Individual Speech Categories
Public Address
A Student presents another author's work that argues, persuades, moves, or attempts to convey an understanding of the human experience. While a note card may be used, the student is required to memorize the six to eight-minute speech.
Acting
The presentation of either a humorous and/or dramatic monologue(s), students bring a character to life through the use of their body and a chair. While the piece may be original, it must be memorized.
Spontaneous Speaking
Encouraging students to take a stand on a contemporary situation, Spontaneous Speaking asks students to make a short, impromptu speech on an issue currently facing society.
Interpretive Poetry/Prose
Students present a selection(s) of prose or poems, utilizing their voice and facial expressions to convey the meaning and mood of the piece. No movement or memorization is required in this category as the students are required to stand and read from a manuscript.
Solo Musical Theatre
Students present a singular song from a musical. With the same restraints as Acting, students must bring Broadway to Iowa with only themselves and a chair.
Literary Program
Bringing poetry and prose into the same category, students must create a program for poetry and prose that unites under a common theme. The performance requirements are similar to those of Interpretive Poetry/Prose.
Original Oratory
Students create an original inspired or informative speech and perform it memorized.
Radio News Announcing
Unlike its Large Group Speech equivalent, Radio News Announcing in Individual Speech is done live with students receiving the materials thirty minutes before. It is up to the student to arrange and edit a series of stories and a commercial to create a four to five minute newscast.
Improvisational Acting
Harboring some differences from its Large Group cousin, Improvisational Acting gives the students both characters and a situation to build an original story/skit in five minutes.
Expository Address
One of the only categories to utilize visual aids and costuming, Expository Address asks the student to inform the audience about a topic that interest them. Students are allowed the use of visual aids and may dress to match the theme of the speech.
Storytelling
Students are to bring a story of their choosing to life from atop a stool. Focusing on the use of voices, facial expressions, and gestures, students are expected to have this short, five minute, piece memorized.
After Dinner Speaking
Students are to present an original speech to a particular audience, as if they were giving the keynote address at a dinner function of an organization. The speech and the orgainzation addressed may be as zany and imaginative as the student desires it to be, but the work must be original and memorized.
Review
Utilizing a book, movie, television show, drama work, or any combination of the like, students are encouraged to give a detailed analysis of the chosen material that would inform the audience more so than the average viewer seeing it the first time. Students may use visual aids and a note card, but may not costume.