SAUSD Winter Classic

2025 — Santa Ana, CA/US

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Elementary Declamation

Event Description:

Basics: Declamation requires students to select a speech delivered in public and perform an excerpt of that speech to an audience. As a result, students typically shorten the text of the speech to meet time requirements. The event is not designed for students to mimic the original author of the speech. Instead, speakers are to develop an oration that delivers the author's message originally and engagingly. [Speeches come from places like TedTalk, Graduation Speeches, presidential speeches or UN speeches for example.

Time Length:

Length: Declamation is a 5-minute event with a 30-second “grace period.” Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. No minimum time is mandated.

Source: The speech must have been delivered in public and available in print (copies from a publicly available website will also be sufficient).

Introduction: The speaker should present an introduction that states the title, author, and date of the speech they are reciting.

The Declamation could follow this general structure but does not have to follow

• Teaser
  • Deliver a brief, compelling portion of the speech
  • Establish the mood and general theme
  • Capture the audience's attention
• Introduction
  • State the speaker/author's name
  • Provide the location where the speech was given
  • Include the date of the speech
  • Share the title of the speech
• Main Body
  • Present the central arguments and ideas
  • Maintain the original speaker's tone and style
  • Use appropriate gestures and vocal variation
• Conclusion
  • Deliver the speech's final message with an impact
  • Maintain energy through the closing statements
  • End with a clear sense of resolution