CA & ADS: The Unknown Events
COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS: Contestants will deliver an original critical analysis designed to offer an explanation and/or evaluation of a communication event such as a speech, speaker, movement, poem, poster, film, campaign, etc., through the use of rhetorical principles. Any legitimate critical methodology or communication theory is permissible as long as it serves to explain the artifact to the audience. The speech must be delivered from memory or note cards. Visual aids are permitted.
Maximum 10 minutes. Visual aids are permitted.
Follow the Platform Speech Outline when composing your speech.
A communication analysis is a speech that explains, analyzes, or evaluates a communication artifact
(speech, advertisement, text, icon, symbol, movement, theory, etc.) The speech should focus on a significant rhetorical or communication artifact and/or theory and should present the audience with new information about the topic, rather than simply repeating commonly known aspects of the topic.
The speech should be thematically coherent, presenting an adequate explication of both the artifact and the theory as well as a focused application of the theory to the artifact. Speakers are not limited to traditional rhetorical artifacts, but if a non-traditional text is selected, the speaker should justify the communicative or rhetorical importance of the artifact for the audience. The focus of the speech should remain on the communicative aspects of the artifact rather than on the novelty of the artifact itself. (In other words, speakers will not be rewarded for finding an unusual artifact with little or no communicative potential, or which demands the application of a purely elementary communication theory.)
Communication analysis, (sometimes called rhetorical criticism), is an event which seeks to broaden the audience's understanding of the communication process by applying a theory of communication to an interesting communicative event or item. The speaker is evaluated not only on speaking skills, but also analysis, and the degree to which the rhetorical or communication theory is understood and applied.
The event is particularly useful for students headed for graduate school, or for careers in law.
The way in which you analyze your artifact is by taking us through the steps of a communication theory and telling us how the selection of communication holds up to what the theory says effective communication should do, or the processes in which it is delivered. The communication theory you choose can be from a broad range of fields. For example,
 Political Communication Theory
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Organizational Communication Theory
Intercultural Communication Theory
Media Criticism and Theory
Feminism Communication Theory
Corporate Communication Theory
Digital Technologies in Mass Media Communication
Gender Communication Theory
Group Communication Theory
For example, a Communication Analysis might examine a television advertisement aired in Belgium. The ad featured the smurf village being bombed and baby smurf stranded as the only survivor. The ad was created by UNICEF to highlight the impacts of war, especially on children. The communication theory that was used examined three elements required of a successful advertisement, according to the theory of choice. And asked the question, was the use of the smurfs appropriate and will it be successful?
The current trend is to use theories to question elements and effectiveness of political and ads and cartoons, corporate marketing campaigns, service organization advertisements, or cultural cartoons or art. You can find communication theories at the library or speak with a coach to get jumpstarted in CA!

AFTER DINNER: Each contestant will present an original speech whose purpose is to make a serious point through the use of humor. The speech should reflect the development of a humorous comedic effort, not a stand up comedy routine. The speech must be delivered from memory or note cards. Visual aids are permitted. Maximum 10 minutes. Follow the Platform
Speech Outline when composing your speech. As in any written speech, there should be a central topic sentence or thesis statement which the speaker develops. This event is not merely a series of jokes, "stand up" routine, or impersonations.
The main purpose of this kind of public speaking is to entertain your audience. That doesn't mean you have to avoid serious topics. In fact, your secondary goal is to present serious
information or to persuade. Many famous after dinner speakers have covered the most serious topics. Your tone has to be lighthearted, your topic has to be relevant and the presentation of your after dinner speech topic has to be funny. After dinner speaking blends comedic performing and serious public speaking at the same time.
Like persuasive or informative speeches, your ADS topic needs to be current and interesting.
The key is to find a topic, which while serious in nature, has some humorous or bizarre concepts attached. For example, a successful ADS a few years ago introduced a mechanism for women to urinate standing up. The item was created and distributed by a feminist group in Europe. The speaker explained that there was a growing movement among certain groups of feminist on this very topic. While there were many fun references, puns and jokes the speaker also infused issues of real concern among other feminist organizations, issues like female genital mutilation and disproportionate wages. In this way the speech was able to both entertain, inform, and persuade.
FUNCTIONS OF THE AFTER DINNER SPEAKER -
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Structure: The after dinner speech is well-organized, easy to follow, and constructed around a central theme. The speech should have a meaningful theme, but should not be a "tacked-on-moral" at the end of a series of jokes.
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Support: The speech should not be a string of jokes, but must show a pattern of development. The specific materials chosen should be selected not only for their humor, but also for their social significance. Quotes and statistics are just as welcome in ADS as they are in other platform events.
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Style: The speaker should pay close attention to both choice of words and syntax, but he/she should never seek an unnecessary level of formality or complexity. His/her language should be instantly meaningful and vivid.
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Delivery: The delivery should be lively, enthusiastic, and animated. The speech may be delivered with or without the use of notes or manuscript.