Speech Team Syllabus
Roanoke-Benson High School
2013-2014
The following is your guide for how to have an extremely successful season!
How Theatre Helps Students:
Learning how to communicate face-to-face affectively will not only help you throughout
school, but when you transition to your career. Look at these lessons below and imagine what it
could do for you!

 Learn to overcome and calm
 Be more aware of a wider range of
speaking anxieties.
people, personalities, and cultures.
 Receive valuable training for college
 Learn how to win (and lose)
and future careers.
gracefully.
 Increase your public communication
 Learn how to accept criticism and be
skills.
judged on your ability to perform
pieces.
 Develop improved study habits and
research skills. (Great for science.
 Learn how to work with others as
Sorry, I had to squeeze that in. Go
teams and as individuals.
Science!)
 Learn how to perform with virtually
no sleep.
 Develop time allocation and
organizational skills.
 Learn respect for dissenting
opinions.
 Advance critical thinking and
reasoning skills.
 Learn that a first impression can
mean a lot.
 Become familiar with current social
issues.
 Increase your vocabulary.
 Be open to both sides of an issue and
 Become an author and create your
develop a diplomatic stance on
own work of art.
issues.
 Improve your college and career
 Learn to consider and adapt to
resumes.
different audiences.
How To Prepare for Your First Tournament
 Binders: If you are performing in an event such as Prose or Verse, you are required to
carry a small, black binder with you during your performance. (Many other solo
events use binders as well.) See Mr. Barth to get your loaned black binder.
 Professional Attire: Below are a few items that will help bring your individual score
and team scores even higher. During a performance, the judges will be watching you. Do not
wear items that will deter their focus from your story. Bright flashy colors, distressed jeans or
shirts, loud bracelets, and hair covering your face could surely lower a score.
Young Men
- Dress Pants
Young Women
- Dress Pants/Knee Length Skirts
- Neatly pressed button-down dress
shirts, sweaters.
- Matching tie.
- Clean dress shoes.
- Well-groomed.
- Matching top, demure in nature.
- Easy to navigate shoes.
- Limited jewelry.
- Hair pulled away from face.
 Academic Success: Speech and Drama Team is an extra-cirricular that is IHSA
regulated. Students that are not passing classes cannot attend meets, but are still
allowed to practice until their scores improve.
 Practice: A practice schedule will be provided to all members. Students are highly
encouraged to sign up for practice at least two times per week. Perfect practice
makes perfect.
Events
Original oratory
Original oratory, or simply Oratory, is one of the most common speech events, and is the only
public speaking event offered as a main event at the National Forensics League(NFL) National
Tournament. In Original Oratory, a competitor prepares a speech on a topic of his or her
choosing, and can be informative or persuasive in nature. Often, a competitor may use only one
speech for the entire season. The purpose of Oratory is to inspire belief or reinforce conviction.
On the high school level, the speech is generally delivered without the use of visual aids or notes.
In many leagues (including the two national tournaments listed below), the number of directly
quoted words from other sources in the speech is limited (at NFL nationals, for example, the
limit is 150 words). Speeches are generally between eight and ten minutes in length with a
warning often given when time has expired, although most tournaments give a 30 second grace
period before a competitor's rank is dropped.
Informative
Informative Speaking is a speech meant to inform the audience. This speech can take on topics
ranging from the newest, high-tech inventions from around the world that hope to cure cancer, to
more light-hearted topics such as Wikipedia itself. The topic should be one that is timely and
interesting, making it something that the general audience doesn't readily understand. It is the job
of the speaker to make the complex topic easier to understand. In intercollegiate competition, the
speech time limit is ten minutes and typically memorized. In high school competition, the time
limits vary among different states.
[Declamation / Memorize Speech / Oratorical Interpretation / Great Speeches
Declamation, or Oratorical Declamation, or Memorize Speech is the interpretation and
presentation of a non-original speech. These speeches may be historical (Martin Luther King's I
Have A Dream speech, etc.), adapted from magazine articles, commencement addresses, or any
number of other adaptations of non-original material, including forensics speeches from previous
years. Declamations tend to be persuasive, and competition is similar to Original Oratory. As in
Oratory, the length of a speech is generally about eight minutes. Memorization is usually a
requirement in Declamation. It is also termed 'Oratorical Interpretation'. This is not a college
event.
Special Occasion Speaking
Special Occasion Speaking is similar to Oratory, but focuses on lighter subjects, and addresses a
specific audience. Comedy is seen frequently in Special Occasion Speaking, but should not
detract from the message the speaker is trying to relate. The speech is not as strictly persuasive as
in Oratory, but can be designed to inform. Speeches typically run about eight to ten minutes
long. This event is limited to some high schools and is not a collegiate event.
After Dinner Speaking
After Dinner Speaking (ADS) is a public address event similar to Speech to Entertain meant to
take an important topic and make greater sense of it through the use of humor. It can take the
form of any of the accepted public speaking structures but often takes the form of an Informative
or Persuasive speech. This event covers a variety of topics, but the use of humor is central to the
execution of the event. The After-Dinner speech should not resort to the base forms of humor.
The humor should be topical and relevant to the idea presented. This type of speech is found at
the collegiate level and is typically eight to ten minutes long. Generally, it is a humorous speech
with a serious undertone and/or an actual point.
Radio speaking
A radio speech is a prepared event that includes news stories, sometimes an original commercial
of no fewer then 30 seconds (depending on the tournament) and a commentary about a subject
covered in the news stories. the news stories presented must have taken place 24 hours or less,
prior to the tournament date. The commentary which shall be an original editorial reflecting the
op onion of the contestant should consume 1-2 minutes of the total speech and be presented last.
Extemporaneous speaking
Extemp is a speech given at a tournament with little preparation. Extemp is a mainstay at most
speech competitions. At the beginning of any round of extemp, competitors are usually given 3
questions relating to current events, and asked to choose one to prepare a speech on. The
competitors have a preparation period, usually referred to as "prep time", during which they use
periodicals they brought to the tournament to prepare the speech. This "prep time" is usually
thirty minutes, and at the end of this time, competitors must present their speech without the aid
of notes. Extemp speeches range from four to seven minutes in length.
Impromptu speaking
Competitors are given a topic, usually a single word or phrase that may be a person, thing, wellknown saying, a less well-known quotation, current event, or an object. They then compose a
speech based on the prompt. Impromptu speeches generally run about four (the minimum
required speaking time at most tournaments) to six minutes in length, with anywhere from 15
seconds to five minutes of "prep time". However, at many other tournaments, there is neither a
set limit to how much time you may use to prep nor a minimum to how long one speaks. Judging
typically focuses on overall speaking ability (enunciation, pace, vocal variety, etc.), creativeness
(pre-made or "canned" speeches are generally frowned upon), and overall balance of the speech
(points of roughly equal length, appropriate length of intro, conclusion, etc.). In many states,
impromptu speaking is often a contest combining wit and humor with actual insight; speeches
should be funny but also must deliver a point. Acting out characters, as in drama events is
generally frowned upon.
Dramatic Interpretation
Dramatic Interpretation (DI) is an event in which the competitor interprets a selection from a
dramatic theatrical script. A single competitor plays several parts, which are differentiated using
"pops" between various positions and voices, each representing a different character. "Pops" are
supposed to be as clean as possible, and each character should be clearly distinguishable from
any other character. One can also play one character.
Humorous Interpretation
Humorous Interpretation (often shortened to HI or humorous) is the humorous alternative to DI.
In this event the competitor will perform an eight to ten minute selection of a literary work of a
humorous nature. It is sometimes combined with DI (taking the name of DI). As in DI, characters
are distinguished through the use of "pops" and voice work. HI is not event at the collegiate
level, as collegiate DI is not intended as a distinction between comedy and drama, but instead as
a literary form distinction from prose and poetry.
Original Comedy
Original Comedy, or OC as it is called by its competitors, is a public speaking event similar to
Humorous Interpretation, involving pops and voices for individual Characters. The main time
frame is about 8–10 minutes. Competitors write their own piece of comedy (most often in
theatrical style as opposed to an event like SOS) with an introduction, three points (or more or
less) and a conclusion. However, the introduction, points, and conclusion are not directly stated,
as in events such as Special Occasion Speaking. Usually, the main storyline is about the
competitor himself/herself but it is more often about made up characters with a made up problem
dealing with it in a humorous way. There is usually a moral to be learned by the end of the
performance. The main difference between Original Comedy and Humorous Interpretation is that
in OC one must write their own speech whereas in HI one performs a published work.
Duet Acting
In Illinois, duet acting can be described as two performers working together to complete a piece.
Students have the option to compete in HDA, humerous duet acting, or DDA, dramatic duet
acting. Performers are allowed one table and two chairs. Performances should be no longer tha
8 minutes, 30 seconds.
Prose / Poetry Interpretation / Verse
Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, and Verse are events that consist of an interpretation
of another author's work. Competitors read the material from a small binder or book they use in
performance. This binder is traditionally black and has a height of about 10". While books are
not required to fit this description, competitors who utilize a different style of book are often
ranked down for it. Because competitors interpret the literature via facial expressions and eye
contact, memorization is generally helpful. In most cases, the literature is memorized and
competitors are merely pretending to read the material. However, points may be deducted if a
speech is "too memorized" and the competitor does not look at his/her binder enough. Time
limits for these events range from six to ten minutes, depending on the organization hosting the
event.
Improvisational Acting Pairs/Dual Improvisation
Improvisational Acting Pairs/Dual Improvisation is an event where two competitors team up and
are given a scene on a small piece of paper. After two minutes of planning, they perform their
scene. This event is not offered during the regular season. This is available during Regionals
and Sectionals.
Rules:
All school rules will be followed and enforced at all times.
1. Follow all school rules as outlined in the student handbook.
2. Once signed up for a tournament, you must attend.
3. Be prompt. The bus will leave at the time it needs to leave. Don’t be late.
4. Be Prepared.
5. Remember we represent RBHS at all times.
6. Any inappropriate behavior will be noted. Three “marks” will result in a suspension
from the team.
7. Be cooperative with teammates, other schools, tournament officials, etc.
8. No leaving the tournament premises without permission.
9. You must travel to the tournament with the team and return with the team.
10. Respect all facilities that we visit.
11. As described by the IHSA Handbook, students must be present the day prior to a
tournament in order to compete.
Overnight stays at hotels may occur if we advance to higher levels throughout the season.
12. If staying at a hotel:
a. Hotel curfew is 11:00 pm. sharp.
b. No boys in the girls rooms, vice versa.
c. All students will report to trip supervisors.
d. Respect hotel staff and facilities. No slamming doors, running up and down
the halls, jumping up and down on the elevator, etc.
Speech and Drama Season
The season will begin around October and conclude around February. This may change
depending on the tournaments we enter. We will have a season of about 5-10 tournaments.
Tournaments will be held on Saturdays and will last from about 6 am to 5 pm. Longer stays at
locations will be planned for and you will be notified. As many of your other activities will
occur on weekdays, this should not prove to be conflicting. We will make sure to schedule
tournaments that do not conflict with pre-existing events. Please make sure that the tournaments
you plan to attend do not force you to drop out of an event.
Speech Team Committees
We will have elected chair persons to help assist in organizing our team. We will hold
elections once a formal count of participants has been tabulated.
Parents and Volunteers
Parents and volunteers are welcomed to help at tournaments, assist in practices, or simply
tag along to watch. For more information, feel free to contact Mr. Barth at mbarth@rb60.com.
Speech Team Terminology:
Ballot – The piece of paper on which judges
write comments, rankings, and the decision
of the round
Blocking – any movements made during a
performance
(to) Break – to advance to the next round
(to) Cut – to take only selected sections
from a piece. To cut to make time limits or
to
cut inappropriate material
Double Entered – entered in more than one
event in a pattern
Extemporaneous – speaking without the
benefit of a prepared or memorized
manuscript
Finals – an elimination round involving the
top two teams in debate or usually the top
six
competitors in IE’s
Forensics – Refers to competitive speech
and debate and public speaking (not dead
bodies!) Also abbreviated as “4n6”.
Introduction – The introduction to a piece,
usually found in interp, extemp, etc. Intros
are written by the competitors and are
memorized or given extemporaneously.
Junior – a competitor in their first or second
year of competition (used at tournaments)
Novice – a competitor in their first year of
competition (used at tournaments) or a
division in a tournament involving only first
year competitors
Open – specifying that all levels of
experience will be competing with each
other in a
tournament, a division
Pattern – events are divided into “Patterns”
and run at different times, usually there are
three patterns in a tournament Pattern A
events, Pattern B events, and Debate.
Piece – the literature selection (title and
author) you are performing in interpretation
events: DI, HI,
DUO, Prose, and Poetry
Round(s) – a complete debate or round of
individual events
Senior – a seasoned and experienced
competitor (used at tournaments)
Speechie – any competitor involved in
forensics
Time Signals – Hand signals showing how
much time you have left
Medical Information:
In order for my child, ___________________________, a minor, to take part in and
receive the advantages of a program planned and sponsored by Roanoke-Benson School District,
I am hereby giving permission to him/her to make any or all of the trips included in the planned
speech program. I also allow the use of my student’s name in publications such as, but not
limited to, the newspaper, newsletters, and handouts.
Address:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Insurance Information (Optional and Private):
Company: ______________________________________
Policy #: _____________________________________
Allergies or Medications/ Medical Conditions:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
First Aid:
By signing below, authorization is given for the administration of first aid if and when
necessary. I also authorize the Roanoke-Benson School District and its employees to secure the
services of a physician or hospital and to incur the expenses for necessary services in the event of
an accident or illness. I, signee, will provide payment for all of these costs.
_______________________________________________
Signature of Legal Guardian
_______________
Date
_______________________________________________
Printed Signature of Legal Guardian Above
_______________________________________________
Signature of Speech Team Member
_______________
Date
Home Telephone Number: __________________________________
Cellular Number: __________________________________
Emergency Contact: _____________________________________________
Emergency Contact Number: _____________________________________
2013-2014 Speech Team Contract
I, _____________________________________, agree to follow the outlined rules and
guidelines below. I recognize that as a member of this team I not only represent myself, but I
speak for the team and Roanoke-Benson High School. I will respect the coaches, the team,
others, and more importantly, myself.
I am aware that the expectations for me are to:
-Have fun and enjoy the experience.
-Attend all meetings and scheduled events throughout the season.
-Acknowledge the duration of the season.
-Attend all tournaments.
-Follow the Dress Code outlined in the syllabus.
-Bring all appropriate materials to each practice and tournament.
-Practice a minimum of once a week with one of the coaches.
-Audition for tournaments that have large enrollment numbers.
-Maintain a positive attitude in any practice, win, or defeat.
If I am unable to comply with the expectations above, I understand I may face the
following repercussions:
-Pay customary $25 performance cancellation fee.
-Team membership may be revoked if I do not display appropriate behavior
at all times or comply with the above rules.
-Missed scheduled events will result in appropriate case-by-case review of
the team member by coaches.
To be considered a member of the RBHS Speech Team, the following information
must be on file:
-Medical Information
-Signed Contract
-“In Case of Emergency” Cards
Speech Team Member Signature: ______________________________________
Date: _____________________________