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 Welcome to the 2007-2008 year of Speech activities! We are looking forward to a great season! This is a very rewarding, fun, and worthwhile extra-curricular activity! Practice times are for 20 minutes once a week, before or after school, with you and one of the coaches. A sign-up schedule is arranged at the beginning of the season. All other practice on pieces is done by participants, themselves, at home or by special arrangement with the coach.

Team Meetings are held on Wednesdays at 3:15 in room 312.

Needs during the month of December include:

• Participants sign up for practice times

• Hand in participation fee and signed form

• Choose category and performing piece with help and approval from Mrs.Citrowske and Mrs.Fokken

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During January it is important to:

• Attend practices

• Practice at home

• Help plan our annual Canby's First Timers Festival

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Through February and into April:

• Sign up for and attend scheduled speech meets: Sign up sheets are located in room 312. (See below for details.)

• Continue practicing with coaches and at home

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    Before subsections there are seven Sr. High meets on Saturdays which include 7th through 12th grades. There are also three or four Jr. High meets for 6th through 9th grades that are during the week after school. Because there are times when it is not possible to attend a meet, members who are going must sign up for each meet in advance. Once signed up, it is important to keep the commitment on attending. Communication is VERY important, so in cases of last minute problems, the coaches must be notified of any changes. To be able to participate in subsections and sections, at least half of the meets must be participated in.

    Commitment and communication are also very important in keeping scheduled practices. There are always those "things" that arise and adjustments can be made! Just stop in coaches' rooms or call or email to make needed arrangements.

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Fees:

Grades 6-8 = $10.00

Grades 9-12 = $15.00

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Scheduled Events for Varsity (9-12th grade):

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Guidelines for Speech Categories

Creative Expression

• 80% of the presentation must be material which is written by the contestant
• The mood may be serious or humorous
• Contestants may use pantomime, storytelling, interpretative reading, impersonation, or a combination of these
• The speech must include an introductory statement
• A chair or stool may be used, but is not to be used as a prop. Student may only use it to sit on or stand near, and it must face forward.
• Judges should consider the use of creative imagination and effective use of body and voice.
• Time limit -- 8 minutes

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Discussion

• The discussion should reach a consensus rather than majority rule.
• The contestant should help to unify the group.
• The thrust of this event should be the blending of cooperation and critical thinking to arrive at a collective goal of better understanding and problem-solving
• Basis for judging discussion: Did his/her contributions add to the group effort? Did his/her contributions reflect and understanding of the issue? Did his/her behavior reflect a healthy respect for the dignity and worth of other participants?
• Time limit -- 60 minutes   

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Dramatic Duo

• Dou is an interp. event and should be judged as such.
• Introduction must be presented at or near the beginning of the piece. This intro, along with any transitional remarks necessary for the selection, may be delivered by either or both participants.
• Pivoting, turning, or one or two steps may be used to indicate stage directions or transitions.
• Participants may make eye contact during intros and transitions; focal points must be in or near the real of the audience during the dialogue.
• Material may be serious or humorous, should have literary merit, and should be appropriate for the audience.
• Time limit -- 8 minutes

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Extemporaneous Reading

• The reading should be prefaced with a spoken introduction.
• The contestant should use effective vocal and bodily expression: gestures are optional.
• In poetry reading, selections must be read in the order given on the draw slip.
• Time limit -- 6 minutes

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Extemporaneous Speaking

• The speech should be developed with a logical and supportable position.
• Judges should consider the quality of information presented by a speaker together with the speakers\'s use of that information to either illustrate or support his/her thesis.
• A maximum of 50 words or notes shall be allowed each speaker. Judges will collect and examine notes when used by speakers to be sure this rule is followed.
• Speakers must adhere strictly to the question drawn.
• Time limit -- 7 minutes.

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Great Speeches

• Information about the speaker and original audience must be included
• Student should justify the selection of the speech for presentation to the contestant's immediate audience.
• A minimum of 25% of the speech should be the contestant's own information
• Contestant should be judged on justification, analysis, and delivery.
• Since this is NOT an interpretive event, posturing, impersonation, and limitation are to be avoided.

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Humorous Interpretation

• The selection should amuse, give enjoyment, or create laughter.
• The student should be judged on his/her ability to get and give meaning through the use of voice and bodily expression.
• Time limit -- 8 minutes.

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Informative Speaking

• No more than 10% of the speech should be direct quotation.
• Judges should consider the quality of thought, research, and composition, as well as delivery.
• Source cites necessary for quoted, paraphrased, or summarized material must be included.
• Purpose is to inform; speech should avoid predominantly persuasive subjects and techniques.
• Use of visual aids is optional; if used, they must be two-dimensional.
• No audience participation is allowed
• Time limit -- 8 minutes

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Original Oratory

• No more than 10% of the speech should be direct quotation.
• Judges should consider the quality of though, composition, and delivery
• The composition should be specifically adapted to oral presentation, but no particular manner of content organization is required.
• The speech should be persuasive in nature.
• Contestants are not required to solve any great social problem, but must offer insight and guidance.
• Time limit -- 8 minutes

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Serious Prose, Drama, and Poetry

• The mood must be "essentially serious"
• The student should be judged on his/her ability to get and give meaning through the use of voice and bodily expression. Use of gestures is optional.
• Judge should consider literary merit and appropriateness of material.
• Time limit -- 8 minutes

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Story Telling

• The contestant should adhere to the author's style, intent, and mood.
• The contestant should be judged on the ability to recreate the story in his/her own words with emphasis on good conversational style and spontaneous bodily action.
• An introduction must be included as part of the performance; no notes or test props are permitted.
• Time limit -- 6 minutes

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General Information

USE OF SCRIPTS IS OPTIONAL. DO NOT PENALIZE A CONTESTANT FOR USING A SCRIPT! You may, however, consider whether or not the script has been used effectively.

Up to two musical phrases may be included in a student's performance; whistling, humming, and singing are all allowed up to this two-phrase maximum.

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