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to the Main Judging Speech Events Instructions
You present an
informative, persuasive, or humorous speech on a topic of your choice.
Your speech should be a written/typed manuscript that you have memorized or
that you use notes very minimally when you present.
Your speech should include source citations, clever and engaging wording,
and have a purpose to inform, persuade or entertain your audience.
Elementary students speak for up to 5 minutes.
Middle School students speak for up to 7 minutes.
High School students speak for up to 10
minutes.
If a student is 30+ seconds over time,
you MUST stop them and they get ranked 1 lower.
Hook (catchy intro to get attention on the topic)
Link (connection your hook to transition to your thesis).
Thesis (main point/message speaker wants to make—can be informative or persuasive or humorous)
Roadmap (The speaker previews the 2-3 points/examples they will address to answer the question.)
Background- explain your topic, what is it and give a history of people’s understanding/actual history of it. “To understand this, let’s look at _________”
First point- Speaker discusses their first point (usually interesting info or something to make the audience care about this topic such as stories, expert opinion, studies, etc. “First, ______”
Second point- Speaker discusses their second point (usually new information/combatting misconceptions, again with interesting info or something to make the audience care about this topic such as stories, expert opinion, studies, etc.).
Speakers may have a third and fourth point.
The
speaker then concludes, usually summing up, showing they’ve proven their
thesis/show its importance,
and finishing up, often referring back to the
attention getter and reiterating the thesis.
1. Contestants may remain in the room.
2. Speakers should at most minimally look at the manuscript of their speech (on paper or an electronic device).
INTRODUCTION
___ I liked your introduction (state why)
___ Your intro needs to be longer-less abrupt
___ Your intro needs to be shorter-more concise.
___ Your intro needs more zip to increase interest
___ You need to state or improve your thesis statement
___ You should provide an preview of your speech’s main points
THE
BODY OF THE SPEECH
___ The body of your speech is good (state why)
___ You need to state your main points for clearer organization
___ Your main points need to support your thesis more clearly
___ You need more interesting examples, stories, etc.
___ You need more effective use of language
___ You need stronger support for your points. Use experts, quotations, statistics, stronger reasons, etc.
___ You need to address this issue/argument
___ Change your intro to fit the info in the body of your speech
CONCLUSION
OF THE SPEECH
___ Don’t repeat to take up time (just finish)
___ I liked your conclusion (state why to the right)
___ Your conclusion needs to be longer/less abrupt
___ Your conclusion needs to be shorter/more concise
___ Your conclusion should not cover entirely new material
OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE SPEECH
___ Your speech is good as a whole (state why)
___ You need stronger analysis and more insight in your speech
___ You need to provide stronger support for your position on the topic
DELIVERY |
|
___ Good delivery |
___ Cut out the ums and uhs |
___ Read your notes less |
___ Cut repeated words ok/like |
___ Use better eye contact |
___ Use more natural words |
___ Look at the audience |
___ Use more polished words |
___ Work on your hand gestures |
___ Speak more quickly |
___ Work on your body posture |
___ Speak slower/use pauses |
___ Don’t lean on table/podium |
___ Pronounce words clearer |
___ Don’t pace during speech |
___ Use voice better to get across the meaning |
___ Don’t rock |
___ Use more energy in voice |
___ Move at key points |
___ Speak louder |
___ Stand closer to your judge |
___ Speak softer |
___ Stand further away |
___ Use more natural delivery |
___ Avoid sighing/breathing loud |
___ Reduce set tone—vary your voice |
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to the Main Judging Speech Events Instructions