Eight-Minute Speech

Judge Instructions

For the judge:

The judges shall not confer with anyone to decide the rankings of a student.  Rather, each judge shall render a separate and individual opinion. Judges shall be asked not to make evaluative remarks to individual students during the rounds. Any student who is rude or who argues with a judge may be reported to his/her coach for a reprimand.  If the situation is serious, the student may be barred from further competition, or from awards. The decision of the judge regarding the ranking of the contestant is final. Judges may not ask where the students are from.

Eight-Minute Speech: A speech in the four-minute contest may be either INFORMATIVE or PERSUASIVE in purpose.  The speech is to be written by the student who presents it.

            The Eight‑minute speech may be presented from memory or extemporaneously.  Notes limited to two 5 x 8 card (1 side only) for print users or one full 8.5 x 11 sheet (1 side only) of braille paper for braille users may be used.

            Properties or visual materials may not be used in presenting an Eight -minute speech.

            This is a contest in speech rather than in essay writing.  Emphasis should be placed on speech presentation. The judge will use the Eight-Minute Speech Judges Sheet to score each participant.

            At the end of each round, judges are to determine which participant comes in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th place. No 2 students can have the same ranking.      

*After the timer gives the bell ringing instructions, the judge will ask that everyone take their seats and then advise the participant that they may begin.

Eight-Minute Speech

Timer Instructions

For timer:

Close the door. (Physical or virtual depending on location)

Explain to the participant that you are going to ring the bell once @ 7:30, ring the bell twice @ 8:00, and ask the participant to stop @ 9:31. Confirm that the participant can hear the bell or ‘Ding” in virtual events).

Start the clock with the first word that the participant says.

Ring the bell once @ 7:30. (Virtual events require the timer to say, “Ding.”)

Ring the bell twice @ 8:00. (Virtual events require the timer to say, “Ding, ding.”)

Ask the participant to stop @ 9:31.

Announce the time after the speech for everyone to hear, and make sure that the judge records the time on the judge’s sheet.

Open the door of the presentation room between contestants and check off who has finished.  This will assist coaches and visitors.

Eight-Minute Speech

Judges Sheet

School Code_______             Student Name______________________

Round (Circle one) 1 2 3        Points _____________

Time______________

Place   (Circle one) 1^st   2^nd   3^rd   4^th   5^th   6^th      

Topic______________

Type of speech (Circle one): Informative or Persuasive 

Was speech memorized?  (Circle one): Yes or no. Were notes used appropriately? (Circle one): Yes or no.

   Note: If speech is read in its entirety, the speaker is disqualified.

DIRECTIONS:  Place a number which best represents your response to the question in the blank.  (Please note that this point scale is to help judges determine final placement of participants)

The value scale is: 

1-Below average, 2-Average, 3-Good, 4-Very Good, and 5-Excellent. Half points may be used.

Introduction (Does speaker clearly identify topic and purpose of speech) ______

Speaker’s Pose (includes eye contact and body language) ______

Speaker’s Delivery Style_____

Speaker’s ability to stick to topic______

Speaker’s ability to develop a logical flow______

Speaker’s ability to convey a point of view_______

Total number of points _____

Comments:

Judges Signature____________________________________________