SPEECH
CHALLENGE
HANDBOOK
Students in Grades 3 through 8
Carl Sandburg Middle School
Saturday, April 8, 2017
9 a.m. – 12 noon
Sponsored by Project Challenge
MUNDELEIN SCHOOL DISTRICT 75
SPEECH CHALLENGE 2017
Overview
Speech Challenge is an oration competition in Mundelein District 75 in which students present original
and/or selected (published) work for judges. Students may perform more than one speech and will
receive scores and ratings for each performance/presentation. Speech Challenge will take place on
Saturday, April 8, 2017 at CSMS between 9 a.m. and 12 noon.
There are two presentation sessions: 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. An awards ceremony begins at 11:15 a.m. If
there is a preference for a particular time due to other commitments, please indicate this on the Speech
Challenge Information Sheet (attached). Requests will be honored, if possible. Time and room
assignments will be sent through school mail during the first week of April.
Students must identify their own coach. A coach needs to be someone who can meet with the student
at least six sessions prior to the competition. Parents, teachers, other staff members in District 75,
relatives, friends and neighbors make excellent coaches.
Students will be assessed based on the criteria listed in this handbook; a judging rubric is provided at
the end of this handbook for review. Students and coaches should study the rubric carefully, and the
criteria addressed during practice sessions.
Participating students must complete and return the Speech Challenge Information Sheet by Wednesday,
March 22, 2017.
Presentation time and room assignment information will be sent through school mail the first week of
April. Time and room assignments will also be posted at CSMS on the day of Speech Challenge.
Speech Selection & Categories
Speech selections may be dramatic (serious) or humorous in nature. Students may write their own
speech/presentation, collaborate with an adult on an original piece, find an appropriate reading on their
own or select from published works that have been collected by teachers. Students may present alone
(solo), as part of a duet and/or as part of a trio. Groups larger than three are not permitted.
Students must create or select work from the following four categories:
1. Poetry: One long or several short selections revolving around a central theme.
2. Monologue: A long speech or collection of several short speeches by one character, most often
expressing their mental thoughts aloud or conversing with one or more characters. Monologues
are most often found in dramatic plays – a singular long monologue or several short
monologues by a central character from one play may be used.
3. Interpretation (“Interp”): Students present material that includes two or more character
dialogues. Student should use different voices, body movements and facial expressions for
each character.
4. Duet/Trio: A selection from a play, skit, prose or poetry in which each student portrays one
character and interacts with other presenters. Students may speak to characters off stage, if
necessary.
Speech Length
For students in grades 3 and 4, presentations must last between two and four minutes.
For students in grades 5 through 8, presentations must be four to seven minutes in length.
Mundelein School District 75 • 470 N. Lake Street, Mundelein, IL 60060 • Speech Challenge
Evaluation & Ratings
Students’ presentations will be assessed on the following criteria:
1. General Interpretation: Overall understanding of the selection;
2. Communication with the Audience: Communicates the feeling/emotion of the selection to the
judge/audience;
3. Vocal Expression: Proper tone, good volume, appropriate tempo/pauses/inflection to the
selection;
4. Physical & Facial Expression: Poise, self-confidence, appropriate stance and body
placement/movement (i.e. no fidgeting, swaying), and appropriate facial expression for
selection;
5. Enunciation: Proper diction, correct pronunciation of words, clear speech;
6. Fluency: Smooth, easy flow of speech in thoughts/phrases/ideas (not separate lines/words);
7. Memorization: Completes selection without prompting or inappropriate/extended pauses;
8. Character Interaction (for duets/trios only): Establishes and maintains character, characters
interact appropriately, and situations come to life.
Judges will award points to each student in each criteria area based on the strength of the presentation.
If a student is significantly under or over the allotted time, a point may be subtracted. Points from each
criterion will be added to determine a final rating. Ratings of Level I (Gold) or Level II (Silver) will be
given based on the total number of points earned in a speech performance. Special recognition will be
given to top scorers in each grade level.
Guidelines & Recommendations
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Selections must be memorized. A student may have a prompter but if prompting is necessary,
the student’s score will be adjusted accordingly. A prompter should sit near the front of the
room and try to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Students should introduce themselves, providing the judge(s) with their name and their grade
level. They should also provide the name of their selection, the name of the author (if known),
and share whether he/she will be performing a dramatic (serious) or humorous piece. Timing of
the speech will begin after the introduction.
Students may use very simple props, as appropriate to the selection. A prop may be a small
item like a hat or glasses; it may also be a small hand-held item like a wand. Students should
not come in costume. Duets and trios may dress alike or may choose to dress differently if they
are portraying different characters.
A student may not present the same selection as in a previous year.
Students are judged on their individual presentation and based on the criteria outlined above.
Students are given individual ratings and are not in competition with each other.
Participants should arrive 5 minutes before the start of the respective presentation hour. Please
use the CSMS parking lot off California Ave. Late participants/guests will be accommodated,
only if possible.
Students and their guests are expected to remain in the presentation room for the complete
round until all participants during the assigned hour have had an opportunity to present.
All presentations are open to parents, families, coaches, friends and other students. Anyone
intending to record or take pictures should be discreet and must stand to the side.
Filming/photographing must not require an additional light source, and photographers must not
move around. Flash photography is not permitted. Posed/group photos may be taken between
the hour-long presentation sessions.
Participants need to be considerate of others upon arrival and during presentations. Respectful
behavior requires that students speak quietly in the hallways and that students and their guests
are quiet while waiting to present and during presentations.
Mundelein School District 75 • 470 N. Lake Street, Mundelein, IL 60060 • Speech Challenge
Pointers for Students - Presenting a Strong Speech
Following are tips to help students to prepare for their presentation:
1. Volume: Project your voice enough so that everyone in the room can hear you.
2. Diction: Move your mouth, tongue and teeth to speak each word clearly. Be careful not to
mumble or drop endings of words. You may need to articulate or exaggerate the pronunciation
of each word to be clearly understood.
3. Pronunciation: Pronounce words correctly. If you are not familiar with a word, be sure to check
the dictionary or ask an adult how to properly pronounce it.
4. Pace: Speak slowly enough for your listeners to keep up with you so they can understand what
you are saying.
5. Vocal Variety: Try to vary the tone and pitch of your voice. Do not always end a sentence by
dropping or raising your voice – try both. Put feeling/expression into your voice to match the
feeling/expression of the piece. For example, suspense, anger, sadness, excitement, joy, etc.
6. Posture: Your body should be poised (but not rigid) and relaxed (but not slouched or slumped),
with your head held straight and facing out so you can project your voice. Make eye contact
with the judges. Avoid talking down into your clothes or talking to the floor. Avoid swaying back
and forth from one foot to another or pacing. Avoid fidgeting with your clothes. While you may
be nervous, you should not show it!
7. Practice, practice, practice! Practice is the only way to improve your performance and to be
prepared for the day of Speech Challenge. Practice in front of a mirror, in front of friends, in
front of family, and certainly in front of your coach!
Information for Speech Challenge Coaches
Thank you for assisting Speech Challenge participants as they prepare for their presentation.
Following are some tips to help you to be a successful coach:
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Meet with the student(s) at least six (6) times.
Schedule the practice sessions for 9-30 minutes. Any longer may be too much.
Space the sessions a few days apart so the student(s) have time to work on specific skills
between sessions.
Use the judging forms at the end of this handbook to help you determine how students will be
evaluated. Share this information with the student(s).
Students should have their selection(s) memorized by the third session so they have time to
polish and finalize their presentation.
Be sure to let the child’s personality come through – encourage natural facial expressions,
individual gesture and body movements. However, caution them about unnecessary or
inappropriate movements (overacting, etc.) and expressions, as needed.
The students should practice in small groups whenever possible near the end so they become
comfortable with people around them. They could rehearse in front of their family, friends
and/or their class at school. The more exposure they get, the easier it will be on the day of
Speech Challenge.
Encourage participants to talk to the audience and observe the audience’s reaction. If the piece
is humorous, they may need to pause while the judges or audience laugh. If the piece is
dramatic/serious, they may need to slow down until the audience absorbs and/or understands
what is happening.
Remind the student(s) that they must complete and return the Speech Challenge Information
Sheet by Wednesday, March 22.
Mundelein School District 75 • 470 N. Lake Street, Mundelein, IL 60060 • Speech Challenge
MUNDELEIN SCHOOL DISTRICT 75
SPEECH CHALLENGE 2017
SCORING SHEET
Student Name: ______________________________________________________Grade: _____
Student Name (Duo): _________________________________________________Grade: _____
Student Name (Trio): _________________________________________________Grade: _____
Total Score:
__________
Rating Scale (Solo/Group)
! I: 27-35/30-40 pts
! II: 7-26/8-29 pts
Speech
Length:
_______:_______
Title(s) of Selection(s):
________________________________________________________________
(min)
! Poetry
! Under Allotted Time
! Over Allotted Time
________________________________________________________________
! Monologue
! Interpretation
________________________________________________________________
! Duo/Trio
Grades 3 – 4: 2 – 4 min.
Grades 5 – 8: 4 – 7 min.
________________________________________________________________
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Please indicate how well the student(s) perform in the following areas with 5 being the strongest score.
5
4
3
2
1
(sec)
Comments:
General Interpretation
Overall understanding of the selection
Communication with the Audience
Communicates the feeling/emotion of the selection to the
judge/audience
Vocal Expression
Proper tone, good volume, appropriate
tempo/pauses/inflection to the selection
Physical & Facial Expression
Poise, self-confidence, appropriate stance and body
placement/movement (i.e. no fidgeting, swaying);
appropriate facial expression for selection
Enunciation
Proper diction, correct pronunciation of words, clear
speech
Fluency
Smooth, easy flow of speech in thoughts/phrases/ideas
(not separate lines/words)
Memorization
Completes selection without prompting or inappropriate
(extended) pauses
Character Interaction (for Duets/Trios only)
Establishes and maintains character; characters interact
appropriately, and situations come to life
Overall Comments:
Mundelein School District 75 • 470 N. Lake Street, Mundelein, IL 60060 • Speech Challenge
MUNDELEIN SCHOOL DISTRICT 75
SPEECH CHALLENGE 2017
STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET
Thank you for your interest in Speech Challenge 2017. In an effort to prepare for and coordinate
presentation times, rooms and judges, please complete and return this Student Information Form for
each Speech Challenge participant by Wednesday, March 22.
Student Name: __________________________________________________________Grade: _____
Duo Partner Name (if applicable): ____________________________________________Grade: _____
Trio Partner Name (if applicable): ____________________________________________Grade: _____
Coach Name:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Coach’s e-mail:
__________________________________________________________________________________
Coach’s phone number: (day) ______________________ (evening) ___________________________
Name of Speech Selection(s):__________________________________ Speech Length: _____ min.
_________________________________ Speech Length: _____ min.
_________________________________ Speech Length: _____ min.
_________________________________ Speech Length: _____ min.
Type of Speech:
! Poetry
! Monologue
! Interpretation
! Duo/Trio
Required speech length:
! Grades 3 & 4: 2 – 4 minutes
! Grades 5 – 8: 4 – 7 minutes
Presentation Session Preference:
! 9 am
! 10 am
! No Preference
Please return completed forms by Wednesday, March 22 to: Tony Cho, Mechanics Grove School
Questions? Please email Tony Cho at [email protected] or call 847-949-2712.
Mundelein School District 75 • 470 N. Lake Street, Mundelein, IL 60060 • Speech Challenge