Coaches

Head Coach:  Ken Carter (kcarter@bcsd5.org)

Assistant Coach:  Tammy Carter (tcarter@bcsd5.org)

Assistant Coach:  Lorie Rude (lrude@bcsd5.org)

Speech Information- Questions and Facts

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SPEECH, DEBATE,  AND DRAMA TEAM (BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK)

 What is Speech, Debate, and Drama/Group Interpretation Team?

• Speech and Drama Team is an IHSA interscholastic activity. 

  1. It involves students in individual and team speech and theater activities, including the thirteen Individual Events and three “group” events.

  2. It focuses on pursuing excellence in many aspects of acting, interpretation, and public speaking.

  3. Competition involves attending tournaments across the state, from Chicago to Carbondale (and many exotic and exciting places in between.)

• Who can become a member?

  1. Anyone has the potential to become a member who has talent in acting, interpretation, or public speaking; however, you must be willing to work to refine your talents.

  2. You must be able to work well with others and to support members of your team.  

  3. Academic eligibility must be maintained.  (You must remain eligible—according to Glenwood High School and IHSA’s standards, passing at least 5 classes and having at least a 1.75 GPA on an unweighted scale. Nationals and Districts have more stringent eligibility requirements.)

  4. Must be enrolled at Glenwood High School for the academic year.  

• Do we have Try-Outs?

• A competitor may challenge any competitor who does not have varsity points for a spot on the away team.  (This is done in front of the coaches, and this must be arranged two weeks before the next contest.)

  1. If a competitor has earned varsity points, they cannot be challenged by a member without points.

  2. The amount of varsity points earned will determine the Regional team roster, provided the competitor is eligible and an active member.

• The speech team does not have tryouts, but it does have a mock meet to determine who will go to the first meet and in which “seat” a competitor will be placed.  (For SISAL tournaments, we are allowed to send five entries per event.  At non SISAL tournaments, we are allowed to send two entries per event.  At the IHSA finals, we are allowed to send only one entry per event to Regionals, and then these competitors must place well to advance to the next level of competition.)  (Debate is a new and different set of events.  We will establish how the team will be determined at a later date.  So far, it has been through coach invitation only.  We reserve the right to make this decision.   The subheadings below are for ie events, not debate.)

  1. Tryouts will occur for Performance in the Round, Contest Play, and Group Interpretation. (This will be in December or January.)

• How many people can be on the team?

  1. We are usually flexible in terms of how many people may be on the team.   

  2. Typically, we have approximately 20 varsity members and 15-20 novice (1st year members in non SISAL tournaments, and 1st year members or 2ND year sophomores at SISAL tournaments)

  3. In most tournaments, we take 36-48 entries (usually 30+ students; some compete in more than one event).    

  4. We encourage competitors to compete in two events to ensure a placement on the away team, and we also encourage competitors not to participate only in duet scenes.  This means you are not forced to “quit” if your partner and you cannot or choose not to work together.

• When are practices?

  1. Speech and debate practices occur every day after school in room 166.  Note:  We do not assign days for practice, but students should practice twice a week at school to be critiqued.  Even though students are asked to practice twice a week at school; they are expected to practice on their own prior to being officially critiqued.  (These are only minimum requirements.)  Contest Play/ Group Interpretation/ PIR practices are everyday during the months of January through March.  See director practice schedules for further clarification.  

• What is the speech boosters?  Do my parents have to join the boosters to be on the team?

  1. The speech boosters is an organization that helps raise funds for the speech team and assists the coaches in running tournaments, programs, and ceremonies.  (The school district pays for entry fees, judges fees, and transportation issues.   The booster club pays for overnight stays, stopwatches, awards, and other general supplies.)

  2. All competitors are expected to have their family join the speech boosters for $20.  This is an annual fee.

  3. All competitors are expected to join the National Speech and Debate Association for $20.  This is a one time fee.

  4. If the competitors want to stay at an overnight competition, they need to participate in the fundraising events.

  5. Dates for the speech booster meetings will be determined later.  This information will be sent to the homes of all competitors.

  6. Fundraising requirements:  The competitors are required to raise $250 dollars to attend WKU, and the amount needed to raise for Nationals is to be determined later.  

• What events are there?

  1. Dramatic Duet Acting (DDA) involves two people working together on a serious cutting (excerpt) from a play.   It requires memorization of lines, planning of movement (blocking), and presentation of an introduction that “sets the mood” for the piece and provides the audience with necessary background and character information, as well as the title and author of the play.  You may use a table and two chairs as “props.”  The performance should be six to eight minutes long.

  2. Dramatic Interpretation (DI) involves one person memorizing the parts for two or more characters in a serious play.  (Or it may be a monologue.)  Typically, you perform from a stationary position.  (You don’t walk around.)  You use “focal points,” which are imaginary points on the back wall which represent each character to another.  You also change voices, gestures, posture, etc. for each character.  An introduction is required, in which you tell the author and title of the play, as well as who your characters are and what has happened up to this point (or what is about to happen in the scene.) The total performance should be six to eight minutes in length.

  3. Extemporaneous Speaking (Extemp) involves keeping a “file” of up-to-date magazine and newspaper articles on major events in Illinois, the United States, and around the world.  At the competition, you draw three topics at random and then choose one; then you write a speech on that topic in 30 minutes.  You then present the speech from note cards (not more than two or three).  (You may also memorize speeches if you have a great memory, or you have done lots of Extemp speeches.)  These are persuasive speeches which include your stating and supporting your opinion about the topic selected.  The actual speech should be 5-7 minutes in length.  (When you first start this event, your speeches may be considerably shorter.  Keep reading current events and making practice speeches. )  This is a research intensive event.

  4. Humorous Duet Acting (HDA) involves two people working together on a funny excerpt (cutting) from a play.  It requires memorization of lines, blocking, and an appropriate introduction.  (See DDA for specifics about the intro.)  You may also use a table and two chairs for this event.  It should be 6 to 8 minutes long.  Your goal is to make the audience laugh and/ or enjoy your performance.  

  5. Humorous Interpretation (HI) involves one person memorizing the parts for two or more characters in a funny section from a play.  (Or, it may be a monologue.)  You portray all characters using focal points, gestures, postures, etc. (See info. In DI; the same basic rules apply for both DI and HI in terms of your body and the presentation of an introduction.)  This should be 6 to 8 minutes long.

  6.  Impromptu Speaking involves presenting an original speech on a topic, which is chosen from words and phrases, proverbs, and quotations.  You have a total of eight minutes to prepare and present the speech; you may only use a note card and pen/ pencil.  No other resources may be used.  The speech should show good analysis, structure, and development.  Emphasis is placed on creativity of your approach to the topic, as well as how you develop/ support your ideas.  It may blend humorous and serious elements.  

  7. Informative Speaking involves writing, memorizing, and presenting a 6 to 8 minute original informative speech on a current topic that is significant enough to warrant further explanation or definition.  It needs to contain outside research and oral footnotes.  

  8. Oratory (OO) involves writing, memorizing, and presenting a 6 to 8 minute original persuasive speech on a current topic about which you have strong feelings.  In early tournaments, you may use note cards, but you will do better if it is memorized.  The speech should follow a basic problem-solution format, and it should include several source citations that help to give your ideas support.  Most sources should be from the past two years.  Delivery should be lively and enthusiastic.  

  9. Oratorical Declamation (Dec or OD) involves memorizing a 6 to 8 minute excerpt from a published speech written by someone else.  It may be serious or entertaining, but it should have an important message or “inspirational” value.  You may move and gesture as much as you feel is appropriate.  Standard guidelines for the body and voice in public speaking are followed in this event.  It requires an introduction that tells the author and title, as well as any other significant information that would help your listeners understand and/ or appreciate the speech.  

  10. Original Comedy (OC) involves writing, memorizing, and presenting a 6 to 8 minute humorous speech.  It must be original, and it should have a clear “storyline” or “theme” which ties the performance together logically.  (“Stand-up routines don’t usually do well in competition.) You may portray a variety of characters, and you may move gesture, and change your voice as much as you feel is appropriate.  Don’t be afraid to try new and bizarre ideas; some of these turn out to be great.  Always be sure that your humor is in good taste and that it is not offensive.  

  11. Prose Reading (Prose) involves choosing one short story or excerpt from a novel and putting it into a folder (usually smaller than the standard size folders) from which you will read the story.  This is not to be memorized, but you should be familiar enough with the story to establish good eye contact with your audience.  The story should have an introduction that includes the author and title, as well as any other important information which would help to prepare the audience to listen to this piece.  The story should be 6 to 8 minutes in length.  The introduction should be memorized.  Gestures, posture, and facial expressions should be used extensively, but you must perform from a stationary position.  (No walking around is allowed in this event.)

  12. Radio Speaking involves writing a 5 minute newscast (including a commercial) from stories taken from radio or newspapers.  For the actual tournaments, the news must be no more than 24 hours old.  Stories are organized according to their geographic location (international, national, state) and special areas of interest (sports and weather).  These stories are taped into a manila folder, along with transitions and headlines, and you read the stories from this folder.  At most contests, you will read the stories into a microphone, and your audience will listen in an adjacent room.  Emphasis should be placed on voice quality, diction, energy, and variety inflection.  

  13. Special Occasion Speaking (SOS) involves writing an entertaining speech (6 to 8 minutes long) in which you are yourself addressing a real group on a realistic topic or situation.  The speech should have a serious message, but the message should also be emphasized through humorous examples.  The speech should be memorized, but note cards may be used at tournaments early in the season. Emphasis should be on a speech that is well-written and delivery that is enthusiastic.   Gestures, movement, eye contact, etc. are important.  

  14. Poetry Reading involves reading poems.  You need to have one program which consists of one long poem (6 to 8 minutes) or several short poems tied together by a central theme or common author.  The poem or poems should be placed in a small folder and read during the performance.  Like Prose, Verse requires good eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures; no walking is allowed.  Introductions are needed for each poem, including the author, title, and other important information.  

  15. DUO (10 min):  two actors/ actresses bring multiple characters, story lines together within a confined space.  The piece is a two-person interpretation brought to life. Merge DI, HI, and prose.

  16. Congressional Debate: A simulation of the U.S. legislative process, students generate a series of bills and resolutions for debate in Congressional Debate. Debaters alternate delivering speeches for and against the topic in a group setting. An elected student serves as a presiding officer to ensure debate flows smoothly. Students are assessed on their research, argumentation, and delivery skills, as well as their knowledge and use of parliamentary procedure.  This is a research intensive event.  

  17. Lincoln Douglas Debate:  In this one-on-one format, students debate a topic provided by the National Speech & Debate Association. Topics range from individual freedom versus the collective good to economic development versus environmental protection. Students may consult evidence gathered prior to the debate but may not use the internet in round. An entire debate is roughly 45 minutes and consists of constructive speeches, rebuttals, and cross-examination.  This is a research intensive event.  

Speech and Drama Team 

Practice Rules, Guidelines, and Etiquette

1.  Start by being on time!  Most practices begin at 3:20; coaches should not wait for you to eat and talk to your friends before starting practice sessions.    

2. When you are at practice, you are to be doing one of three things:

   1. Practicing your events 

   2. Watching, evaluating, or helping someone else.

   3. Helping someone with writing/ rewriting material, helping to file and/ or collate scripts, making signs as needed, etc.  

3. You should stay in your assigned area.  You should not be in the cafeteria or any other rooms throughout the building unless your coach has given you permission to do so. 

4. Be sure to put all rooms/ areas back in order when you are finished practicing!  This includes picking up any paper, candy wrappers, etc.  It is very important that we keep all of the practice areas neat/ clean; otherwise, we may not be allowed to use them!

5. If you are not doing what you are supposed to do, you will be told to go home.  

6. Don’t keep others from practicing by excessive talking, creating distractions, etc.  Remember:  It is rude to walk in or create distractions when someone is performing!      

7. Let’s really make all of our practice time count.  Be here on time and be prepared to practice. 

8. The coaches will work with as many students as possible per day; each time slot is scheduled to be 20-25 minutes.  Please be on time so that you can use all of your allotted time.  Each day, each coach will be able to see approximately 5-7 performers.  Varsity Team Members will receive priority, and they will be asked to fulfill their duties as Varsity Mentors by working with Novice members.  We need the Varsity Members to work with Novices so that the coaches can find enough time to work with all of the Varsity Team, as well as with some of the Novices.  

Let’s have a great season and use our practice time to the max.  Together, we are awesome!