Hey there, fellow speech enthusiasts! Ahoy! You might be wondering why I sound like a sailor navigating the high seas. Well, embarking on your speech journey in Speech and Debate is not so different from setting sail. And one of the places we can find ourselves lost in the sea is when we are asked to choose a topic! So how do you find the perfect wind to carry your ship (or in this case, your speech) forward…
Continue reading “Navigating the Sea of Speech Topics”
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…
If you’re like most competitors, you probably have an Original Oratory. It’s a nice, broad, Platform category, with few requirements and straightforward rules. There’s just one problem….
There are approximately 9,746,223 Original Oratories in multiple Speech Leagues right now. While exact numbers may vary, experts all agree that the number of Original Oratories is enormous. How can you stand out in that sea of business attire?
Of course, you want to do your best and sharpen your skills and become an excellent platform speaker. But there’s another route you can take: you can turn your OO into an IO (or Expository).
This is definitely the road less traveled. Competitors are intimidated by the level of complexity seen in Nats Class IOs. They’re daunted by the level of effort and materials that may be required. And they’re unsure of their ability to produce the creative content that seems necessary.
I won’t sugar coat it. You do have to invest time and effort to get an IO off the ground. But that investment pays off. An IO is one of the most rewarding speeches you can do. And if you already have an OO written, then you’re off to a great start. Still not convinced? Here are some tips to jumpstart the process.
1. Start with a rough draft. Just like any other speech, you don’t go straight for the finished product. Your boards will evolve over time, as ideas and concepts take shape. Typically, I start planning my boards by sketching outlines—really messy pencil scribblings that show general placements for objects, pictures, etc.
2. Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you have an idea you want to try, try it. If you have no idea where to begin, start cutting up random scraps of paper. It’s like brainstorming for your hands instead of words. You may see a certain color combination, or a shape, or an object, and suddenly it sparks an idea that you want to pursue.
3. Don’t feel like you have to make every board a creative masterpiece. Everyone has a different style. Not all IOers are painters and sculptors, you know. Some are businessmen or lawyers or philosophers or equestrians or scientists or mathematicians. Each one brings a unique feel to their boards, and their style is reflected on what they choose to display. If you’re panicking because you can’t even draw a stick figure, take heart. You can just not draw stick figures on your boards. It’ll be fine. ?
If you want to hear more about the ‘how-tos’ of IO, tune in to the workshop this Friday, February 9th at 1:00 CST. We’ll go into way more depth on each of these concepts, and cover a slew of practical tips like what materials to use, how to generate ideas, and how to implement those ideas. If you’re just curious about what an IO is, or you’ve always wanted to do one but never knew where to start, or if you have an IO already made and just want some ideas to spice it up, you’ll benefit from this workshop. Hope to see you there!
CLICK HERE for more info. on the IO/Expos. Workshop. Other workshops this week include- Storytelling with Abbey Lovett, Fantastic Characters with Heather Neumann, and After Dinner Speaking with AJ and Heather Neumann.
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photo by: Julieanne Photography
Many families new to competitive speech have asked, "What is Original Oratory?" Multiple leagues have OO as a category, and it is a popular choice! Many families seasoned in competitive speech have wondered what on earth to do with/in/for that speech category since it isn't persuasive, biographical, or illustrated. Everyone is trying to figure out the formula as we approach those first tournaments...
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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