SPEECH CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
The MSHSL (Minnesota State High School League) sponsors competition in thirteen different categories. The speech categories are categorized into two main areas: Public Speaking and Oral Interpretation. The categories are briefly described below.
PUBLIC SPEAKING CATEGORIES:
DISCUSSION (60 Minutes)
This category is comprised of no more than eight students in a group from various speech teams working together to solve a problem or task which is assigned to them during each round. Each year a theme is selected for the category in which tasks will be created for the group to discuss and obtain a consensus solution. A mixture of cooperative attitude, critical thinking skills, honest respect for the opinions of others, and a robust foundation of knowledge about the subject and theme are essential for student success in this category. A judge listens to the discussion and judges each member on knowledge of the task or problem, group contribution and interaction, and listening skills.
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING (7 Minutes)
This category is for the speakers who appreciate being knowledgeable on current events in national or international news. The Extemporaneous Speech should be an original combination of current fact and opinion on a topic drawn by the speaker. This is a draw category and thirty (30) minutes before the round begins, the first reader shall draw three cuttings. The speaker will have thirty minutes to prepare their 7-minute speech which answers the question.
The speech is prepared alone, the speaker may consult published books, magazines, newspapers and journals and online sources. A judge should consider the quality of information presented by the speaker, together with the speaker's use of information to support the thesis. Questions shall require persuasive rather than informative speeches.
GREAT SPEECHES (10 Minutes)
This category allows a speaker to deliver a speech about a single speech, or an anthology of speeches related by common theme, author, or some other element. The speaker’s analysis should convey the delight, edification, and challenge of contemporary or historical public address. A minimum of 25% of the presentation must be the speaker's own material. Judging should be on the general effectiveness of the speaker's interaction with the audience to share the greatness of the speech. The Judge's primary attention should be on the participant's judgment in choosing and editing the material, sensitivity to the author's ideas and purpose, and, especially, the speaker's analysis of historical potential, and/or rhetorical importance of the speech.
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING (10 Minutes)
This category allows the speaker to present information which the audience may or may not possess and the speaker believes to be important for the audience. The speaker presents an original informative composition in which the judge should consider quality of thought, research, and composition, as well as delivery of the topic.
ORIGINAL ORATORY (10 Minutes)
This category allows a speaker to present their own PERSUASIVE composition. Since these speeches have been written by the speaker, the judge should consider the high quality of thought and composition, as well as communicative delivery. All materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be documented orally and in the written text. The orator should not be expected to solve any of the great problems of the day but must offer some insight and guidance. The speaker should be expected to speak intelligently and with a degree of originality about the message chosen.
ORAL INTERPRETATION CATEGORIES:
CREATIVE EXPRESSION (10 Minutes)
This category is the performance of material written by the speaker. The objective is to encourage creativity in both writing and performance, through a variety of genre and performance styles. The mood may be serious, humorous, or both.
DUO INTERPRETATION (10 Minutes)
This category features two speakers interpreting together one or more selections from a single published source or a single anthology of prose, poetry, and/or dramatic literature, serious and/or humorous, with literary merit and appropriate to the readers.
EXTEMPORANEOUS READING (7 Minutes)
This category allows a speaker to introduce and read excerpts from prose or poetry for the purpose of appreciation or enjoyment. Specific sources for reading will be announced in the fall of each year. The speaker will declare, prior to each draw, the choice of genre. This is a draw category and thirty (30) minutes before the round begins, the first reader shall draw three cuttings. The speaker will have thirty minutes to prepare their reading selection.
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION (10 Minutes)
This category features a speaker interpreting a selection from published literature with the intent to amuse, give enjoyment, or create laughter. The speaker must select material from a published source, either prose, poetry, or dramatic literature. The speaker should be judged on ability to get and give meaning through the use of vocal and bodily expression. Poise, vocal and physical delivery, and appropriateness of the selection to the interpreter should be considered.
SERIOUS DRAMA INTERPRETATION (10 Minutes)
This category features a speaker uses any published selection of dramatic literature (plays, radio plays, television plays, or screenplays) with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The term "dramatic" here refers to the genre of the literature and does not include prose or poetry which is serious. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious. The speaker should be judged on ability to get and give meaning through the use of vocal and bodily expression. Poise, vocal and physical delivery, and appropriateness of the selection to the interpreter should be considered.
SERIOUS POETRY INTERPRETATION (10 Minutes)
This category features a speaker performing a selection or selections of published poetry. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious. Selections for poetry may include one poem or several clearly identified poems. Published poetry selections include novels in verse, with literary merit and appropriate to the reader. The speaker should be judged on ability to get and give meaning through the use of vocal and bodily expression. Poise, vocal and physical delivery, and appropriateness of the selection to the interpreter should be considered.
SERIOUS PROSE INTERPRETATION (10 Minutes)
This category features a speaker performing a selection of published prose. The mood of the cutting must be essentially serious. Selections for prose may be any published selection of prose, fiction, or nonfiction. The speaker should be judged on ability to get and give meaning through the use of vocal and bodily expression. Poise, vocal and physical delivery, and appropriateness of the selection to the interpreter should be considered.
STORYTELLING (7 Minutes)
This category is to allow speakers to recreate a familiar story extemporaneously and maintain the story’s mood and format. The speaker must not add subplots or make revisions to the story’s actual events which change the original plot or violate the story's style, intent, and mood. Because this is not a recitation, the speaker will be judged on the ability to recreate the story in their own words, with emphasis on a direct conversational style and spontaneous bodily action. A selection of stories will be announced in the fall of each year. This is a draw category and thirty (30) minutes before the round begins, the first reader shall draw three cuttings. The speaker will have thirty minutes to prepare their story selection.