Event Descriptions
Extemporaneous Speaking
An extemporaneously delivered speech that answers a question based in current events. Students will have thirty minutes to prepare. Time signals will be provided during the speech. The maximum time limit for the speech is seven minutes.
Duo Performance
A performance by two students. The students should primarily maintain off stage focus. Original commentary by the students should be provided that includes the title and author of any text used in the performance. The maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
Communication Analysis
A speech that incorporates communication focused research to explore a communicative act. The maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
Prose Performance
A performance of prose. Original commentary by the student should be provided that includes the title and author of any text used in the performance. The maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
Persuasive Speaking
A speech designed to persuade the audience to change their attitude, beliefs, values, or behavior. The maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
Interviewing
Responses to typical questions posed by a judge/interviewer. The interview will be for placement in a specific organization. That organization will judge the final round and will offer a position at the company to the winner. The maximum time limit of the interview will vary by round.
Preliminary rounds will be up to five minutes and elimination rounds will range from five to twenty minutes.
Group Improv
A performance delivered after minimal preparation time. Groups will consist of 2 to 5 students. Groups will have seven minutes total to prepare and perform after being given a prompt. Time signals will be provided. The maximum time limit will be seven minutes. Prompts will vary by round.
Informative Speaking
A speech designed to inform the audience. The maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
Program Performance
A performance that incorporates multiple genres of text. Original commentary by the student should be provided that includes an argumentative justification for the collection of texts as well as the title and author of any text used in the performance. The maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
Impromptu Speaking
A speech delivered after minimal preparation time. The student will have seven minutes total to prepare and speak after being given a prompt. Time signals will be provided. The maximum time limit will be seven minutes.
Poetry Performance
A performance of poetry. Original commentary by the student should be provided that includes the title and author of any text used in the performance. The maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
Dramatic Performance
A performance of material that was created specifically for live or broadcast presentation. Original commentary by the student should be provided that includes the title and author of any text used in the performance. The maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
After Dinner Speaking
A speech designed to use humor to make a point. The maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
Student Tournament Staff
Any undergraduate students who would like to participate as student tournament staff are welcome to do so, as long as they are not competing at the tournament. Graduate students may also participate as long as the team they are representing can still cover all of their entries with judges without that graduate student in the judging pool. Student tournament staff will be given volunteer positions helping with various aspects of the tournament after participating in a short workshop hosted by experienced tournament directors. Students acting as tournament staff will need to be available all day starting at 6:45am CST on Saturday and will need to be available until the end of the Sunday morning rounds. Afterward, those students will be entirely free to watch additional rounds.
To enter students as student tournament staff, please email info@nationalspeechchampionship.com
Named Events
Three Consecutive National Championships
In the extraordinary occurrence that a student wins three consecutive national championships in the same event, that event championship award will be named after the student. The Persuasive Speaking National Championship Award is now named after Edwyn Mitchell, who won the event in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
