FEA Conference - Public Speaking Individual Competition
Overview
In this individual competition, students will write and deliver a 2-3 minute memorized speech on the assigned prompt. Only one entry per chapter will be considered.
Guidelines
- The speech should directly relate to the assigned prompt.
- The speech should run between 2-3 minutes when delivered on the competition day.
- Students will electronically submit a typed version of the speech on MS Word by the assigned competition deadline. The speech should be in Times New Roman, 12-pt. font, double-spaced. Provide a title for the speech and include the student name and school.
- Students must bring 2 printed copies of their speeches on competition day to hand to the judges.
- Students may bring notecards to the competition as they present their speeches, but the speeches should be obviously rehearsed.
- Students will present their speeches during one of the two breakout sessions. Sponsors will receive the schedule ahead of time.
- Students should wear professional attire while delivering the speech.
- Any speech that is plagiarized or has plagiarized elements will be automatically disqualified from the competition.
- The top three winners will be announced at the conference closing session.
Students, please read the following prompt that you should address as you craft your speech for the Public Speaking competition.
Topic: Sharing the Good in Public Education
In recent years, media coverage often focuses on what’s going wrong in public education rather than showing all the positive things happening in schools. In 2023, National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson’s platform focused on encouraging classroom teachers to celebrate their profession. Peterson said, “I’ve been telling teachers that we’re the ones in the classroom. We shouldn’t be allowing other people to direct that narrative because we’re the ones on the ground.”
Write and deliver a speech in which you discuss the importance of sharing the good things that happen in schools and classrooms every day. Think about how both teachers and students can influence the narrative of public education, as well as how teachers and students can share the good without minimizing or negating the challenges teachers face.
Make sure your speech includes your own personal, specific experiences that illustrate the power of sharing the good in public education.
九色视频 Public Speaking Rubric
| Category | Accomplished - 4 points | Commendable - 3 points | Developing - 2 points | Needs Improvement - 1 point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insight | The content of the highly focused speech reflects deep understanding and keen insight into a major public education issue. | The content of the generally focused speech reflects understanding and insight into a major public education issue. | The content of the speech is somewhat focused with uneven understanding and insight into a major public education issue. | The content of the speech is inconsistently focused and ideas are not fully developed. |
| Structure | The speech’s structure reflects a professional command of how to build and deliver a powerful message. The structure is strategically developed to move the listener. | The speech’s structure reflects an adequate command of how to build and deliver a powerful message. The speech is structured to develop a compelling message. | The speech’s structure reflects a weak command of how to build and deliver a powerful message. The structure may be traditional or weak in one or more areas. | The speech’s structure reflects an attempt to address the topic, but the structure is basic or ineffective. It is missing necessary structural components. |
| Presence | The speaker’s effective posture, professional demeanor, and sustained eye contact complement the substance of the speech to deliver maximum possible impact to the listener. | The speaker’s positive posture, pleasant demeanor, and adequately sustained eye contact complement the substance of the speech quite well. With further practice, the speaker could develop into an accomplished public speaker. | The speaker’s posture, demeanor, and inconsistent eye contact reflect a straightforward recital of the material. More rehearsal of the speech is needed for more of an impact on the listener. | The speaker’s posture, demeanor, and eye contact could benefit from more practice and coaching so that the speaker’s presence consistently complements the content. |
| Vocal Delivery of Speech | Clarity of voice, sustained volume, pacing, and tone inflection are expertly crafted to deliver to the listener maximum impact and understanding. | Clarity of voice, adequate volume, pacing, and tone inflection are strong. The listener is able to understand what the speaker is conveying. | Clarity of voice, volume, pacing, and tone inflection are straightforward. The listener is able to understand, but the impact would be increased with a more dynamic vocal delivery. | Clarity of voice, volume, pacing, and tone inflection are inconsistent during the speech. At times, the vocal delivery distracts from the content of the speech and diminishes its potential impact. |
| Overall Impact | The content and delivery blend seamlessly to craft an exceptional experience. | The content and delivery work to offer a commendable speech. | The speech reflects a developing effort to engage in public speaking on important issues. | The speech requires significantly more work. Delivery and content would benefit from guided practice. |
| Length | Award 4 points if the speech lasts between 2-3 minutes. | Award 0 points if the speech lasts less than 2 minutes or longer than 3 minutes. | ||