III. Extemporaneous Speaking

 

A. PURPOSES

  1. To require the student to study a previously designated general subject area in the field of current public problems.

  2. To teach the student to quickly make an inventory from a reservoir of existing information and select generalizations and materials appropriate to a specific sub-topic.

  3. To develop the ability to apply rhetorical principles under pressure of time, giving particular attention to simplicity of structure and clarity of style.

 

B. PROCEDURE

  1. Prior to the tournament, the director will assemble a considerable number of sub-topics in the general field. At the tournament,the student draws from these topics -usually being given a choice of three. Drawings are staggered so that each speaker ha_ an equal amount of time for preparation -- normally 30 minutes.

  2. Students may select materials from such sources as memory, discussion with other contestants, reference materials assembled by the student, or from the local library. Original and thorough preparation requires that the point of view and thought structure be that of the speaker and not of someone else, unless specific indebtedness is acknowledged by mention of the sources cited.

  3. In the presence of one or more judges, and anyone else, including other contestants who wish to listen, the speaker talks for no more than 7 minutes on the topic selected. The exact time limits are set by the Tournament Director.

  4. In some tournaments, if announced ahead of time, at the conclusion of the talk the judge or judges may ask the speaker a question on the subject which has been discussed. When this is done, the student's reply is a partial basis for evaluation of his knowledge of the subject and of his ability to speak extemporaneously.

 

C. LIMITATION OF THE TOPIC

A general subject area is selected by the PSCFA for the semester or year. Sub-topics are arranged under this general subject area for each separate tournament.

 

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D. FUNCTION OF THE EXTEMP SPEAKER

  1. Speakers should present clearly organized, wellsupported talks centered on the specific topic selected. The discussion should give evidence of an understanding of the general subject area and its relationship to the specific topic. The point of view and selection of materials should be consistent with the speaker's intended purpose, which may be to inform or persuade.

  2. The extemporaneous talk is a prepared, organized speech. Although the actual language is chosen at the moment of delivery, the speaker is expected to present worthwhile ideas supported by evidence.

  3. Students should deliver the speech in a manner appropriate to the subject, the size of the room and the nature of the audience.

 

E. EVALUATIVE FACTORS (EXTEMP)

The talk is to be judged on its own merits alone. The opinions of the judge concerning the topic, the-use or non- use of notes or visual aids (aside from their general contribution to, or detraction from, the speaker's effort to communicate), etc., should be considered.

  1. Content: Was the Speech appropriate to the general subject area? Did the speaker choose ideas and amplifying materials that would make the significance of the specific topic apparent? Did the student provide evidence of and/or opinion to support or claify his statements?

  2. Organization: Did the student limit the ideas so that they could be developed adequately in the available? Was the speaker's point of view clearly stated as a thesis? Were the general statements linked together logically to support the thesis? Were the supporting materials relevant to the general statements that support the thesis?

  3. Style: Did the pattern of generalizations and supporting materials emerge clearly? Was the language in which materials were developed vivid enough to secure our attention, understanding or acceptance?

 

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