Cooper high school speech team
On this page, you'll find basic descriptions of each of the categories.
Please check the official rules for each category at the Minnesota State High School League website.
Interpretive Public Address
Creative Expression
Discussion
Duo Interpretation
Extemporaneous Speaking
Extemporaneous Reading
Great Speeches
Humorous Interpretation
Informative
Serious Drama
Original Oratory
Serious Poetry
Serious Prose
Storytelling
v What is it?
Creative expression is a speech written by YOU in a form of a story or play. Up to 20% may be material from other sources, but the majority is yours. Your speech may have a serious or funny tone.
v What do you need to do?
You can get away with the most movement and acting in this category. You should have an introduction with a “teaser.”
TIME LIMIT: 8 minutes
v What is it?
You and a partner will perform a play or a selection from a book with a serious or humorous theme.
v What do you need to do?
You will select a scene in which there are two or three characters speaking. Use your voice, face and gestures to perform the piece. You do not look at your partner, except in the introduction. Focal points are recommended during dialogue. You will need to write an introduction to your piece.
TIME LIMIT: 8 minutes
v What is it?
Extemp reading is a draw event in either prose or poetry.
v What do you need to do?
First, you must choose between prose or poetry. There are usually 10-15 stories and 20-30 poems you will need to prepare for competition. Before each round you will draw three titles. You then choose one to perform. You should use your voice, face and gestures to perform the piece as you read from the book. You will have 30 minutes for preparation. Generally, you may not use the same piece for finals as you performed in the preliminary rounds.
TIME LIMIT: 30
minute preparation; 6
minutes performing
Download
Prose
Selections for 2008-2009
Download
Poetry
Selections for 2008-2009
v What is it?
Humorous is a performance speech from a play, poem or story that is funny. It must be appropriate for a high school classroom.
v What do you need to do?
You will need to write an introduction, which may include a teaser. Use your face, voice and gestures to perform the piece. You should not move around too much or “act out” the piece.
TIME LIMIT: 8 minutes
v What is it?
Serious drama is a performance piece from a play with a serious theme that is appropriate to contemporary community standards that has only a few characters.
v What do you need to do?
You will need to write an introduction. Find a scene or two within a play that does not have a lot of characters. Find a selection that builds to a climax and comes to somewhat of a resolution. You should use your voice, face, gestures and eye contact to perform your piece. You may not act things out with props, costumes or make-up.
TIME LIMIT: 8 minutes
v What is it?
Serious poetry is performing a published poem or poems that you select.
v What do you need to do?
Find a poem or poems with a serious theme. You will need to write an introduction. You shouldn’t move or “act out” the piece; instead, use you r face, voice and gestures to dramatically perform the piece. It doesn’t have to rhyme, and the better ones usually don’t.
TIME LIMIT: 8 minutes
v What is it?
For prose your speech will be a cutting from a novel or short story with a serious theme.
v What do you need to do?
You will need to write an introduction to your piece. A short story usually works best because you can use most of the storyline. You may use fiction or non-fiction. Cut out the “he said she saids”. Use your voice and gestures to perform the piece. You are not acting out the piece.
TIME LIMIT: 8 minutes
v What is it?
Storytelling is a draw event where you perform a story out of a storytelling book assigned for this event. The stories are usually a fairy tale of children’s type story.
v What do you need to do?
There are 15 stories you will need to prepare for competition. You will need introductions for each story. Before each round in which you perform, you will draw three titles. You may then choose which title you want to perform. Generally, you may not perform the same title from preliminary rounds in a final round. You should use your voice, face, body and gestures to perform the story. You will retell the story in your own words.
TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes preparation; 6 minutes speaking
Download Storytelling Selections for 2008-2009
v What is it?
Discussion is a roundtable discussion (not a debate) on an assigned topic for the year. You will never write or deliver a speech in this event.
v What do you need to do?
You will begin by researching and creating files on the topic in a three ring binder. When you compete, you and your discussion group (5-7 others) will be given a task dealing with a specific issue relating to the topic. The main goal of discussion is consensus building. You are judged not only on your speaking and analytical skills, but also on your interpersonal skills.
TIME LIMIT: 60 minutes
Disco
Topic for 2008-2009: Global Human Rights
Download
Disco Outline for
2008-2009
v What is it?
Extemp. speaking is a draw event speech in which you deliver an answer to a statement or question on either a U.S. issue or an international issue.
v What do you need to do?
Pick either U.S. issues or international issues. Begin researching and creating files. Before each round you will draw three questions. You pick one question to answer. You may not repeat the same question from a preliminary round in a final round. You will have 30 minutes for prep. You may write out 50 words/symbols or less on a notecard for your speech (NFL rules do not allow a notecard). Your speech should follow a formula: the introduction should contain an attention getter, answer the question, and provide a preview of your reasoning. The body of the speech should contain 2-4 reasons for you answer with evidence. The conclusion should summarize your reasons and reinforce your answer.
TIME LIMIT: 30 minute preparation; 7 minutes speaking
Download Extemp Speaking Topics 2008-2009
v What is it?
Great speeches is an analytical critique of a famous speech that has withstood the test of time.
v What do you need to do?
You will perform a famous speech and analyze it. You will need to write 25% of the speech. You can talk about the audience, the speaker’s persuasive style, the historical importance, and other things. You should not attempt to impersonate the original speaker when performing the speech.
TIME LIMIT: 8 minutes
v What is it?
Informative speaking is an informative speech you write on any topic, with a visual aid.
v What do you need to do?
You will write an informative speech on a topic of your choice. It is important to consider your audience in your topic selection. You may use 10% direct quotations with signal phrases. Your will need to conduct in-depth research on your topic. You should have clear organization with an introduction, 3-4 main points, and a conclusion. You will also design a series of posters to accompany your speech.
TIME LIMIT: 8 minutes
v What is it?
Original Oratory is a persuasive speech written by you. You may use 10% direct quotation.
v What do you need to do?
Find a topic that interests you and about which you have a clear opinion. You will need to do in-depth research on your topic. Your speech should have clear organization: an introduction, 3-4 main points, and a conclusion. A common way to organize is the problem-solution method.
TIME LIMIT: 8 minutes