Impromptu Speaking

The purpose of this event is to allow the verbalization of individual analysis on a topic of general interest. The emphasis is on the establishment of a position on the topic. Organization is important. The speaker should endeavor to relate to the concepts of the topic. Examples and illustrations from any area of knowledge may be used to highlight the theme of the presentation. A contestant may make notes or a brief outline during the time between receiving the prompt and beginning their presentation. Contestant may speak with or without the use of notes.

Procedure: The MIFA office will supply specific impromptu speaking prompts for regional and state contests. To remove the topic as a variable factor in the decision, all contestants in the same section will speak on the same topic. Topics will be short quotes, editorials, (with a maximum of 150 words), resolutions and/or visual prompts.

Prompts are made available to speakers in the following manner:

1. The sealed envelopes containing the impromptu prompts for each section will be given to the appropriate judge(s) immediately prior to each round. The judge should not open the sealed envelope containing the topic until they are in the competition room.

2. At invitationals, contestants may draw for speaking order. At MIFA Regional and State Final events, contestants perform in the order listed on the schematic. Contestants wait in the hall and at six-minute intervals, report to the competition room in order to take their turn. Contestants should enter only upon a signal from the judge. The only materials a contestant is allowed to bring into the room are writing implements, blank note cards, and/or blank paper. The contestant is not allowed to bring prepared notes, documents, publications, or printed material of any nature into the room. Contestants are to remain in the room after speaking unless otherwise indicated by the tournament director.

3. The judge will open the sealed envelope containing the prompt in the presence of the first contestant. Each student should be given a copy of the prompt at the beginning of their turn. If the tournament director supplies multiple copies of the prompt each contestant should speak from a "fresh" copy of the topic. Timing will begin when the contestant receives the topic from the judge.

4. Six minutes is the suggested total time limit for preparation and speaking for each contestant. Signals for preparation time are at the request of the contestant. There is no minimum speaking time; however, it is conceivable a contestant could speak for most of the six minutes. Timing should begin with the six-minute card and progress downward using MIFA procedures [Speech Activities, Individual Events: Tournament Procedures (Timing)] to zero. Verbal announcements of the total presentation time must be made at the end of the presentation. Presentations, which do not conform to the suggested time parameters, may be penalized at the discretion of the judge.

5. After speaking, each contestant shall return the topic to the judge and must remain in the room to listen to the remaining speakers. It is important, in this situation, that the judge collects the multiple copies of the topic from the contestants prior to allowing the contestants to leave the room. The judge must return all copies of the prompts to the tabulation room with their ballot.

BASIS FOR DECISION

Oral Presentation: The delivery of the speech should be enthusiastic, direct, sincere, and communicative. The speaker should give the impression of genuineness without affectation in attitude, manner, or appearance. The speaker's delivery should be effective in enlisting and holding the interest of the audience. The speaker may deliver the speech from a manuscript, memory, an outline, or any combination thereof.

Action and Platform Conduct: The speaker should exhibit personality, maintain direct eye contact with the audience, show physical poise, and demonstrate freedom in posture, movement, and gesture. Prompting from the audience is not allowed and could be the basis for disqualification.

Timing: Each presentation must be timed. Timing starts when the contestant receives the topic. Either the judge or an alternate timekeeper, under the supervision of the judge, is responsible for using a stopwatch and for displaying time cards that are clearly visible to the contestant unless the performer prefers not to have visual timing. The number showing on the card should indicate the amount of time remaining. Judges should give an oral report of the actual time at the completion of each performance. Timing must be indicated on the ballot as well as on the contestants' critique sheets.

Presentations that do not conform to the suggested time parameters may be penalized at the discretion of the judge. Penalties are not mandatory for timing irregularities.

HIGH SCHOOL: Time limit for Impromptu Speaking in high school is zero (0) minutes to six (6) minutes.

Contestant Evaluation: The ballot must be completely filled out and needs to include the contestant's name and code, the author, the rank, the percentage score, and the time of the presentation. Judges are to complete their ballots legibly. Each judge shall rank the participants as 1,2,3, according to the relative merits of the contestants. All other contestants will receive a rank of 4. The judge shall also assign a percentage score ranging from 100 to 75. No two contestants can be given the same percentage. All point scores must be assigned in whole integers. One hundred percent must be assigned to the best contestant with the points for all other contestants in the range of 99-75. The assignment of a score between 79-75 should be reserved for special circumstances; such as when a contestant fails to complete his or her presentation, exhibits inappropriate behavior, or performs highly inappropriate material. Critique sheets and ballots must be returned to the ballot collection/tabulation room at the conclusion of each round.

Note: Please follow the instructions given at the judge’s meeting concerning speaking order. Invitational tournaments may draw in round. Regional & State Tournaments use the order as listed on the schematic.