Speech
Speech offers a wide range of events that allow students to develop their voice, sharpen critical thinking, and connect with audiences in meaningful ways. From the polished delivery of Public Address events like Informative Speaking, Declamation, and Expository, to the quick-thinking demands of Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu, competitors learn to organize ideas and communicate with confidence.
Speech Events
Speech Events
Public Address
Public address events feature a speech written by the student, either in advance or with limited prep, that can answer a question, share a belief, persuade an audience, or educate the listener on a variety of topics.
Commentary
Extemporaneous Commentary (COM) is a five-minute public speaking event (with a 30-second grace period) in which students respond to a prompt drawn on a topic of societal, political, historical, or popular interest.
Declamation
Declamation (DEC) is a 10-minute public speaking event (with a 30-second grace period) in which students perform a previously delivered, publicly available speech.
Expository
Expository Speaking (EXP) is a five-minute informative speaking event (with a 30-second grace period) in which students explain to an audience a topic of their choosing.
Extemporaneous Speaking
Mixed Extemporaneous Speaking (EXT), United States Extemporaneous Speaking (USX), and International Extemporaneous Speaking (IX) are a seven-minute speech event (with a 30-second grace period) that combines both domestic and international topics, current international issues, and focus on current events.
Impromptu
Impromptu Speaking (IMP) is a public speaking event in which students are given seven minutes (with a 30-second grace period) to select a topic, brainstorm ideas, organize a speech, and deliver it without the use of notes.
Informative Speaking
Informative Speaking (INF) is a 10-minute original speech event (with a 30-second grace period) in which students aim to educate the audience about a topic of significance.
Original Oratory
Original Oratory (OO) is a 10-minute speech event (with a 30-second grace period) in which students deliver a self-written speech designed to persuade an audience on a topic of significance.
Original Spoken Word Poetry
Original Spoken Word Poetry (OSW) is a five-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) where students perform original poetry from memory.
Interpretation
Interpretation events center upon a student selecting and performing published material and appeal to many who enjoy acting and theatre.
Dramatic Interpretation
Dramatic Interpretation (DI) is a 10-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) that challenges students to bring a published piece of serious literature to life using only their voice, facial expressions, and physicality without the use of props, costumes, or sets.
Duo Interpretation
Duo Interpretation (DUO) is a 10-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) that showcases two performers bringing a published script to life.
Humorous Interpretation
Humorous Interpretation (HI) is a 10-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) that challenges students to entertain and connect with audiences through comedic storytelling.
Poetry
Poetry (POE) is a five-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) that focuses on the power of language, expression, and emotional connection.
Program Oral Interpretation
Program Oral Interpretation (POI) is a ten-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) that challenges students to weave together multiple genres of literature: prose, poetry, and drama, into a cohesive, theme-driven performance.
Prose
Prose (PRO) is a five-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) that offers students the opportunity to perform published literature written in everyday language and structure.
Storytelling
Storytelling (STO) is a five-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) in which students perform a published story as if presenting to a group of young children.
Is your program new to the NSDA?
Welcome!
Instructions
Welcome Back!
Instructions
- Program advisors can visit www.speechanddebate.org and click Member Login in the top right corner of the page. Use your username and password to log in to your account. Once you’ve logged in, click “Account” in the upper right corner, which will take you to your profile page. Please click “Renew School”, in red, from the left menu and follow the prompts at the top of the page to renew your school.
- High school membership is $149, with an option to upgrade to the all-school team Resource Package for an additional $199. Each individual high school student membership is a one-time $20 fee.
- Middle school membership is $75, with an option to upgrade to the all-school team Resource Package for an additional $199. Each individual middle school student membership is a one-time $10 fee.
- To finalize the renewal, follow the prompts on the page to review the following:
Step 1. Confirm information on the school profile page. Once confirmed/updated, click the “Next Step” button.
Step 2. Confirm the coaches listed. Once confirmed/updated, click the “Next Step” button.
Step 3. Create the invoice. The annual dues are automatically selected. You can use the toggle to select other options such as coach memberships, student memberships, insurance, and the Resource Package. The prices for each item are listed on the right side of your screen, and a running total is at the bottom in blue. When done, “Create Invoice and Proceed to Checkout”.
The system allows you to “Pay Now”, with a credit card or you can email the invoice to yourself or print out the pdf.
Need a Visual? Click here to watch our brief tutorial!
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