions. General problem clarifi cations can be accessed
at odysseyofthemind.com/clarifi cations/. Problem clarifi cations submitted after February 15, 2014, will not be
answered. CCI may fi nd it necessary to issue clarifi cations after that date, so continue to check for them after
February 15 and before each competition.
3. The time limit for this problem is 8 minutes. This starts when the Timekeeper says, “Team begin” and includes setup,
Style, and presentation of the problem solution.
4. The cost limit for this problem is $125 (U.S). The combined value of the materials used during the demonstration of
the team’s solution, including Style, cannot exceed this amount. The Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide explains
the cost limit and lists items that are exempt from cost.
5. The team will create an original performance that includes:
a. a community.
b. something that is believed to exist in a different location that causes the community to feel threatened.
c. one or more Traveler characters that visit the location.
d. a message sent by a Traveler back to the community.
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e. a narrator character.
f. two rhymes.
g. a moving set piece.
6. The community:
a. may be portrayed as anything and in any way.
b. must be a group of inhabitants living in the same location, whether real or imagined.
7. The location:
a. must be portrayed as being a different place than where the community resides.
b. can be any place and set in any time period. It does not have to be a location that currently exists.
8. The Traveler(s):
a. may be portrayed as anything and in any way.
b. will be chosen by the inhabitants to visit and explore the location.
c. will be shown in the performance leaving the community and traveling to the location.
d. will send a message back to the community while at the location.
9. The message sent back to the community:
a. can be depicted as being sent/received in any way.
b. must be seen and/or heard by the judges and audience.
c. will convince the community members that there is no reason to feel threatened.
10. The narrator character:
a. may be portrayed as anything and in any way. It can be integrated as a character in the performance if the team
wishes.
b. will explain to the judges and audience the reason the community feels threatened.
11. The two rhymes:
a. must be delivered at different times during the performance. One rhyme must be about the Traveler’s visit to the
location.
b. must be different from one another.
c. may be delivered in any way, that is, spoken, sung, written, etc. as long as they are observable to the judges and
audience.
12. The moving set piece:
a. must be one item that is part of the stage set.
b. must move without any direct human power.
c. must be visible to the judges and audience as it moves.
d. may move as many times or for as long as the team wishes.
13. The team should present the Staging Area Judge with four copies of the Team’s Required List Form found in the
forms section at www.odysseyofthemind.com/members/ or four copies of a list on one side of one or two sheets of
8 ½” x 11” or A4 paper. This list must be hand-printed, typed, or computer generated. It is for reference only. The list
must include:
a. the team’s membership name and number, the problem and division.
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b. a brief description of the reason the community feels threatened.
c. the rhymes to be scored.
d. the moving set piece and when in the performance it will move.
e. the message to be scored.
f. a brief description of the narrator character.
g. a brief description of the traveler character.
h. the signal the team will use to indicate it has fi nished its performance.
C. Site, Setup and Competition
1. A stage or fl oor area a minimum of 7’ x 10’ (2.1 m x 3 m) will be used, but a larger area is desirable. This will not
be marked. Teams must be prepared to perform in a 7’ x 10’ area and to place their props and background in that
area as well. If space permits, the team may perform and/or place equipment, props, etc. outside the 7’ x 10’ area.
If a drop-off exists beyond the 7’ x 10’ dimensions, a caution line may be taped 30” (76.2 cm) from the edge of the
drop-off. This will serve as a warning, not a boundary.
2. A three-prong electrical outlet will be available. Teams must bring their own extension cords and adapters, if needed.
3. The team members must report to the competition site with all of their props and paperwork at least 15 minutes
before they are scheduled to compete.
4. It is the team’s responsibility to complete its performance within the 8-minute time limit. When the team is fi nished,
it must signal the judges. An overtime penalty will be assessed if the team takes more than 8 minutes, and the
Timekeeper will stop the team after one minute of overtime.
5. Teams should bring cleaning utensils to clean up any mess. Should a team take an unreasonable amount of time
to clean the site, or leave a mess; the judges will assess an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty. Others not on the
team’s roster can help the team clear the site and remove the team’s props. The competition area must be left clean
and dry for the next competing team.
D. Scoring
1. Creativity of the overall performance (originality, effectiveness) ................................................................ 1 to 20 points
2. Quality of the performance (audibility, movement, stage presence) .......................................................... 1 to 20 points
3. Overall creativity of the portrayal of the members of the community ........................................................ 1 to 15 points
4. The reason the community feels threatened ......................................................................................... 1 to 20 points
a. Is established in the performance .............................................................................. 0 or 5 points
b. Originality of the threat ..............................................................................................1 to 15 points
5. The Traveler character(s) ....................................................................................................................... 2 to 30 points
a. Effectiveness of the performance .............................................................................1 to 15 points
b. Creativity of how it is selected by the community .....................................................1 to 10 points
c. Travels to the location ................................................................................................ 0 or 5 points
6. Visual impact of the location visited ...................................................................................................... 1 to 10 points
7. The narrator character ........................................................................................................................... 1 to 20 points
a. Effectiveness of its role in the performance .............................................................1 to 15 points
b. Describes the threat.................................................................................................... 0 or 5 points
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8. The message ......................................................................................................................................... 1 to 20 points
a. Is received by the community .................................................................................... 0 or 5 points
b. Impact on the performance .......................................................................................1 to 15 points
9. The two rhymes ..................................................................................................................................... 1 to 20 points
a. One is about the Traveler’s visit to the location ......................................................... 0 or 5 points
b. Overall creativity .......................................................................................................1 to 15 points
10. The moving set piece ............................................................................................................................ 2 to 25 points
a. Moves at some time in the performance ................................................................... 0 or 5 points
b. Creativity of how it is designed to move ....................................................................1 to 10 points
c. Overall effectiveness of its movement in the performance ........................................1 to 10 points
Maximum possible: 200 points
E. Penalties (Deducted from percentaged scores.)
1. “Spirit of the Problem” violation (each offense) ..................................................................................-1 to -100 points
2. Unsportsmanlike conduct (each offense) ......................................................................................... -1 to -100 points
3. Incorrect or missing membership sign ...............................................................................................-1 to -15 points
4. Outside assistance (each offense) ....................................................................................................-1 to -100 points
5. Over cost limit ....................................................................................................................................-1 to -100 points
6. Over time limit: -5 points for every 10 seconds or fraction thereof
over time limit (example: 27 seconds = -15 points) .................................................................... maximum -30 points
Omission of scored problem requirements carries no penalty except loss of score.
F. Style (Elaboration of the problem solution; use the Style Form from the Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide.)
1. Visual impact of the community setting ................................................................................................. 1 to 10 points
2. Creative use of a material in a team member’s costume ...................................................................... 1 to 10 points
3. (Free choice of team) ............................................................................................................................ 1 to 10 points
4. (Free choice of team) ............................................................................................................................ 1 to 10 points
5. Overall effect of the four Style elements in the performance ................................................................ 1 to 10 points
Maximum possible: 50 points
G. Tournament Director Will Provide
1. A 7’ x 10’ (2.1m x 3m) presentation area (larger, if possible).
2. A three-prong electrical outlet.
3. A judging team and materials necessary to judge this problem.
*NOTE: Contact your Tournament Director regarding competition site specifi cations such as actual dimensions,
registration procedures, fl oor surface, etc. Do not submit a clarifi cation request for this information.
H. The Team Must Provide
1. Four copies of its Style Form, one Cost Form, one Outside Assistance Form, and all team-specifi c clarifi cations.
2. Four copies of its list as stated in B13. This list is to assist the judges. If the team fails to provide the list, there will be
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no penalty; however, it benefi ts the team to have the lists because without them the judges might miss a scored aspect
of the performance.
3. Any necessary extension cords or outlet adapters.
4. Cleanup materials as needed.
I. Problem Glossary (Italicized terms that are not in this Glossary can be found in the 2013-2014 Odyssey of the
Mind Program Guide.)
community – a group of inhabitants that reside in a specifi c locality and share the same resources.
threat/threatened – something that appears to be hurtful or dangerous to others, or socially unaccepted as portrayed in
the performance by the community.
visual impact – impressiveness; ability to stand out from others and be noticed.
Creative Competitions, Inc., its licensees, and the problem authors assume no responsibility for damage or injury
incurred as a result of attempting to solve this problem.
Problem by Samuel W. Micklus and Dr. C. Samuel Micklus.
© Copyright 2013 — Creative Competitions, Inc.
® Odyssey of the Mind, OotM, and the Odyssey of the Mind logo, and OMER are federally registered trademarks of
Creative Competitions, Inc.