Norman North Mnemosyne

2022 — Norman, OK/US

6A Domestic Extemp

Abbreviation 6A Dex
Format Speech
Entry Fee $4.00
Entry 1 competitors per entry

Event Description:

  1. Contestants will be expected to prepare on all significant topics (within the areas of international or national) that have received emphasis in the major magazines and newspapers since September 1st of the current school year. Topics will be selected by or under the supervision of the respective tournament director and phrased in the form of a question specific enough for the judges to determine whether the speech is relevant to the topic drawn.

  2. Speakers will draw at seven minute intervals and have thirty minutes for preparation. Students will be allowed to draw five (5) topics, from which one must be selected within a few minutes and reported to the person supervising the drawing; the topic chosen must be recorded. Speakers must remain in the extemp prep until dismissed by extemp officials. Extemp speeches, handbooks, briefs, and outline are prohibited from the extemp prep room.

  3. Students are not to consult with coaches or others after the topic has been drawn.

  4. The student must hand the question to his/her judge(s) before s/he speaks; failure to do so shall be reported to the tab room. As part of the introduction of the speech, the contestant is to state the topic in the exact words.

  5. At the end of 30 minutes, the student will deliver his speech on the recorded topic drawn. He may use no more than 50 words of notes. Numbers, symbols, and abbreviations will count as words. The judge must give card in question to the tournament director. Speech 2020-21 SPE 16 OSSAA

  6. The participant is to speak not more than seven (7) minutes. Time signals will be given. No student will be penalized if time signal is not given by the timekeeper. The penalty for speaking 16 to 30 seconds over will be the loss of one ranking point per judge administered in the tab room. The penalty for over 30 seconds is disqualification.

  7. The use of laptop computers in extemporaneous speaking is permitted.

a. Extemporaneous speaking contestants may make use of electronic retrieval devices to store and to retrieve their subject files.

b. Students can retrieve extemporaneous files to read, but cannot write speeches or organize their thoughts on the computers.

c. This rule in no way prevents students from still utilizing traditional paper copy files to enable the competitor to successfully compete in extemporaneous speaking. The OSSAA takes no position on which form of file storage is preferable for use at tournaments.

d. Texting while in the preparation room is grounds for disqualification. Electronic retrieval devices are defined as laptop computers, netbooks, ipads, tablets, or other portable electronic devices. Cell phones or smart phones are prohibited from being used while preparing or before speaking at tournaments.

e. Source Materials: Students may consult published books, periodical articles, newspaper articles, think tank articles, government reports or journal articles saved on their electronic retrieval device or present in hard copy form provided:

1. There are no notations made within or on the saved article other than citation information and subject index.

2. Bolding, italicizing, or any other manipulation of the original text of sources (other than highlighting or underlining as previously stipulated) is prohibited.

f. Power Source: Power plugs or outlets may not be used in the prep room at any time. All computers used in the prep room must be battery operated at all times. Competitors are responsible for making certain their electronic retrieval devices are fully charged at the start of each competition day and for proper power management ensuring that their device remains functional throughout the competition day. Contestants may not use external power sources in the prep room, such as wall outlets and/or extension cords.

g. Internet: Extemporaneous speaking contestants shall not access the Internet or communicate electronically with any other individual while in the prep room at any time.

h. All computers must comply with the following provisions:

1. Computers equipped with removable wireless cards must have the cards removed before the beginning of any round of competition. It is the responsibility of the contestant to disengage the equipment.

2. Computers with built-in wireless capability may be used only if the wireless capability is disabled. It is the responsibility of the contestant to disable the equipment.

3. Wired connections (Ethernet or phone) during rounds of competition are not permitted. Computers or other electronic devices may not be used to receive information from any source (coaches or assistants included) inside or outside of the room in which the competition occurs.

4. Internet access, use of email, instant messaging, or other means of receiving information from sources inside or outside of the competition room are prohibited.

i. Liability: Extemporaneous speaking competitors accept full responsibility for the safety and security of their electronic retrieval devices throughout the entire course of any tournament.

1. The tournament host may put stickers and/or tape on computers to ensure they are not opened or used, or to ensure appropriate owners take their own machines.

2. The OSSAA does not assume any liability for the computers.

3. Students are welcome to use Kensington locks or other such devices to secure their computers in the prep room.

4. Students, parents, and coaches should be aware that the students are bringing and using the computers at their own risk.

5. The OSSAA is not responsible for lost, stolen, or broken computers. It is the coaches’ affirmative duty to make sure that students have on file a liability waiver before bringing electronic equipment to a tournament.

j. File Monitoring: The OSSAA and/or the tournament officials retain the right to view and search any electronic retrieval devices to ensure compliance with any and all rules at any tournament. k. Devices should be muted in the prep room. Contestants should not play games or engage in other distracting activities on their electronic devices in the prep room. Tournament officials may ask a student to power-off the device if it becomes distracting.

l. Students from the same school may share computers during preparation.

  1. No one is allowed in the extemp draw except the contestants and tournament officials.

  2. Directly cited articles must be available upon request by the tournament director. 2020-2021 Speech SPE 17

  3. All performances must be void of profanity, vulgarity, nudity, obscenity, and hate speech. Use of these may result in lowered ranking or disqualification by the judges and a protest filed with the tournament director.

  4. JUDGES MAY NOT ASK QUESTIONS AFTER EXTEMP ANY MORE.