Speech Categories
General Speech Tips:
- Be sure to use good body gestures as well as change the tone of your voice to fit the speech.
- Maintain good eye contact with your judge and have a facial expression that matches what you are saying.
- Speeches have no minimum time limit, though they are usually 8-10 minutes long with a 30 second grace period after the 10 minute mark.
- Speeches should generally have a memorized introduction of about 30 seconds to a minute that introduces your piece and explains what it is about (theme, synopsis, purpose, etc.)
- Our goal as speakers is to express the emotion or idea behind a speech, not just to read or memorize words on paper and regurgitate it back to a judge. Make it powerful, make it meaningful, but most of all, make it fun to do.
Declamation
Deliver a previously written or prepared speech by someone other than the speaker, must be memorized
e.g. Lincoln's second inaugural address.
(Only available to freshman and sophomores)
** a great option for beginning or novice speakers
e.g. Lincoln's second inaugural address.
(Only available to freshman and sophomores)
** a great option for beginning or novice speakers
Dramatic or Humorous interpretation ( Di/HI )
- deliver a selected piece of prose from a book, play or movie and put your own dramatic or humorous spin on the parts, piece must be memorized.
NO PROPS ARE ALLOWED WHEN PERFORMING YOUR PIECE
N.B. If you are playing multiple characters, be sure to distinguish well between them as you perform
** recommended for more experienced speakers who have done OI at least once.
NO PROPS ARE ALLOWED WHEN PERFORMING YOUR PIECE
N.B. If you are playing multiple characters, be sure to distinguish well between them as you perform
** recommended for more experienced speakers who have done OI at least once.
Duo Interpretation ( Duo )
- two participants deliver a selected piece of prose from a book, play or movie with their own dramatic or humorous spin on the parts, must be memorized ( similar to DI except with to people)
the catch, NO EYE-CONTACT OR BODILY CONTACT CAN BE MADE WITH YOUR PARTNER DURING THE PERFORMANCE.
**recommended for speakers who are dedicated and able to meet frequently outside of club hours for rehearsal.
the catch, NO EYE-CONTACT OR BODILY CONTACT CAN BE MADE WITH YOUR PARTNER DURING THE PERFORMANCE.
**recommended for speakers who are dedicated and able to meet frequently outside of club hours for rehearsal.
ORAL Interpretation
- Two pieces are prepared, a prose piece and a poetry piece, and delivered with mild artistic interpretation. In alternating rounds, you will deliver either your prose piece or your poetry piece. The piece is not memorized, generally people put their pieces in a small binder and hold it one hand while gesturing with the other.
** highly recommended for beginning and novice speakers, gives a good foundation for other categories.
** highly recommended for beginning and novice speakers, gives a good foundation for other categories.
Original OratorY ( oo )
- Write a self composed a speech on any subject. It can inspire, persuade or inform provided that it has a clear direction and message as a whole.
IT MUST BE MEMORIZED
Write about something that matters to you! It can be a story, a cause, anything.
Be sure to have a good sense of logical organization, effective use of language, as well as poise and enthusiasm.
** recommended only for more experienced speakers, OO requires a solid understanding of speech structure.
more questions? contact your Speech Captain
IT MUST BE MEMORIZED
Write about something that matters to you! It can be a story, a cause, anything.
Be sure to have a good sense of logical organization, effective use of language, as well as poise and enthusiasm.
** recommended only for more experienced speakers, OO requires a solid understanding of speech structure.
more questions? contact your Speech Captain