Category: After Dinner

Platform Checklist

Posted on by Heather Neumann

If you have ever spent hours writing a speech only to have it be wordy, factual, or even like an essay, this platform checklist is for YOU!  It can be tricky to clearly and concisely convey your points in an exciting way without the so-called “meat”, main points, or the body of your speech being lost. Heather Neumann has created step-by-step guide (and the worksheet/handout is even included in the Speech Grab and Go Guide - HERE), you’ll not only be checking off each box but wowing your audience and judges! Heather has taught and coached thousands of students, including Ted Talk speakers, she knows what a good speech looks like and how to keep the audience’s attention! Perhaps going through this list you will realize what your speech is missing…

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It’s Not All Fun and Games When You’re Writing an ADS by: Katie Kellam

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Sometimes, competitors are disappointed when they learn that the After Dinner category isn’t exactly the same thing as a stand up comedy routine. ADS is more than just a string of jokes, not in the least because most speech and debate leagues have a section on their ADS ballots for something like “merit,” “message,” or “impact.” Competitors often chafe at the fact that they’re being restricted in this way. After all, the only reason anyone wants to compete in ADS is because they want to be FUNNY! Leave the serious stuff for the persuasives! Right? These aren’t just empty complaints either – I’ve talked to many competitors who feel strongly that shoehorning a message into a speech where it doesn’t belong is little more than judge pandering. 

Continue reading “It’s Not All Fun and Games When You’re Writing an ADS by: Katie Kellam” →

Comedic Timing…The Hammer of the Humorist

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

Thor is known for his hammer.  He wields it well and it obeys his every whim.  He owns it.  It is intrinsic almost to his persona and identity.  Comedic timing, and the successful application of it, similarly marks the skilled humorist.  But just like nobody is able to tell Thor exactly how to use his hammer, no one is able to tell a would-be humorist exactly what to do with timing either.  I can describe the shape of it, yes, but what you do with it....well, that is what will make you funny - or not!

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Online Speech Workshops This Week!! Sign Up NOW!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Don’t forget these workshops are coming to you LIVE this week! Characters, Illustrated Oratory/Expository, After Dinner Speaking, and Storytelling! There is so much to learn in the exciting world of Competitive Speech! Whether you want to add to your speeches this year, or planning ahead for next year! These four workshops will be packed with valuable information from our amazing Lasting Impact! coaches. Get all the details below… And Sign Up Today!!

Creating Fantastic Characters with Heather Neumann

Date: Fri. Feb. 9

Time: 10:30 am CT (Approx. 1.5 hrs)

SIGN UP HERE

Are you wanting to take your characters to the next level? Learn how to develop a deeper understanding of your characters. Participants will be guided through an analysis of their interpretive speech, specifically for their characters. Each participant will be given Heather Neumann and Kristi Eskelund’s character worksheets. We will also have guest speakers to give examples of “pops”, voices, facial expressions, etc.

Heather Neumann has been coaching for years… Teaching students to look with in themselves to create well developed characters.

All About IO/Expos with Anna Johansen

Date: Fri. Feb. 9

Time: 1:00 pm CT (Approx. 1.5 hrs)

SIGN UP HERE

IOs and Expositories are intimidating. Most competitors are overwhelmed by the idea of building boards from scratch—coming up with ideas and figuring out how to make them happen in real life. How do you make a stained-glass window? How do you make a 3D staircase? How do you make a sinking Titanic? In this workshop, we’ll take you from the basics (like materials, magnets, adhesives, and straight edges) all the way to the finishing touches (like themes, aesthetics, interactive pieces, and show-stopping features). If you’ve ever considered doing an IO/Expository this workshop is a great way to give you the practical tools to make it happen.

Anna Johansen is a speech and TP coach in the Chicago area. She also writes, edits, and coaches for Ethos Debate. Anna is currently pursuing a double major in English and History, and hopes to continue teaching and writing long-term. Whether it is through editing others’ work or creating her own, teaching the tools or using them, she wants to pass on a love of speaking and writing and communicating to everyone she comes in contact with.

After Dinner Speaking with Aj and Heather Neumann

Date: Sat. Feb. 10

Time: 10:30 am CT (Approx. 1.5 hrs)

SIGN UP HERE

After Dinner Speaking is hard! How do you write a speech that is informative, impactful, and perhaps motivational, yet funny? ADS is so much more than just telling stories. Learn how to create or add depth to your After Dinner Speech. And don’t forget your delivery! We will teach you what you need to know to make your ADS shine!

Aj Neumann qualified to Nationals both years NCFCA offered After Dinner Speaking. He won Regionals, had many first places at tournaments, and in 2015 got 3rd place at The National Championship. Aj is passionate about ADS and he can’t wait to share what he has learned through his experiences.

Storytelling with Abbey Lovett

Date: Sat. Feb. 10

Time: 1:00 pm CT (Approx. 1.5 hrs)

SIGN UP HERE

In this workshop, Abbey is going to go over why storytelling is important in all styles of competitive forensics and communication. She’ll talk about the science behind storytelling, how you should use it in speeches, and how you can become a powerful storyteller. She will give you practical tips and tricks that you can take into any aspect of your life to craft powerful stories.

Abbey Lovett has been involved with competitive forensics for over eight years and has gained three national champion titles. In her time both as a speaker and a coach, she has learned that the most powerful way to communicate important ideas is through storytelling. Abbey has studied storytelling for years and is excited to share with you what she has learned.

–

All workshops will be done through Zoom, an online meeting forum.

Cost:

$5 per workshop for members of Lasting Impact!

OR

$20 per workshop

–

photo by- Hannah Seymour

Sign Up Now For Online Speech Workshops in February!!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Our first Online Workshop (Apologetics) in December was a huge success! We are excited to share so much more with you! Thanks to technology coming February 9th and 10th we will be offering 4 more online workshops- Characters, Illustrated Oratory/Expository, After Dinner Speaking, and Storytelling! There is so much to learn in the exciting world of Competitive Speech! Whether you want to add to your speeches this year, or planning ahead for next year! These four workshops will be packed with valuable information from our amazing Lasting Impact! coaches. Get all the details below… And Sign Up Today!!

Creating Fantastic Characters with Heather Neumann

Date: Fri. Feb. 9

Time: 10:30 am CT (Approx. 1.5 hrs)

SIGN UP HERE

Are you wanting to take your characters to the next level? Learn how to develop a deeper understanding of your characters. Participants will be guided through an analysis of their interpretive speech, specifically for their characters. Each participant will be given Heather Neumann and Kristi Eskelund’s character worksheets. We will also have guest speakers to give examples of “pops”, voices, facial expressions, etc.

Heather Neumann has been coaching for years… Teaching students to look with in themselves to create well developed characters.

All About IO/Expos with Anna Johansen

Date: Fri. Feb. 9

Time: 1:00 pm CT (Approx. 1.5 hrs)

SIGN UP HERE

IOs and Expositories are intimidating. Most competitors are overwhelmed by the idea of building boards from scratch—coming up with ideas and figuring out how to make them happen in real life. How do you make a stained-glass window? How do you make a 3D staircase? How do you make a sinking Titanic? In this workshop, we’ll take you from the basics (like materials, magnets, adhesives, and straight edges) all the way to the finishing touches (like themes, aesthetics, interactive pieces, and show-stopping features). If you’ve ever considered doing an IO/Expository this workshop is a great way to give you the practical tools to make it happen.

Anna Johansen is a speech and TP coach in the Chicago area. She also writes, edits, and coaches for Ethos Debate. Anna is currently pursuing a double major in English and History, and hopes to continue teaching and writing long-term. Whether it is through editing others’ work or creating her own, teaching the tools or using them, she wants to pass on a love of speaking and writing and communicating to everyone she comes in contact with.

After Dinner Speaking with Aj and Heather Neumann

Date: Sat. Feb. 10

Time: 10:30 am CT (Approx. 1.5 hrs)

SIGN UP HERE

After Dinner Speaking is hard! How do you write a speech that is informative, impactful, and perhaps motivational, yet funny? ADS is so much more than just telling stories. Learn how to create or add depth to your After Dinner Speech. And don’t forget your delivery! We will teach you what you need to know to make your ADS shine!

Aj Neumann qualified to Nationals both years NCFCA offered After Dinner Speaking. He won Regionals, had many first places at tournaments, and in 2015 got 3rd place at The National Championship. Aj is passionate about ADS and he can’t wait to share what he has learned through his experiences.

Storytelling with Abbey Lovett

Date: Sat. Feb. 10

Time: 1:00 pm CT (Approx. 1.5 hrs)

SIGN UP HERE

In this webinar, Abbey is going to go over why storytelling is important in all styles of competitive forensics and communication. She’ll talk about the science behind storytelling, how you should use it in speeches, and how you can become a powerful storyteller. She will give you practical tips and tricks that you can take into any aspect of your life to craft powerful stories.

Abbey Lovett has been involved with competitive forensics for over eight years and has gained three national champion titles. In her time both as a speaker and a coach, she has learned that the most powerful way to communicate important ideas is through storytelling. Abbey has studied storytelling for years and is excited to share with you what she has learned.

–

All workshops will be done through Zoom, an online meeting forum.

Cost:

$5 per workshop for members of Lasting Impact!

OR

$20 per workshop

 

Analyzing After Dinner Speech (part 2) By: David Bloom

Posted on by Heather Neumann

The scene opens with Don sad and forlorn while his friend Cosmo attempts to cheer him up. Soon enough Cosmo has broken into a song and dance number so spectacularly funny, you forgot why Don was even sad in the first place. This scene of course is from “Singing In the Rain”, one of my all-time favorite movies. The song’s name is “Make Them Laugh” and details how a comedic actors job is always to make the audience laugh, despite the storyline, despite the troubles and tribulations of the real world that the movie-goer is coming from. *I strongly encourage the reader to go and watch the scene linked in the footnote right now, before proceeding with this article as I believe it essential to understanding how to create a successful After Dinner Speech.

Continue reading “Analyzing After Dinner Speech (part 2) By: David Bloom” →

Thoughts on After Dinner Speech (part 1) By: David Bloom

Posted on by Heather Neumann

It’s finally time. Months of prep work, practice and particularly late nights for Speech and Debate have all built to this singular moment of your life. To quote that stanchion of modern poetry, “He’s nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready, To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgettin’, the words he wrote down.”

​Then suddenly, in a flash, it’s all over. The awards ceremony comes, the dubiously red roses are given to the administrators of the tournament, you clap once so many times you think your hands will fall off, you bask in the steaming hot light for 12 maybe 15 seconds, smile while your eyes are assaulted with the electromagnetic waves of ionized xenon gas, say your tearful goodbyes and then pour through ballots, praising the parents who called you “Enlightened” and dismissing the ones who presented any criticism at all. That’s it. Was it worth it? Was the time and money your parents paid, worth the mediocre feeling of self-satisfaction? No, it wasn’t. Because that feeling was not what they paid for, they paid for you to learn how to be brave, how to speak despite your fears and misgivings. They paid so you could understand that hard work does pay off. More than any of that though, I think they put forth all that effort, so you could understand who you are as a person. That, in my opinion, is the greatest strength of After Dinner Speaking. It provides a platform on which the speaker can build a personal brand and entertain others while doing so.

Continue reading “Thoughts on After Dinner Speech (part 1) By: David Bloom” →

After Dinner Tips by: Abby Wright

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Abby Wright was the 2015 NCFCA National Champion speaker in After Dinner Speaking. An After Dinner Speech is an original humorous platform speech that informs, inspires and/or attempts to persuade the audience on a noteworthy topic. After a two year hiatus, NCFCA has brought ADS back. What makes this category unique, how should one go about tackling it? We have a lot to say about this topic (and we have more articles to come)! Today, Abby explores her  thought process of tackling an ADS…

Continue reading “After Dinner Tips by: Abby Wright” →

Our Take- New Speech Categories 2017-2018…..

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

Every year or two, speech leagues tend to roll out something new to keep things interesting for both students and parent judges.  This year is no exception. Today we are going to look at the two largest homeschool speech and debate leagues- Stoa and NCFCA. Heather and Kristi will take a look at these new speech events...

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