Test Tournament to Teach Ballots
2021 — ONline, SC/US
Asynch Informative
Event Description:
Informative Speaking:
Purpose: An informative speech is an original speech designed to explain, define, describe, or illustrate a particular subject. The general purpose of the speech is for the audience to gain understanding and/or knowledge of a topic. Any other purpose such as to entertain or to convince shall be secondary. The use of audio/visual aids is optional. (See # 4 on Aids.)
Contest: This contest comprises only memorized speeches composed by the contestants and not used by them during a previous contest season. While a student may convert a speech from one competition category to another from tournament to tournament (changing a exposition to an informative speech, for example), he or she may not use a variation of the same speech in two or more events at a single tournament.
Subject: Effective speeches provide new information or perspectives on a topic, including those that are widely known. The responsibility for choosing a worthwhile topic rests with the contestant. A fabricated topic may not be used. Any non-factual reference, including a personal reference, must be so identified.
Optional Audio /visual aids: Audio/visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. During the presentation, no electronic equipment is permitted. The use of live animals or any additional people as visual aids is not allowed during the speech. Audience interaction (having question and answer periods, asking for a show of hands, giving the audience a quiz, etc.) is likewise not allowed because it treats audience members as audio and visual aids. Food and drink are not permitted. Items of dress put on and removed during the course of the presentation are considered costumes and may not be part of the contestant’s presentation. Visual aids may not violate law (weapons, drugs, etc.) The host school is not responsible for providing any facilities, equipment, or assistance in a contestant's use of visual aids. Expedient set up and take down of aids is expected. Students will have up to one minute of “prep time” to set up aids before the ten minute “speech time” begins. “Speech time” is continuous and will not stop for the student to adjust, or take down aids. If a visual aid displays published pictorial material, the source must be included in the work-cited page but does not need to be cited orally.
Visual and audible aids are optional. They should be judged favorably only in so far as they help make good speaking possible. If a contestant chooses to use aids, he or she should select materials appropriate to the speech, smoothly integrate such materials, and use them with restraint. Visual and audible aids should not be a distraction from--or a substitute for--good public speaking.
Length: The time limit is ten minutes with a 30 second “grace period.” If there are multiple judges in the round, all must agree that the student has gone beyond the grace period. Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. There is no other prescribed penalty for going over the grace period. The ranking is up to each individual judge’s discretion. Judges who choose to time are to use accurate (stopwatch function) timing devices. No minimum time is mandated.
While Informative is ordinarily a memorized event, at this early tournament both varsity and novice competitors may use manuscripts. Do not penalize or reward students based purely on memory.