Welcome to the 2014 SRVUSD District Speech Contest!

The SRVUSD District Speech Contest is an opportunity for elementary and middle school students to demonstrate their ability to think creatively, write a speech, and present in front of an audience. It will be held at Monte Vista High School on Saturday, May 17, 2014.

The contest is open to 5th through 8th graders at all elementary and middle schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

Qualification

A school's participation in the district speech contest is entirely voluntary. Should a school wish to participate, every elementary school is eligible to send one (1) fifth grader to the contest per fifth grade teacher, and every middle school is eligible to send one (1) student per English class.

School administrators: Please let us know which students will represent your school by Friday May 9 at the latest. Contact Mr. Matley for the registration form if you did not receive it via email.

If you would like assistance running your school's preliminary competition, Monte Vista Speech and Debate may be able to come to your school one day to run the contest. Please contact Mr. David Matley for details.

Topics

Grade 5: Someone I Admire

Think of a person you look up to. Write a speech in which you tell your audience about this person. What makes them special? Why are they admirable? What have they taught you?

Grade 6: My Most Valuable Possession

Think of something you own that you care about. Write a speech in which you describe why it matters to you. What does this possession mean to you? Why is it your most valuable possession?

Grade 7: Improving My Community

Write a speech in which you propose something you and your community can do to improve the community. What would you do? How would this make the community better? Give reasons for your suggestions.

Grade 8: Problems Facing America

Think of any problem that our country faces today. Write a speech in which you discuss the problem, consider the effects it has had on society, and offer some suggestions as to how our nation could solve the problem.

Rules

* Speeches must be three to five minutes in length on the topics provided below.

* All speeches must be written by the students themselves and must be original content.

* Students may use a 3x5 index card at the school level. However, for the district competition, all speeches must be memorized.

Judging Criteria

Judges are asked to evaluate each speech based upon the following criteria, consistent with the Speaking & Listening requirements of the Common Core State Standards Initiative:

Content

Is the speech organized? Does it have a beginning, middle, and an end?

Is the speech original? Is it imaginative and creative? Does it present unique ideas?

Does the speaker have appropriate use of vocabulary? Is he/she articulate?

Delivery

Does the speaker use appropriate use of hands and body? Are gestures effective?

Does the speaker look and act confident? Does he/she maintain eye contact and have good posture?

Is the speaker clear? Does the speaker enunciate and project his/her voice? Does the speaker use expression and voice inflection?

Impact

Was the speaker's message conveyed to you effectively?

Was the speech entertaining, persuasive, emotional, and/or informative?

Interesting in Judging the Competition?

Please email Brian Yu (brianyu28@gmail.com) if you would like to judge at the contest.

If you have any questions about the contest, please email David Matley at dmatley@aol.com