SPEECH
PURPOSE: To provide opportunities for young people to develop their verbal communication talents by observing and sharing their public speaking skills.
PROCESS:
Each participating church will:
1. Register speakers by proper grade.
2. Provide one male and one female judge in this event if possible, to be used as needed.
3. Have each speaker at the proper room before the event begins.
The Event Director will:
1. Assign participants to event rooms, and set a speaking order.
2. Assign judges and a timekeeper to each room.
3. Provide judging results and award recommendations to the Convention Events Coordinator.
4. Provide a list to the celebration director of 6-8 suggested speakers for Saturday Night Celebration, Sunday morning men’s class and women’s class, and worship.
RULES:
1. Participants will develop an original speech that is related to the LTC theme.
2. Participants in grades three (3) through eight (8) may choose to speak about a Bible character as the topic of their speech.
3. Participants in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) may not use a Bible character as their topic.
4. A single note card no larger than 3″ X 5″ index card is permitted. If more than one card is used there will be a penalty of 3 points deducted from the total score. Another speaker may not use the same speech.
5. The duration of the speech should be three (3) to six (6) minutes. For each thirty (30) seconds that a speaker is over or under the prescribed time limits, 2 points will be subtracted. At the speaker’s request the timekeeper will indicate when 3, 5, and 6 minutes have elapsed.
6. Spectators may not enter or leave the room while participants are speaking.
7. No participant may be taped without their advance approval and appropriate notification to the judges. Any video or audio equipment must be set up prior to the event and must be stationary.
8. Speakers may use visual aids, not props, during speeches. The Bible is not considered a prop. Speakers using props will lose 5 points. Visual aids should aid in making a point, not become the dominant factor of a speech. They must not become an obvious additional “note card” for the speaker to follow.
9. Speeches MAY be memorized but NOT read! A participant who reads his/her speech will be disqualified. The speaker should know his/her subject, and speak from simple notes.
10.Men and boys will be allowed to listen to the girls’ speeches.
11. This event is not a dramatic interpretation. The judges will decide if the speech is overly dramatic with excessive use of dramatic techniques.
AWARDS:
1. One of the following award ratings will be assigned to each participant based upon the point average between the three Judges’ sheets.
2. An appropriately colored engraved plate for the individual’s award plaque will be given to each person receiving a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Rating.
Gold = 95-100 points; Silver = 85-94 points; Bronze = 70-84 points; No Award = 0-69 points