Speech Team

On Saturday, February 3rd, the Park Center Speech Team competed in the first invitational tournament of the season at Hill Murray High School. Competing were Brittany R.(Discussion), Richie C.(Humorous interpretation), Alicia E.(Duo Interpretation), Raven J.(Duo Interpretation), Kerry L.(Duo Interpretation), Stacy L.(Duo Interpretation), and Kim S.(Serious Prose Interpretation). Observing was Theresa W.(Duo Interpretation). This tournament was a round robin style tournament and speakers were judged on their individual merits. Receiving blue ribbons were Brittany, Alicia, and Raven. Brittany also received a plaque for placing second overall in Discussion. Alicia and Raven placed fourth overall in Duo Interpretation.

This season the team has expanded to include 9th grade students from Brooklyn Junior (students from Northview are also welcome to join although this year we don’t have any). Other members of the team are Renua O.(Creative Expression), Angelle C.(Duo Interpretation), Annie G.(Serious Prose interpretation), Lindsey G.(Duo Interpretation), Kendra F.(Original Oratory), and Austin R.(Duo Interpretation).

The speech season runs from the beginning of January until the middle of April culminating in a state tournament. The team has meetings every Wednesday from 3pm to 4pm as well as optional individual coaching sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Invitational tournaments are held on most Saturdays through April.

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Pictures from the Speech Team trip to Hill Murray.

The Thirteen Categories of Speech

CREATIVE EXPRESSION Creative Expression is the performance of material written by the contestant, of which no more than 20% may be material from other sources. The mood may be serious, humorous, or both. The contestant may use pantomime, storytelling, interpretive reading, impersonation, or any combination of these performance styles.

DISCUSSION Problem-solving Discussion is an effort on the part of a small group to reach a solution to a problem through informal interchange of facts, inferences, and judgments. The topic(s) for Discussion shall be approved each year by the Board of Directors.

DUO INTERPRETATION Duo interpretation features two students interpreting together one or more selections from a single published source, an anthology of prose, poetry, and/or dramatic literature serious and/or humorous, with literary merit and appropriate to the readers.

EXTEMPORANEOUS READING Participation in Extemporaneous Reading will train a student to introduce and read excerpts from prose or poetry for the purpose of appreciation or enjoyment.

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING The Extemporaneous Speech should be an original synthesis of current fact and opinion on a topic drawn by the contestant. Speakers may choose from either U.S. or International topics.

GREAT SPEECHES Great Speeches is an event in which the contestant speaks about either a single speech OR an anthology of speeches (not to exceed three) related by common author, theme, or other element. The contestant's analysis should convey the delight, edification, and challenge of contemporary or historical public address.

HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION Humorous Interpretation uses any published selection - prose, poetry, or dramatic literature - with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The selection shall not have been taken from record or tape. The cutting should amuse, give enjoyment, or create laughter.

INFORMATIVE SPEAKING Informative Speaking is an event in which the student presents an original informative composition of which no more than 10% shall be direct quotation. The purpose of Informative Speaking is to present information which the audience may or may not possess and which the student believes important for the audience. The use of visual aids is optional.

ORIGINAL ORATORY Original Oratory is an event in which the contestant presents his/her own PERSUASIVE composition of which no more than 10% shall be direct quotation. The orator should not be expected to solve any of the great problems of the day, but must offer some insight and guidance. The contestant should be expected to speak intelligently and with a degree of originality about the message chosen.

SERIOUS DRAMA INTERPRETATION Serious Drama Interpretation uses any published selection of dramatic literature (plays, radio plays, television plays, or screenplays) with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.

SERIOUS POETRY INTERPRETATION Serious Poetry Interpretation uses any published poetry selection, including lyric novels with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The mood of the cutting is essentially serious. Selections for poetry may be one poem or several poems.

SERIOUS PROSE INTERPRETATION Serious Prose Interpretation uses any published selection of prose, fiction or non-fiction; excluding lyric novels. Any selection, with literary merit and appropriate to the reader, that is not poetry, a play or part of a play, or a delivered speech, will be considered prose. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.

STORYTELLING Participation in storytelling should train students to recreate a familiar story extemporaneously. A selected list of fifteen (15) stories will be announced in the fall of each year. Because this is not a recitation the contestant will be judged on the ability to recreate the story in his/her own words, with emphasis on a direct conversational style and spontaneous bodily action.

CREATIVE EXPRESSION	Creative Expression is the performance of material written by the contestant, of which no more than 20% may be material from other sources. The mood may be serious, humorous, or both. The contestant may use pantomime, storytelling, interpretive reading, impersonation, or any combination of these performance styles.
DISCUSSION	Problem-solving Discussion is an effort on the part of a small group to reach a solution to a problem through informal interchange of facts, inferences, and judgments. The topic(s) for Discussion shall be approved each year by the Board of Directors.
DUO INTERPRETATION	Duo interpretation features two students interpreting together one or more selections from a single published source, an anthology of prose, poetry, and/or dramatic literature serious and/or humorous, with literary merit and appropriate to the readers.
EXTEMPORANEOUS READING	Participation in Extemporaneous Reading will train a student to introduce and read excerpts from prose or poetry for the purpose of appreciation or enjoyment.
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING	The Extemporaneous Speech should be an original synthesis of current fact and opinion on a topic drawn by the contestant. Speakers may choose from either U.S. or International topics.
GREAT SPEECHES	Great Speeches is an event in which the contestant speaks about either a single speech OR an anthology of speeches (not to exceed three) related by common author, theme, or other element. The contestant's analysis should convey the delight, edification, and challenge of contemporary or historical public address.
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION	Humorous Interpretation uses any published selection - prose, poetry, or dramatic literature - with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The selection shall not have been taken from record or tape. The cutting should amuse, give enjoyment, or create laughter.
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING	Informative Speaking is an event in which the student presents an original informative composition of which no more than 10% shall be direct quotation. The purpose of Informative Speaking is to present information which the audience may or may not possess and which the student believes important for the audience. The use of visual aids is optional.
ORIGINAL ORATORY	Original Oratory is an event in which the contestant presents his/her own PERSUASIVE composition of which no more than 10% shall be direct quotation. The orator should not be expected to solve any of the great problems of the day, but must offer some insight and guidance. The contestant should be expected to speak intelligently and with a degree of originality about the message chosen.
SERIOUS DRAMA INTERPRETATION	Serious Drama Interpretation uses any published selection of dramatic literature (plays, radio plays, television plays, or screenplays) with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.
SERIOUS POETRY INTERPRETATION	Serious Poetry Interpretation uses any published poetry selection, including lyric novels with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The mood of the cutting is essentially serious. Selections for poetry may be one poem or several poems.
SERIOUS PROSE INTERPRETATION	Serious Prose Interpretation uses any published selection of prose, fiction or non-fiction; excluding lyric novels. Any selection, with literary merit and appropriate to the reader, that is not poetry, a play or part of a play, or a delivered speech, will be considered prose. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious.
STORYTELLING	Participation in storytelling should train students to recreate a familiar story extemporaneously. A selected list of fifteen (15) stories will be announced in the fall of each year. Because this is not a recitation the contestant will be judged on the ability to recreate the story in his/her own words, with emphasis on a direct conversational style and spontaneous bodily action.