2025 VHSL State Speech Tournament
2025 — Salem, VA/US
Class 1 Impromptu
Event Description:
Purpose of Contest: To encourage students to combine clear thinking, good speaking skills, and interesting presentation in responding quickly to one of three topics with a clear, specific point in a well-developed speech.
Contest Regulations:
1. Impromptu topics will include ordinary objects, events, quotations and famous people. All students, in each section,
will draw from the same list of topics. A different subject area will be used for each round. Enough topics will be
provided so that each student will have at least three topics to choose from. Each student will deliver a speech on
their own topic each round. No topics will be repeated.
2. Students will be assigned to a room with an adjudicator present. All students will report to the assigned room and
remain in the room for all the speeches. When the student is asked to speak, he/she will draw three topics from the
envelope and will choose one. The other two topics will be returned to the envelope so that other students have the
opportunity to draw from them. All students will have the opportunity to select from at least three topics
3. The contestant shall prepare a speech without consultation and without reference to prepared notes or research materials. The student may make limited notes on both sides of one note card not exceeding 4” x 6” in size. Visual aids and/or props are prohibited
4. There is NO minimum time requirement, but the contestant must cover the subject adequately. The maximum time for preparation and speaking is seven minutes. Time begins immediately after the three topics are drawn. The student may divide this time in any way he/she sees fit.
Any contestant who exceeds the established time limit by more than 30 seconds may not rank first or score highest in the round. The adjudicator is expected to provide the student with oral time signals, indicating the amount of time elapsed at one minute, two minutes, etc. until the student begins speaking.
The adjudicator should then provide the student with visual hand signals showing the progression of each minute, again at 6:30, and at the end of the seventh minute, indicate that time has expired. It is essential that a judge be consistent with start times and time signals, both oral and visual.
5. A student may not leave the impromptu round until all students have finished speaking.
Locations
Salem HS (Salem)Contacts
Mary Kaye SteedGeneral
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Class 1 Extemporaneous Speaking Class 1 Humorous Duo Interpretation Class 1 Humorous Interpretation Class 1 Impromptu Class 1 Original Oratory Class 1 Poetry Class 1 Prose Interpretation Class 1 Serious Dramatic Interpretation Class 1 Serious Duo Interpretation Class 1 Storytelling Class 2 Extemporaneous Speaking Class 2 Humorous Duo Interpretation Class 2 Humorous Interpretation Class 2 Impromptu Class 2 Original Oratory Class 2 Poetry Class 2 Prose Interpretation Class 2 Serious Dramatic Interpretation Class 2 Serious Duo Interpretation Class 2 Storytelling Class 3 Extemporaneous Speaking Class 3 Humorous Duo Interpretation Class 3 Humorous Interpretation Class 3 Impromptu Class 3 Original Oratory Class 3 Poetry Class 3 Prose Interpretation Class 3 Serious Dramatic Interpretation Class 3 Serious Duo Interpretation Class 3 Storytelling Class 4 Extemporaneous Speaking Class 4 Humorous Duo Interpretation Class 4 Humorous Interpretation Class 4 Impromptu Class 4 Original Oratory Class 4 Poetry Class 4 Prose Interpretation Class 4 Serious Dramatic Interpretation Class 4 Serious Duo Interpretation Class 4 Storytelling Class 5 Extemporaneous Speaking Class 5 Humorous Duo Interpretation Class 5 Humorous Interpretation Class 5 Impromptu Class 5 Original Oratory Class 5 Poetry Class 5 Prose Interpretation Class 5 Serious Dramatic Interpretation Class 5 Serious Duo Interpretation Class 5 Storytelling Class 6 Extemporaneous Speaking Class 6 Humorous Duo Interpretation Class 6 Humorous Interpretation Class 6 Impromptu Class 6 Original Oratory Class 6 Poetry Class 6 Prose Interpretation Class 6 Serious Dramatic Interpretation Class 6 Serious Duo Interpretation Class 6 StorytellingCircuits
VHSL – Virginia High School League (VHSL)Dates & Deadlines
ESTThese deadlines are set in Tabroom for technical purposes. Always consult the invitation or tournament notices for official policies about deadlines and procedures.