Judge Training for Speech

La Reina Tournament 12/3 Judge Training

Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to judge for us! This document contains a comprehensive list of the rules for all of the events that need judges for our tournament today, as well as links to training videos to help explain what you should look for when judging a round.

If you have any questions or experience any problems during a round, you can visit this Zoom virtual meeting room: https://zoom.us/j/91844828324?pwd=QzZKS3JKWlJra2d0MnlwTzh4eGdndz09

General Notes

“High School rules” applies to events marked “Novice/N” and “Open/O.”

All events have a thirty-second grace period, meaning the speaker may go over the maximum time listed by 30 seconds with no penalty. A speaker who goes past the thirty-second grace period may not be ranked first in the round, but does not need to be ranked last. In the final round, all judges in the panel must agree that a speaker has gone beyond the grace period.

Implicit bias is a form of bias that occurs automatically and unintentionally, that nevertheless affects judgments, decisions, and behaviors. Research has shown implicit bias can pose a barrier to historically disadvantaged students in speech and debate. We are committed to building an inclusive and safe space for all our students, so please reflect carefully about the ways in which you give feedback to students.

How to Run a Round

As soon as you receive an email or text with a link to your ballot, click on it. This will take you to your virtual ballot on Tabroom.com. Click “Start” so that we know you have received your ballot. Begin the round by taking roll. If any speakers are double-entered, allow them to speak first. If not all speakers in the round are present due to one or more being double-entered, wait at least 45 minutes from the start of the round for the speaker to show up before marking them as a no-show.

After all of the speakers have gone, you will assign each one a rank from 1 to 7 (or 5, or 6, depending on how many speakers were in the round) based off of how well they did compared to the others in the round. Please try to submit your ballot with the rankings within a few minutes of dismissing the speakers after everyone has presented. You only need to input a minimum of 10 words of feedback onto each ballot before submitting. You are free to add more comments later, until the end of the tournament (Sunday, 12/4 at 7:00 pm). It is recommended that you take notes during each speaker’s performance. Feedback should include not only things the speaker could improve on but also things that they did well. Try to balance suggestions for improvement and compliments as best you can.

This tournament will use both rankings and speaker points to determine the final placements. Please award a number of speaker points to each speaker based off of how good you feel their performance was. The number of speaker points should reflect the ranking you gave the speaker (ex: Don’t award perfect speaker points to the speaker ranked last in the round.)

Limited Preparation Events

Impromptu (IMP)

Training video: Judge Training - Impromptu

Elementary/Middle School rules: An impromptu speech, substantive in nature, with topic selections varied by round and by section. Topics will be derived from concrete nouns, abstract nouns, proverbs, famous people, quotations, or additional topic areas at the discretion of the tournament host. Speakers will have a total of 7 minutes for both preparation and speaking. They may divide this time up however they wish. Timing commences with the acceptance of the topics sheet. Copy and paste the speaker’s topics listed on your ballot into the chat. Once you have verified that the speaker has seen the topics in the chat, start the timer. A single notecard not to exceed 4x6 may be used during the presentation. No props may be used. Each speaker will draw three topics and choose one. Judges should provide auditory time signals while the speaker is prepping and visual time signals during the performance of the speech.

High School rules: Topics will be selected from any source, including concrete nouns, quotations, general topics of current interest, single abstract nouns, famous people, famous historic events, and brief thought-provoking questions. Each contestant shall draw three topics from a judge in the round and immediately select one. No more than two minutes of prep time shall be allowed the speaker prior to the speech. Timing begins the moment the selection of the topic has been made. Copy and paste the speaker’s topics listed on your ballot into the chat. Confirm that the speaker has seen the topics in the chat. As soon as they verify they have received the topics, start the timer. Let the contestants know when one minute of prep time has passed. When the speaker is presenting their speech, give visual time signals for how much time they have left. No sources may be consulted during the preparation time. The speaker may make notes during the two-minute preparation, however as stipulated, notes are not allowed during the presentation of the speech. Contestants shall not speak more than five minutes. There is no minimum time.

Extemporaneous (EXTEMP)

Training video: Judge Training - Extemp Speaking

Middle School rules: Contestants will be given three topics in the general area of current events, choose one, and have 30 minutes to prepare a speech that is the original work of the competitor. Contestants may not leave the preparation area until dismissed by the Extemp proctor. Consultation with any person other than the Extemp proctor between the time of drawing and time of speaking is prohibited. Maximum time limit for the speech is 7 minutes. Once a speaker has spoken, they may listen to other speakers in that round. Use of Internet is optional, but it is not the responsibility of the tournament to provide Internet access.

High School rules: Each contestant shall draw three topics for each round. Each shall be called to draw by speaking order and panel. The contestant must promptly choose one topic of the three drawn and return the other two topics. Each contestant shall draw topics thirty minutes prior to their scheduled speaking time. If a contestant leaves the prep room prior to the appointed time when they shall have been dismissed by the proctor, they shall receive a rank of 7th, and other contestants in the panel shall move up one rank, if previously ranked below the contestant who violated this rule. Extemporaneous Speaking contestants may use electronic retrieval devices to store and retrieve their subject files. Students can retrieve extemporaneous files to read, but cannot write speeches or organize their thoughts on the computers. Electronic retrieval devices are defined as laptop computers, netbooks, iPads, or other portable electronic retrieval equipment. Secondary devices such as flash drives or external hard drives are allowed as well. Cell phones or smart phones are prohibited (Students may not share electronic devices with one another). Contestants shall not speak more than seven minutes. There is no minimum time.

Platform Events

These are speeches written by the speaker and prepared in advance.

Informative/Expository (IN/EXPOS)

Training video: Judge Training - Informative Speaking

Elementary/Middle School rules: An original, factual speech by the competitor to fulfill the general aim to inform the audience. Audio-visual aids may be used. Multiple sources should be used and cited in the development of the speech. Notes are not permitted. Maximum time is 5 minutes.

High School rules: Any appropriate subject may be used, but the primary purpose of the speech shall be to describe, clarify, explain, and/or define an object, idea, concept, or process. Topics/subjects fabricated by the speaker may not be used. This is a speech to inform. Not a performance, and the emphasis should be placed on the oral presentation rather than on audio or visual aids used in support of the informative goal of the speech. The speech may be delivered from memory, notes, or manuscript. Visual and audio aids may be used during the presentation of the speech. Speeches shall be no longer than ten minutes; there is no minimum time.

Original Persuasive

Training video: Judge Training - Original Oratory

This event is a merging of Original Oratory (OO) and Original Advocacy (OA). Though these events have slightly different conventions, judges should evaluate the general quality of each speech, both individually (reflected by speaker points) and in relation to each other (reflected by ranks). Both events involve persuading, motivating, and/or inspiring the audience, with the only difference being that an OA speech introduces a public policy issue and proposes a specific legislative solution.

Multiple sources should be used and cited during the delivery of the speech. Any non-factual reference, including a personal one, must be so identified. No notes, visual or audio aids, or manuscripts shall be permitted during delivery. Speeches must be delivered from memory. Speeches shall be no longer than ten minutes; there is no minimum time.

Interpretation Events

In interpretation events, speakers take someone else’s writing (publicly performed speech, play, movie, book, etc.) and perform their own interpretation of it (with the exception of Original Prose and Poetry, where the piece being performed was written by the speaker).

Training video (covers Duo, Humorous, and Dramatic Interp): Judge Training - Interpretation Events

Middle School Prose and Poetry

This event is a merging of Middle School Poetry and Middle School Prose. Both are performances of published material of literary merit. The only real difference is that Prose pieces come from a single source (e.g. short story, novella, novel, article, essay, etc.) while Poetry pieces can be taken from more than one source. Though these events have slightly different conventions, judges should evaluate the general quality of each speech, both individually (reflected by speaker points) and in relation to each other (reflected by ranks).

This is not an acting event; thus, no costumes, props, lighting, etc., are to be used. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time is 7 minutes including introduction.

Duo Interpretation (DUO)

Middle School rules: A memorized performance from one or more texts of literary merit, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of two or more characters presented by two individuals. The material may be drawn from any genre of literature. This is not an acting event; thus, no costumes, props, lighting, etc., are to be used. The focus should be off-stage and not to each other (meaning: the speakers are not allowed to make eye contact/look directly at each other except during the introduction). Maximum time limit for middle school competitions is 10 minutes including introduction.

High School rules: Duo partners may not make eye contact with one another during the interpretation. In the event of eye contact, the duo will be penalized by no more than one rank by tab room officials. Eye contact during the introduction is optional, but allowed. The partners may react to each other’s verbal and/or non-verbal expressions, but they may not touch each other. If physical contact is noted as a violation, the duo will be dropped one rank. If the physical contact is determined to be intentional, the duo will be given last place in the round. These penalties will be assessed by tournament officials. Physical contact between the partners during the introduction is optional. Costumes or props (the use of something extraneous to the body) are prohibited. Although gestures or pantomime may be used, they should be used with restraint. The interpretation must be delivered from memory; no notes, prompting, or scripts shall be permitted. The title of the selection and name of the author must be given by the contestant when the selection is introduced. Presentations shall be no longer than ten minutes; there is no minimum time.

Declamation (DEC)

Training video: Judge Training - Declamation

Elementary/Middle School rules: A memorized performance of a speech, not written by the contestant. The speech must have been delivered in public. The speaker should present an introduction that states the title, author, and date of the speech they are reciting. This is not an acting event; thus, no costumes, props, lighting, etc., are to be used. Maximum time is 10 minutes including introduction.

High School rules: The selection must be from a published speech which shall have been delivered as a public address by a real person; however, speeches given by high school or college students in competition shall not be permitted. Public address is defined as a formal spoken communication, a formal speech, a formal oral communication to an audience. Synonyms include “lecture,” “oration,” and “speech.” The author, title (if given), occasion, place and date of the original delivery of the speech shall be given by the contestant when the selection is introduced. Costumes or props (the use of something extraneous to the body) are prohibited. Although gestures or pantomime may be used, they should be used with restraint. The interpretation must be delivered from memory; no notes, prompting, or scripts shall be permitted. Presentations shall be no longer than ten minutes; there is no minimum time.

Mixed Interpretation

Training video: Judge Training - Interpretation Events

This event is a merging of Novice Dramatic Interpretation (DI), Novice Humorous Interpretation (HI), and Open Original Prose and Poetry (OPP). Though these events have different conventions, judges should evaluate the general quality of each speech, both individually (reflected by speaker points) and in relation to each other (reflected by ranks). All of these speeches are meant to create an engaging performance that moves the audience, with HI doing so with a humorous tone, DI with a serious tone, and OPP with either humor, drama, or a combination of both.

To know which speeches are OPP, ask the speakers to give the title and author of their pieces before they perform. If a speaker gives their own name for the author or outright says they wrote the piece, it is OPP.

All of these speeches are to be no longer than 10 minutes. There is no minimum time. HI and DI speakers must identify the title and author of their pieces during their introductions. No props or costumes are to be used. Notes and prompting are not permitted; the speeches must be delivered from memory.

Narrative Interpretation

Training video for Storytelling: Judge Training - Storytelling

This event is a merging of Middle School Original Prose and Poetry and Storytelling. Though these events have different conventions, judges should evaluate the general quality of each speech, both individually (reflected by speaker points) and in relation to each other (reflected by ranks). The main difference for each event is that Original Prose and Poetry pieces are to be no longer than 7 minutes, while Storytelling pieces are to be no longer than 5 minutes. The objective of Original Prose and Poetry is to demonstrate the speaker’s creativity; the objective of Storytelling is to tell a child-friendly story in an engaging way.

To know which speeches are Original Prose and Poetry, ask each speaker for the title and author of their piece before they present. If the speaker gives their own name when identifying the author or outright says that they wrote the piece, it is Original Prose and Poetry.

Storytelling speakers are allowed to use a chair and (optionally) perform their speech while sitting in it. No other props may be used, and the speaker may not wear a costume. (OPP speakers are not allowed to use costumes or props either.) Storytelling speakers must identify the title and author of their piece during their introduction.

No notes or prompting may be used; the speeches must be delivered from memory.