Subchapter D: 2nd-8th Grades (1426)
Section 1426: IMPROMPTU SPEAKING
- (a) THE CONTEST.
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(1) Summary. This contest gives students experience in formulating and organizing clear thoughts and effectively delivering those thoughts to an audience. The contest provides opportunities for students to explore the use of the voice and body in speaking situations; to examine different purposes for speaking; to organize ideas and deliver speeches on a variety of topics; to evaluate speeches given by others; and to develop self-confidence.
(2) Contest Format. Contestants will draw three topics, select one, and have three minutes to prepare a speech, which shall be presented without any notes. Contestants may not use costumes or props in the contest. The maximum time limit for each speech is five minutes. There is no minimum time limit. Students who exceed the allotted five minutes shall be penalized one rank. For example, if the judges rank a student second who has gone overtime, that student shall be assigned third place and the student who was ranked third will be given second place. No speaker may be coached or prompted in any manner during the presentation. Audiences are permitted.
- (b) REPRESENTATION.
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(1) Contestants. Students officially prescribed grade levels below 9th grade who are eligible under Section 1400 and 1405 may enter this contest. A student may enter no more than two speech events.
(2) Divisions. Districts shall offer either a separate division for each participating grade level or combined grade level divisions as specified in official contest procedures.
(3) Individual Competition. For each division, each participant school may enter as many as three contestants in the district meet.
(4) Team Competition. There is no team competition in this contest.
- (c) CONTEST ADMINISTRATION.
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(1) Personnel. The contest director may be the coach of a participating student. A timekeeper should be provided for each section. Contest officials should select one judge or an odd-numbered panel of judges for each section. Judges shall not be coaches of participating students. So far as possible, judges should not know what school any contestant represents.
(2) Sections. A section shall consist of no more than eight contestants. If nine or more students enter a division of impromptu speaking, they shall be divided into sections according to official contest procedures.
(3) Rankings, Ties and Points. Contestants shall be ranked as specified in official contest procedures. There can be no ties in this contest. Points are awarded as specified in Section 1408 (i).
(4) Verification Period. If a panel of judges is used, a verification period shall be provided. Unofficial results should be posted. Coaches should be given no more than 15 minutes to verify that tabulation of rankings is correct. The decisions of the judges are not subject to question. Evaluation sheets may be viewed by contestants and coaches during the verification period and shall be returned to the contest director at the end of the verification period. For rounds with single judges, a 15-minute viewing period is recommended.
(5) Official Results. The contest director shall announce the official results. Official results, once announced, are final.
(6) Returning Materials. No materials from district contests may be returned to contestants prior to official release dates.