JUDGING POWERPOINT

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What is PowerPoint Speaking?

Speakers present on any topic using a PowerPoint/Google Slides/Similar throughout the speech.
Speakers should use a combination of bullets, pictures, videos, and animation to create a visually interesting and well supported speech.

Timing

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.

What’s in a typical PowerPoint Speech?

Students will use PowerPoint, Google Slides, Presi, etc. to present their speech

Attention Getter Slide (gaining the audience’s interest in the topic)

Thesis (main point/message speaker wants to make—can be informative or persuasive or humorous)

Speaker Expertise/Credibility (shows the speaker’s connection to and knowledge of the topic)

Audience Connection (shows the topic is relevant to the audience)

Preview (The speaker previews the 2-3 main sections of the PowerPoint)

First point- Speaker discusses slides for 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 slides for 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.

IMPORTANT: SLIDES SHOULD . . .

Have a minimum of text—1 line bullets except for quotations/study results

BIG pictures and videos that take up the entire slide (or at least half the size of the slide)

Text should be EASY to read (28 point or higher, often bolded, contrasts with the background)

Bullets and Pictures should appear one at a time (using animation)

In almost all cases—no more than 5 bullets and no more than 2 pictures should appear on one slide (best is to have 3 bullets max OR 1 picture)

The speaker’s words should match what appears on screen—including describing details of any picture that appears.

The speaker then concludes with slides, 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.

PowerPoint Rules

1. Contestants may remain in the room.

2. Speakers should NOT use notes—the PowerPoint/Slides are all the notes the speaker needs.

Feedback you can give

INTRODUCTION

___ I liked your introduction (state why)

___ Your intro needs to a better attention getter slide

___ 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 need a slide for your expertise/connection to the topic

___ You need a slide showing how the topic connects to the audience’s interests/experiences

___ 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)

___ 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 less text. Use 1 line bullets except for quotations/study results

___ You need BIG pictures and videos that take up the entire slide (or at least half the size of the slide)

___ You need text that is easier to read (28 point or higher, often bolded, contrasts with the background)

___ Your Bullets and Pictures should appear one at a time (using animation)

__ Practice to make your words should match what appears on screen—including describing details of any picture that appears.

___ 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 (not the screen)	___ Use more natural words
___ Work on clicking/pressing to go to the next item on your slides	___ 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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