Category: How to Prepare

Impromptu – Storytelling (part 2) By: Kaitlyn Butts

Posted on by Heather Neumann

“Once Upon a Time:” Storytelling, Impromptu, and Human Interaction

Once you’ve caught the vision and built a system, it’s time to develop a confident and persuasive impromptu style. It’s quite likely that if you’re just getting started with impromptu, you’re also new to the very idea of delivering speeches. The good news is that impromptu is the best way to improve your vocal and physical delivery. Storytelling is the powerful key in speech and debate that will simultaneously unlock your impromptu potential in four ways…

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Impromptu- Mind Mapping (part 1) By: Kaitlyn Butts

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Impromptu Intimidation ​

Impromptu strikes fear into the heart of almost every speech and debate competitor when they begin their speech journey. I remember being handed a slip of paper with the word “joy” on it one day in speech club when I was twelve years old. After two minutes of preparation time, I stood in front of my peers and mumbled about how joy was different than happiness for approximately thirty seconds. Sound familiar?

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Novices- Where to Start in Speech and Debate – part 2

Posted on by Heather Neumann

In the last article, we analyzed where novices could/should start in Speech and Debate, in general. That included debate, as well as the type of speeches - Platform, Interp, and Limited Prep. Today we are going to look at the specific categories of speeches offered in different leagues, because I often get asked the question, "what speech event should my novice/beginning student do?"

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Novices- Where to Start in Speech and Debate – part 1

Posted on by Heather Neumann

I am sure if you were to ask ten different Speech and Debate Coaches what type of Speech or Debate is good to do for a beginning student, you might get ten different answers. Of course each and every senerio is going to be unique and so here are some of my thoughts when encouraging new students to start Speech and Debate…

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Oh, Look at the Time! The Importance of Time Management

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Congratulations, you’ve made it through another season of speech and debate. But the next season is looming on the horizon. Yep, that’s right. It’s already time to start this fun, educational, and sleep-depriving adventure all over again. But we aren’t going in empty handed, no we are not. If there was one thing speech and debate has taught me (and taught me the hard way) it’s that time-management can take any big task and turn it into a small one. I want to help you get a kick start on your season by utilizing the very effective skill of...Time Management!

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What?! Speech All Year Long?!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

People have asked me- “how did your kids become so successful?” They assume I have a degree in theater, they think my kids are all “naturally gifted”, or they think we just happened to stumble on the perfect piece. The fact of the matter is, my kids put a lot of time into Speech… We all do! Speech is a team effort in my home. Speech and Debate is a year long event.

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National Championship: Arrive in the Right Frame of Mind

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

I've traveled with groups of teenagers to many an outing, school trip, or competition.  One of the most important things I've learned about getting there with some mental margin and physical peace is to lay out a very deliberate approach plan.  This is one that worked really well with a special group of six kids I traveled with one year.  We set aside the ten days prior to our departure and we were deliberate about performing that day's tasks.  Here's what the task list looked like:

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Daily Practice Makes a Difference

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

No one really believes me when I tell them that the way to really move your speeches to the next level is to practice every single day.  They believe that daily homework is the best way to move along in math.  They believe that daily music practice is the best way to master technique.  They believe that daily meals together are the best way to keep the family on the same page.  They believe in daily hygiene, daily Bible reading, and daily chores.  But they only bring their speeches out when the pressure is on to polish them up for competition….

So, what is it that happens in the “daily” approach that is so wonderful?  It comes down to ‘macro’ and ‘micro’ type distinctions.

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Making Public Speaking “E-C”

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Effective public speakers use C’s and E’s whether they know it or not. And I'm not just talking about the letters!! Here is a reminder to help make public speaking  "E-C". Here is my criteria when processing whether to it was a "good speech" or still needs some work. Here is what I look for...

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