UHSAA 2A Region 16
2025 — Holladay, UT/US
Mixed Extemp
Event Description:
The speaker will use thirty minutes of prep in a designated room to get information about the topic. There should be about 4 or 5 speakers in a row depending on the size of the tournament. They will have a political topic which will be either foreign or domestic. They are allowed to time themselves.
Look for clear speaking and good points. Make sure they answer the question with their contentions. Eye contact is important and good hand gestures are important. I would say it is a changing variable if you should prioritize their points and what they are saying over how they say it. Clear speaking and confidence are two of, if not the most, important things about this event. I would argue that it is personal preference for the judge. Just make sure not to judge so polarized on either side that you trade the importance of confidence or research. They should have strong points and a strong attention-getter device. Make sure they always tie back to the topic. Their speaking skills are supposed to enhance their speech and make their points better.
You may at one point run into a problem in which two varsity speakers both displayed a thorough understanding of the topic and delivered a well thought-out speech, but one speaker used notes. In this instance, it is in the best interest of the judge and the speaker to prioritize the student who did not use the notes. No matter how great their speech may have been, it is a technicality that needs to be addressed primarily. It will also help push the student to put down the note card and gain a little more confidence.
Citing sources is an important thing. The speakers get their evidence from research done in the prep room, so they should cite at least one source for every point. Three sources should be the minimum amount for a well-delivered speech, although this is rare.
The best speaker will be the most impactful with both their points and speaking skills. They will make a boring topic about politics sound interesting and exciting. They should be engaging and sound like they know what they are talking about. Statistics are also a good thing to weigh in when judging this event, so if there is a tie between two really amazing speakers, look at the stats!