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Ponsonby Primary

SPEECH COMPETITIONS

Class competitions beginlast weeks ofTERM 2

Speeches should INFORM and ENTERTAIN

TOPIC SELECTION

Care should be taken in the selection of a topic. The topic should be relevant to the age of the presenter and the experiences that they have had.

Topics should not lead to the denigration and put downs of people. This often arises when contestants choose to speak about family members. Language should be appropriate and the use of slang and colloquialisms avoided.

TIME

Speeches presented by contestants must be more than 2 minutes 30 secondsand no longer than 3 minutes 30 seconds.

SPEECH CONSTRUCTION

There are three parts to a speech:

Introduction

This part introduces the audience to the topic and tells them what the main points will be. It can also introduce the “message” of the speech.

In order to gain the audience’s attention there needs to be a strong introduction:

e.g. “Water rushed down the stairs towards us, what was I to do?”

Avoid having speech starters like: “Today I am going to talk about …”

It is important to involve the audience, keep the audience interested and keen to hear the message of the speech.

Body

The points (usually three) are developed and elaborated upon. Examples or evidence can be used to support the points.

Once the audience’s attention has been caught, it is important to convince them to believe in the message and provide further information to support it. Offer facts and opinions to back-up, develop and prove the points – try not to offer more than 3 main points or else it can become confusing.

Conclusion

A brief summary of the main points and restates the “message” of the speech.

Finish with a punchy conclusion. Try to sum up so the audience is still involved and will remember your message. A good conclusion often links back to the introduction.

SOME IDEAS FOR PREPARING A SPEECH

  • Jot down all the ideas and facts about your topic as you think of them – research the topic.
  • Arrange your material according to where in the speech format / structure you think it would be best used e.g. introduction, body and conclusion.
    Note – always start with your STRONGEST POINT.
  • Become really familiar with all the information you have and put it together in a way with which you feel comfortable.
  • Condense the main points and write on small cards which can be held in the palm of the hand – try not to write out the whole speech.
  • Practise your speech from your cards. Do it out loud as often as you feel you need to be comfortable with the flow. Also practise in front of a mirror so you can see your expression, stance and gestures.
  • Practise in front of your family and friends and ask them for constructive feedback. Involve your audience by including them with eye-contact.
  • Memorise the introduction and conclusion so you can involve the audience at the start as well as leave them with the full impact of your speech at the end.

VOICE and GESTURE

Remember that this is a speech and not a dramatic performance but still try to use and vary the following:

  • SPEED – Speak slowly enough for the audience to understand you. Change your pace as appropriate.
  • PITCH – You have a wide range of 1 to 2 octaves to use.
  • EXPRESSION – Use your voice to show emotions e.g. fear, anger, excitement, sorrow etc.
  • VOLUME – Every word of your speech is important. The whole audience needs to be able to hear every word or else they will “switch off” from you. Practise projecting your voice in a large room.
  • GESTURE – Facial and body gestures should enhance not detract / distractfrom your speech.
    ELEMENTS OF A GREAT SPEECH – THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!
  1. Speak to their hearts – a great speech should be personal.
  2. Make it real – your listeners feel like they are living the moment with you.
  3. Make it memorable – your listeners will remember your main points far into the future, even if they forget your name or speech title.
  4. Make it valuable – give your listeners some useful information they can take away with them.
  5. Interact with your audience – make your speech relevant through use of relevant humour, personal stories. Use lots of eye-contact.
  6. Make it fun – if you’re having a good time, so will your audience.
  7. Make it visual – use quotes, stories, anecdotes and word pictures so your listeners can see it with their mind’s eye as well as hear it.
  8. Make it passionate – if you really care about your topic, so will your audience.
  9. Be enthusiastic – your enthusiasm is infectious.
  10. Be clear, concise and brief – keep your words simple and to the point.

THINGS TO AVOID

  • Losing your place in the script, so number the pages / cards at the top in the centre.
  • Getting tangled up in long sentences.
  • One sentence per thought.
  • Using “and” or similar conjunctions to join several thoughts into one sentence.
  • Few sentences should exceed 15 words. A few will be five words or less, particularly those which introduce or hammer home an important point.
  • Ad-libbing – the brilliant additional thought that you have at the lectern should not be necessary to make the meaning clear. Sometimes this may cause you to lose your way.
  • Reading from the script – speakers who read word for word from a script lose a lot of their audience no matter where they are seated. Remember you are presenting a speech not a reading.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Speech Construction

  • Introduction, body of speech and conclusion.
  • Organisation of the speech.
  • Main points developed well.

Presentation and Delivery

  • Facial and body gestures must enhance not distract from the speech.
  • Use of eye-contact.
  • Relaxed stance.
  • Use of pause to allow the audience to assimilate the message.
  • Variety of pace.

Content of Speech

  • The message of the speech.
  • Is it relevant, meaningful clear and concise?
  • Does it have the audience “hooked”?

Language

  • The use of grammar, punctuation and word selection to enhance.
  • The use of visual imagery to ensure that the message is delivered.

Effectiveness

  • The impact on the audience.
  • Judges will be watching and assessing the audience’s reaction.

Vocal Inclination

  • Modulation and volume of voice in delivery of the speech.
  • Vocal interest.

PLEASE NOTE:

A speech contest is not a dramatic performance. Children will have marks deducted if in the eyes of the judges they cross this boundary.

Children will lose marks if their speech is either under 2 minutes 30 seconds or over 3 minutes 30 seconds.