Speech Team Events Humorous Duet Acting/Dramatic Duet Acting- In these events, two actors perform a short scene from a play. The speakers are allowed to use two chairs and a table, if they wish, but no other props or costumes. Obviously, DDA would be more serious while HDA would be more humorous. 8 minutes long. Humorous Interp/Dramatic Interp- These interpretation events require one speaker to play one or more characters in a short scene from a play. The speaker uses focal points (staring at points on the wall) as well as physical and vocal changes to differentiate between the characters. Obviously, DI would be more serious while HI would be more entertaining. 8 minutes long. Prose- (PR) Here, the student reads a work of prose (a short story or a cutting from a larger work). The prose is placed in a small, black folder which the reader holds. Each student must have 2 different pieces to read; the selections can be humorous or dramatic. Not memorized. 8 minutes long. Verse- (VR) In this event, the student reads a poem, a portion of a long poem, or a few short poems. The work is placed in a small, black folder which the reader holds. Each student must have 2 different selections to read; they can be humorous or dramatic. Not memorized. 8 minutes long. Oratorical Declamation (DEC)- The speaker finds a previously written speech, essay, or editorial and delivers it. The work should have some significance or literary merit. So the delivery is somewhat like original oratory, even though the speech itself is not original. 8 minutes long. Original Comedy- OC is not at all a traditional speech! The intention is to entertain and the content, style, and ideas are up to the speaker. It could be a dialogue between characters, a scene, a story, a monologue, etc. But as "comedy" implies, it should be funny! 8 minutes long. Original Oratory- OO: The student picks a topic of interest and does some research on how this problem affects us and how we should use this new information in our lives. Traditionally, the speech is given in a problem solution format and should be persuasive. 8 minutes long. Original Informative- OI is just like OO, however it is an 8 minute informative speech instead of a persuasive one. Special Occasion Speaking- for SOS you choose a topic as well as particular audience to speak to (such as the National Honor Society, Saturday detention students, those in a particular workplace, etc.). The topic should obviously have a connection to the chosen audience. 8 minutes long. Radio- In RS, the student composes and delivers a 5 minute newscast with a commercial, much like one would hear on the radio. With some tournaments, the speaker prepares the radio script at home using news that is no more than 24 hours old. At others, the tournament managers will provide many news stories and the speaker would have 45 minutes to make a script out of the given material.
Impromptu- IMP is a think on your feet event! After the judge provides the topic, the speaker has eight minutes TOTAL to prepare and deliver an organized 6 minute speech about it. Topics can include famous names, historical events, quotes, common sayings, or single words. There is no memorization involved in the speech, but a good knowledge base helps to organize thoughts and provide examples. Extemporaneous Speaking- EXTEMP is challenging, but a terrific event. The speaker is given 45 minutes to prepare an original answer to an assigned current events question. In composing the speech, the student can use magazine and newspaper articles which are brought from the home school to the tournament site. The student would cite the sources of his or her evidence in the speech.
SPEECH TEAM AUDITION PIECE # 1 COMEDY (Amy Poeller Speech at Harvard 2011) Friends, Romans, countrymen: lend me your beers. I am honored that you chose me to help you celebrate your graduation today. I can only assume I am here today because of my subtle and layered work in a timeless classic entitled "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo". And for that I say, you're welcome. I'm truly, truly delighted to be here at Harvard. I graduated from Boston College. Which some call the Harvard of Boston. But we all know that Harvard is the Harvard of Harvard. And you can quote me on that. I have to admit I am very surprised to be here because like so many of you, I was pretty convinced the Rapture was going to happen. Show of hands, how many of you woke up on Sunday and thought, "You're kidding me! I sold all of my belongings, I told my boss to shove it and we are still here?" I understand how you feel. I am so mad at Heaven right now. So I tried to write today's speech the way I wrote everything in College. Stayed up all night, typing on a Canon word processor while listening to Sir Mixalot. To be fair, first I took a nap, I ate a large pretzel, and then I went to see that movie, Fast Five. And I am here to tell you, life is like a heist that requires good drivers, an explosives expert, a hot girl who doubles as a master of disguise and this is a hard and fast rule. If the Rock shows up, they're on to you. SPEECH TEAM AUDITION PIECE #2 PERSUASIVE
(Global Ignorance in Young Americans by Bridget Flores 07) Afghanistan?! Isn t that the brand of shoes Kristen Stewart was wearing the other day? Or maybe it was her brand of sunglasses Is New Jersey on the East or West Coast of the U.S.? And speaking of the East and West Coasts, which one has the big ocean that begins with a P? I can NEVER remember. Ramadan, those little noodles are so delicious! And only ten cents! As residents of the United States, we enjoy the comforts and conveniences of a developed nation. Our rights and privileges are on a far greater scale than of those in other countries, particularly underdeveloped ones. Increasingly, Americans are becoming immersed in the trivialities of daily life in the wealthiest nation in the world. Those falling particularly victim to this trap are the young people of America. As more and more emphasis is placed on what movie is in theaters rather than critical issues facing today s society, young people are becoming quite unaware of the world around them, further solidifying the bubble that is the United States of America. It is crucial that we address this embarrassing and dangerous issue. First, we will analyze the problem of global ignorance, in its different aspects. Then, we will discuss the consequences of being oblivious to our global community s cultures and happenings. And finally we will discover how we can produce a change in America s young population so that they can approach the world with knowledge and evidence for their opinions.
SPEECH TEAM AUDITION PIECE #3 POETRY Birches by Robert Frost When I see birches bend to left and right Across the lines of straighter darker trees, I like to think some boy's been swinging them. But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay As ice-storms do. Often you must have seen them Loaded with ice a sunny winter morning After a rain. They click upon themselves As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel. Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shells Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust-- Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.