Speech Tournament 1

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
• Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Location: Virtual via Zoom
• Format: 3 speech categories
  • Interpretative reading 
  • Persuasive speaking 
  • Impromptu speaking. 

All students will compete in the interpretative reading and persuasive speaking categories. The top 3 students in each division will move on to compete in the finals, which will be an impromptu speech. 

Who can attend?

• Grades 5 to 12
  • Beginner Division: Grades 5 & 6
  • Intermediate Division: Grades 7 & 8
  • High School: Grades: 9 to 12

Judging 

• All students must provide one judge.
• Students without a judge may be unable to compete.  
• No experience required. We provide training.  
• View our judging resources HERE.
• Judge registration open November 7  - 14.

Registration 

• Space may be limited
• Observers must be registered on the student registration form.
• Registration open November 7  - 14.

Tournament Fee  

• $20 per student. 
• Financial aid available.
• Pay by e-transfer to director@saskdebate.com
  • Put the student's name followed by S1 in the memo line. 
• Students that withdraw that cancel less than 24 hours before the tournament will still owe tournament fees. 

 

Speech Categories 

Interpretive reading  

All students will be presenting an interpretive reading. The presenter, with the use of vocal inflection and body language, delivers a rendition of a piece of pre-written material. The selection should be a selection from a book, poem, story, etc., and should not be written by the student. 

Each pshould pick a piece of writing to read. SEDA does not pick a piece for you. Students should pick the piece beforehand and practice reading it before the competition.  The presenter, with the use of vocal inflection and body language as communication tools, delivers a rendition of a piece of pre-written material. The pre-written material should be a selection from a book, poem, story, etc. and should be 4-H appropriate. This creative communication area bridges the gap between message delivery and the performing arts. Costumes and small props can be used, but they need to be simple and minimal, not detracting from the strength of the presenter. This area is not intended for presentation of original material written by the presenter. 

• Speaking time: 5 to 8 minutes 
• The piece can be serious or humorous. 
• Include an appropriate brief introduction that states the author, title, and theme of the work. 
• The piece must be published work and may not have been written by the reader.  
• Students may read from the published text or from word processed pages in a folder. 
• Competitors may stand or sit but should not move around excessively. 

Judges will be considering: 

• Quality and helpfulness of the competitor’s introduction 
• Delivery (Ex. eye contact, energy) 
• Voice (Ex. pace, timing, enunciation) 
• Overall appeal 

Persuasive Speaking  

All competitors will be presenting a persuasive speech. Each participant should pick a topic and plan and practice their persuasive speech before the competition day. 

• Speaking time: 5 to 8 minutes 
• This speech is designed to persuade and must be on a serious topic, but humour can be incorporated if the speaker feels it is useful. 
• Speakers must identify a problem and propose or examine one or more solutions to it. 
• Speakers may reference note cards, but eye contact and some memorization is expected. 

Judges will be considering: 

• Analysis of the problem 
• Persuasiveness of the discussion (Ex. logic, appeal) 
• Interest 
• Delivery (Ex. eye contact, energy) 
• Learn more about Persuasive Speaking HERE. 

Impromptu Speaking  

Only the top 3 competitors in each division will move on to the impromptu speaking round. Tournament staff will draw three topics, which may be a word, a quotation, a phrase. The speaker must choose one of the three, and then prepare for 10 minutes. 

• Speaking time: 3 to 5 minutes 
• Speakers may take notes but may not bring them up when they speak. 
• Speakers may interpret the topic within reason. 
• Speeches should be structured and logical.  
• Speakers will not use the internet during prep time. 
• Speakers will not use prepared material for this event. 
• No props of any kind are permitted.  
• Adoption of a persona is not allowed for Impromptu speaking. 

Judges will be considering: 

• Adherence to topic 
• Organization 
• Interest 
• Delivery (Ex. eye contact, energy) 

Preparing for impromptu speaking is similar to an impromptu debate. You can see SEDA’s impromptu resource HERE. 

 

 

 

 

Export event