Special occasion Speaking

Forensic League of Arizona

RULES FOR SPECIAL OCCASION SPEECH

Purpose of the Category:

To develop skills related to adapting oral presentations to specific situational demands.

Definition of the Category:

The challenge to the speaker is to make an appropriate presentation which responds to the constraints of the occasion (including the probable audience). In considering the “appropriateness” of the speaker’s work, attention will be paid to the purpose the speaker chooses, the position taken, the content, organization and general stylistic “tone,” and the manner of delivery. It is possible that a speech may pursue more than one of the standard general purposes of informing, persuading, and entertaining.

Rules:

1. Prior to the presentation, the participant is to announce which situation has been chosen. This announcement must be brief and is not considered part of the presentation on which the student will be evaluated.

2. Maximum time limit: 5 minutes. A 30 second grace period is allowed, after which the student may not be ranked first in the round, but does not necessarily have to be ranked last.

Criteria for Evaluation:

1. The extent to which the apparent specific purpose was appropriate to the occasion.

2. The extent to which the content and organization of the speech fulfilled the speaker’s purpose.

Researched material must be verbally attributed to a source(s).

3. The extent to which the presentation reflected effective language skills, including such items as use of transitions and clear, vivid and appropriate word choices.

4. The extent to which the vocal presentation was clear and appropriate to the chosen occasion, including such items as articulation, pronunciation, volume, rate, pitch and voice quality.

5. The extent to which the physical presence contributed to the clarity and effectiveness of the presentation, including such items as facial expression, eye contact, gestures and bodily movement.