If you ever tried to take on the task of cutting a story of any length at all down to a ten-minute “cut” for presentation, you’ve tasted the difficulty of the effort. It’s HARD. The longer the story and the more you love it, the harder it is. Why is that? What makes cutting such a difficult undertaking, and how do you know when you’ve got it right?
Let's face it...the small binder required with a Biblical Thematic speech is HARD to use smoothly, creatively, and effectively! It's the reason that many skilled interpers give this event a pass. Let me challenge you to think hard about trying this event - notebook notwithstanding - for its very real academic and presentation value. To help, here are some ways to think about your binder and how it can enhance a thematic speech.
This week a friend called. She needed some ideas for her club kids who are working on platforms. They’ve discussed having a thesis. They are writing, but there is not a lot beyond that to do with those speeches during club meetings right now. Here are the ideas I shared with her to help kids build platform skills before they have a platform speech prepared:
Definition of Introduction: the thing preliminary to something else, especially in an explanation section at the beginning of a book, report, or speech. If you have read any of the going on 400 articles Lasting Impact! has wrote, I have already made it very clear I think an Introduction is super important element in your Interpretive Speeches. But one type of Intro might have a little more punch when it comes to the judges...
Humor is important in communication. Knowing how to use humor opens doors that no other skill can get through, BUT humor badly done is also worse than any other communication skill when it’s botched, so it’s awfully important to your ethos as a speaker to manage your humor well and mine all of its potential.
I love new Speech categories! The opportunity to try something new or experience something some people might not!? You don't need to be the adventurous type… just be willing to try! Don't let someone tell you, you are a debater or limited prep-type. You define who you are. Give these new speech categories a whirl. This is your time to set the bar. Be the example! Don't sit back and just watch someone else experience something you can… you be the pioneer… ready, set, GO! Let's take a look at a few of the new possibilities this season...
How many of you play by the rules? Every year, at this time, our team reads through the Speech and Debate Rules… again. We read through League Handbooks, the General Rules, the Guidelines, and whatever else pertains to making sure we fully UNDERSTAND the rules! Today we will break down some of the Interp Rules that pop out at us. I always say, “speech is real, organic, and constantly evolving.” Trends come and go. It's good that leagues look at the rules and adapt or alter them to fit the needs or desires of what they want their competitors to learn. So whether it's a new event, or perhaps a rule was just modified, our desire is to assist you on how to use the rules in unique and interesting ways, using them to the fullest - yet not crossing a line (or even getting close to it)! Staying above reproach. These rules are meant to be followed and understood. Please note, these are OUR understanding of the rules. You should always go to your league and ask for clarification, if needed.
I say “be deliberate” with any speech you are giving, but I think it’s especially important to give deliberate thought to the way you construct your digital presentation. Here’s why:
What is humor?
Humor happens in that luminous moment when two things don’t seem to be related at all, but then they come together in a way so unexpected that we laugh…or at least feel the delight of it. It’s an insight that bubbles out: we feel joy when we see the connection or “get it.” That joy often comes out as laughter – delight escaping after the mental activity of making the connection.
Every year, we get asked to help teams find an awesome Duo piece, where can they get their hands on the ultimate Open, or the perfect Humorous Interpretation… Every year my answer sounds somewhat similar, however this year I want to share what I have learned from last year. It's especially important to look at the take aways from the previous year. These are my words of advice when you are starting to look for an Interpretive Speech for this new season... What choice of literature will you choose?
During the Lasting Impact! Summer Online Intensive, we talked about how to make the most of your year in Speech and Debate. In that session, we broke down the season into stages and talked about what makes each section of the year so unique. We also talked about the importance of making goals and managing those goals well throughout the year. This isn’t something that happens on its own, it requires you to take initiative and then act with consistency and diligence. As we transition into the academic year, it is time to decide how you will incorporate speech and debate preparation, and I’m here with a few suggestions to help you manage your time well and proceed steadily onward...
This year, the ballot (at least in the NCFCA) has a specific category designated for the “impact” of the speech. I’ve actually had several parents ask about that section, and many students are also scrambling to figure out the magic formula that makes an impact. So, here are my thoughts on how you can do that in your speech as well as what you can watch for as a judge.