TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................... 2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................................... 4
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING .............................................................. 5
WHY PUBLIC SPEAKING? ............................................................................................................ 5
DEALING WITH FEAR AND NERVOUSNESS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING................................. 11
THE SPEECH COMMUNICATION CYCLE ............................................................................... 12
CHAPTER 2: ETHICS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING.............................................................................. 15
WHAT IS ETHICS? ....................................................................................................................... 15
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR IN PUBLIC SPEAKING......................................................................... 15
WHY STUDY ETHICS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING? ....................................................................... 16
RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN SPEAKING .................................................................................. 16
THE ART OF LISTENING ............................................................................................................ 17
CHAPTER 3: GENERAL FORMAT OF A SPEECH....................................................................... 19
THE INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 19
THE BODY ..................................................................................................................................... 20
THE CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................... 21
SPEECH REHEARSALS ............................................................................................................... 22
CHAPTER 4: CREATIVITY IN PUBLIC SPEAKING.................................................................... 23
WHAT IS BRAIN TRAINING? ..................................................................................................... 23
HOW TO BECOME MORE CREATIVE? ................................................................................... 23
WHAT DOES CREATIVITY IN PUBLIC SPEAKING MEAN FOR ME? ................................ 24
CHAPTER 5: CRITICAL THINKING IN PUBLIC SPEAKING .................................................... 26
INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING ........................................................................... 26
TOOLS OF CRITICAL THINKING ............................................................................................. 27
PILLARS OF CRITICAL THINKING.......................................................................................... 28
HOW CRITICAL THINKING HELPS A PUBLIC SPEAKER ................................................... 29
CHAPTER 6: THE ART OF STORYTELLING............................................................................... 31
WHAT IS A STORY? ..................................................................................................................... 31
ELEMENTS OF A STORY ............................................................................................................ 31
WHAT IS STORYTELLING? ....................................................................................................... 32
WHAT STORY TO TELL? ............................................................................................................ 33

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 IMPORTANCE OF STORYTELLING IN PUBLIC SPEAKING. ............................................... 34
CHAPTER 7: THE ADJUDICATION CORNER ............................................................................. 36
EXPECTATIONS OF A SPEECH ADJUDICATOR .................................................................... 36
GIVING FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS ......................................................................................... 37
ADJUDICATOR’S PERSONAL GROWTH AND REFLECTION.............................................. 38
JUDGING CRITERIA AND RUBRIC........................................................................................... 39
UNSA PUBLIC SPEAKING BALLOT .......................................................................................... 40
PUBLIC SPEECH ADJUDICATION GUIDELINES ................................................................... 41
GRADING THE CONTENT /50................................................................................................. 41
GRADING THE MODE OF DELIVERY /30 ............................................................................ 42
GRADING THE LANGUAGE /20 ............................................................................................. 42

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This training manual is the 3rd edition of The UNSA Secondary Schools Debate Championship
2024. This training material has been developed to equip Students, adjudicators, and coaches
with skills to participate in any public speaking tournament. Credit goes to ADUNGO Oniogo
David who has served as the Chief Adjudicator for all the Editions of The UNSA Secondary
Schools Debate Championship Public speaking track for developing and authoring this
training manual.

This document is authored by and a property of ADUNGO Oniogo David

Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Tell: +256777190718 / +256758669154

Kampala

Uganda

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING

When we dive into the world of public speaking, we try to look at the importance of public
speaking, how to overcome the fear of public speaking, and learn about the speech
communication cycle. Which are the key elements needed to know all about public speaking.

Public speaking is a great way of building personal development on many levels since
improving communication skills is helpful in almost every area of life. Whether your goal is
to engage in a political debate, make a career as a motivational speaker, or gain confidence in
front of an audience, public speaking can help you meet your goal.

WHY PUBLIC SPEAKING?

There are several reasons why you should learn public speaking which will encourage you to
get out of your comfort zone and sign up to speak at a few events in the future. The benefits of
public speaking are numerous and these include;

1. Career advancement

 Effective public speaking skills can help with career advancement, as they include
creativity, critical thinking skills, leadership abilities, poise, and professionalism,
qualities which are very valuable for the job market.

 Speaking at events and conferences is a good way of building credibility. The more
well-known the event the better, as you can add these speaking achievements to your
resume.

 Public speaking can also help you stand out at work. You'll learn to speak up in
meetings, promote your ideas, and present yourself as a professional. Speaking skills
can also help you excel in job interviews.

 After speaking at a few events, people will remember you and begin to see you as an
authoritative figure in your area of expertise. You'll find yourself getting new clients

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 and business from people who watched you speak. All sorts of new business and
speaking opportunities will open up for you.

2. Boost your confidence

 Public speaking can significantly boost your confidence. Overcoming the fears and
insecurities that accompany public speaking is empowering. Furthermore, connecting
with audiences can be a strong reminder that you have valuable insights and opinions
to share with the world.

 Your confidence levels will grow as you go from speaking to small groups of people up
to large audiences. This will benefit you not just on stage, but in your everyday life as
well, whether it be in a meeting or on a date.

 A study by North Carolina Cooperative Extension of people aged 9 to 18 who participated

in a public speaking program found that public speaking increased their confidence.
The study found that meeting a goal was an important factor when it came to
increasing the students’ confidence.

 While the nervousness that comes with speaking in front of a crowd won’t entirely
disappear, it will teach you how to deal with your fears and turn your weakness into
strength. Therefore, regularly speaking in public boosts confidence.

3. Critical thinking

 Public speaking is an excellent way to build critical thinking skills. Writing a speech
requires a great deal of careful thought, from the audience analysis to the closing
sentence. It's not enough to have a message; you also need to figure out how to tailor
that message to fit the needs of your audience.

 How can you make your points relevant to your listeners? How can you help the
audience understand your views? If you start thinking critically about your speaking
style, you may find ways to improve your general communication style at home and
at work.

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4. Personal development

 Communication skills are crucial for personal and professional success and improving
this area is one of the greatest benefits of public speaking. Preparing a speech forces
speakers to take a step back and think critically about effective ways to communicate.

5. Improve communication skills

 When you write a speech, you have to think carefully about the best framework,
persuasive strategy, and diction to communicate your message to the audience. This
type of thinking can help you improve your communication skills in other areas of
your life.

 Personal relationships, social interactions, and work situations require you to

communicate ideas to other people. Public speaking focuses on communicating ideas
thus you can learn to calmly take up an opposing view, to present your ideas in an
organized and coherent manner, and to defend your views and ideas to others.

6. Make new social connections

 Public speaking engagements are good places to meet other people who share your
interests. You’ll find that people approach you after your presentation to engage in a
conversation. It makes it much easier to make new social connections. Try to mingle
with the audience for as long as you can after your speech, answering questions and
seeking fresh perspectives on your topic.

 It gives the audience members the option of getting in touch with you at a later date by
listing contact information on handouts or slides. If you are part of a speaking line-
up, reach out to your fellow presenters. Congratulate them or, if you missed the talk,
ask how it went. There are lots of opportunities for networking in the realm of public
speaking, so plan and make use of them.

7. Personal satisfaction

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  Public speaking is a very common phobia, right up there with spiders and heights.
Many people would prefer to do almost anything instead of standing up and talking
in front of a crowd of people. Delivering a speech can feel intimidating and risky.

 Fears and insecurities tend to multiply as the speech draws closer: "What if I forget my
speech?" "What if I can’t answer the audience's questions?" Public speaking is a way of
showing yourself that, with practice; you can do the things that scare you the most.
What may start as a nightmare can turn into a personal boost, and that is the power of
speech.

8. Expand your professional network

 Another benefit of public speaking is that when you speak at an event, you will
suddenly find that everyone wants to talk with you. This is a valuable opportunity for
making friends, building business contacts, and generating business.

 Not only this, but you also get the opportunity to network with other speakers, some of
whom may be very difficult to contact normally. Speaking at events may also have
guest rooms for speakers where they are given food and drinks and can network
together.

9. Learn to persuade

 Public speaking has a long history as a catalyst for non-violent activism and political
change. It is a powerful way to unite people under a common cause and motivate them
to take action. It’s no secret that people throughout history have used the power of public
speaking to make a difference and create change.

 You'll hardly ever have a better opportunity to speak to a captive audience about what
matters to you. You'll get a chance to influence your peers. You won't change the world
with every speech, but you can easily impact someone’s life in some small ways.

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10. Build leadership skills

 If you let others do the talking for you in the past or found it hard to express what you
wanted to say, that will fade away. Not only will you be able to fluently speak your
mind out but you'll find yourself doing it for others too.

 In standing up and speaking powerfully, you're speaking in a way that will change
people's minds about something. If you're able to master that skill, changing hearts
and minds and learning how to persuade, you will already have one of the major aspects
of leadership.

 If you're able to do it in public with a group of people, chances are you'll be able to do it
in a more individualized setting. Leaders require the capacity to drive change, and
public speaking skills are vital in learning that ability. So public speaking skills help
in leadership.

11. Learn performance skills

 You'll become conscious of timing when to pause, and how long for. You'll know about
vocal variety, and how to shift through changes of volume, speech rate, and tone. Your
articulation will be clearer. As you become more confident, you'll learn about mimes,
using props, and storytelling. All of these acting skills enhance your speech.

12. Develop your vocabulary and fluency

 You'll know the effect of the words you choose to express your message and you'll also
know they need to be different for different audiences. As well as having a flexible
vocabulary, you'll no longer use common filler words we hear in everyday conversation
indicating that the speaker may be unsure about what they're saying or anxious about
speaking.

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13. No fear of impromptu speaking

 When called upon to say a few words at a moment's notice; at a wedding, awards
ceremony, or other special occasions your heart will not pound. Instead, you'll find
yourself graciously accepting the opportunity for an impromptu speech. This is a huge
benefit of public speaking and you'll stop constantly worrying at formal events about
being asked to speak.

14. Learn to argue

 When you present, you often need to put forward a well-thought-out argument. In the
preparation, in the practice, and on the actual stage, you will learn much about the art
of argument especially if you get to engage with your audience in some form of
question and answer.

15. Helps you drive change

 Who do we listen to more, someone talking to us in person or an email? The person

speaking is always going to be more convincing than a note sent across the internet.
You could spend your time going from person to person if that's your comfort zone.

 But think about how many more people you could reach if you stood up on stage and
had them all gathered together in an audience. If you're speaking to an audience of 300
versus one-on-one, then you're driving serious change. The more people you're able to
speak to, the more change you can implement.

16. Be a better listener

 Listening may be a lost art, but a public speaking course teaches you to become a better
listener. When you attend conferences, you'll hear several different types of speeches
about a wide variety of topics, from people who may be very different from you. This
will passively build your listening ability and note-taking.

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DEALING WITH FEAR AND NERVOUSNESS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

Fear of public speaking is a common form of anxiety. It can range from slight nervousness to
paralyzing fear and panic. Many people with this fear avoid public speaking situations
altogether, or they suffer through them with shaking hands and a quavering voice. But with
preparation and persistence, you can overcome your fear of public speaking and the following
practices should do the trick;

 Know your topic. The better you understand what you're talking about and the more
you care about the topic the less likely you'll make a mistake or get off track. And if
you do get lost, you'll be able to recover quickly. Take some time to consider what
questions the audience may ask and have your responses ready.

 Get organized. Ahead of time, carefully plan out the information you want to present,
including any props, audio, or visual aids. The more organized you are, the less nervous
you'll be. Use an outline on a small card to stay on track. If possible, visit the place
where you'll be speaking and review available equipment before your presentation.

 Practice, and then practice some more. Practice your complete presentation several times.
Do it for some people you're comfortable with and ask for feedback. It may also be helpful
to practice with a few people with whom you're less familiar. Consider making a video
of your presentation so you can watch it and see opportunities for improvement.

 Challenge specific worries. When you're afraid of something, you may overestimate the
likelihood of bad things happening. List your specific worries. Then directly challenge
them by identifying probable and alternative outcomes and any objective evidence that
supports each worry or the likelihood that your feared outcomes will happen.

 Visualize your success. Imagine that your presentation will go well. Positive thoughts
can help decrease some of your negativity about your social performance and relieve
some anxiety.

 Do some deep breathing. This can be very calming. Take two or more deep, slow breaths
before you get up to the podium and during your speech.

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  Focus on your material, not on your audience. People mainly pay attention to new
information and not how it's presented. They may not notice your nervousness. If
audience members do notice that you're nervous, they may root for you and want your
presentation to be a success.

 Don't fear a moment of silence. If you lose track of what you're saying or start to feel
nervous and your mind goes blank, it may seem like you've been silent for an eternity.
In reality, it's probably only a few seconds. Even if it's longer, it's likely your audience
won't mind a pause to consider what you've been saying. Just take a few slow, deep
breaths.

 Recognize your success. After your speech or presentation, pat yourself on the back. It
may not have been perfect, but chances are you're far more critical of yourself than your
audience is. See if any of your specific worries occurred. Everyone makes mistakes.
Look at any mistakes you made as an opportunity to improve your skills.

THE SPEECH COMMUNICATION CYCLE

The speech communication cycle describes the process through which the transfer of
information moves when one is delivering his speech and the following are the various elements
that make up the speech communication cycle;

1. Speaker

Speech communication begins with the speaker. Your success as a speaker depends on you, on
your credibility, your knowledge of the subject, your preparation of the speech, your manner of
speaking, and your sensitivity to the audience and the occasion. This helps you to discover
yourself as the author of the speech and also prepare yourself for anything that comes your
way.

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2. The Message

The message is whatever the speaker communicates to the audience. Your goal in public
speaking is to have your intended message be what is communicated at the end of the day.

You must narrow your topic down to something you can discuss, not everything in your topic
is or may be relevant to be discussed.

You must do research and choose supporting details to make your ideas clear and convincing.
Remember you send your message with words, tone of voice, appearance, gestures, facial
expressions, and eye contact.

3. Channel

This is how the message is communicated, that is to say, when you pick up the phone to call a
friend, the telephone is the channel of communication. Public speakers may use one or more
channels to communicate and whatever one you decide to use will affect the message received
by the audience positively or negatively.

When before the audience, one can say the channel of communication is the space around you.
The bigger the space the more you need to project your voice for audibility and the reverse is
true.

4. Listener/Audience

This is the person or the people who receive the message. If you talk to a friend on the phone,
you have one listener. But in public speaking, you have many listeners.

To be an effective speaker, we must be audience-centred. This means you have to always

consider the audience you have so that the message is relevant and appropriate to them. The
audience is your end goal of a successful speech.

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5. Feedback

The response to your message is considered as feedback, it happens after the message has been
passed on. In public speaking feedback is not instant as in a conversation or talk show since
no one is going to interrupt you as you deliver your speech.

However, the audience always gives no verbal feedback which can be seen when they clap, how
they nod their heads in agreement but also their attention. Any good speaker should be in a
position to notice all these feedback responses whether positive or negative to flexibly adapt to
the audience.

6. Interference

This refers to anything that impedes the communication of your message. Two kinds of
interference in public speaking are External and internal which will always affect your
message.

As a public speaker, you should be in a position to notice any interference and how to deal with
it as soon as possible so that it doesn’t further affect your message. Internal interference can
be in the form of nervousness arising from lack of preparation while external interference may
come from a shout from your audience which can put you off track while delivering your
speech.

7. Situation

This is the time and place where conversation always takes place. Public speakers must also be
alert to the situation; the physical setting is also important for effective communication. This
means they should study their environment which may come in handy when presenting their
speech.

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CHAPTER 2: ETHICS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

WHAT IS ETHICS?

When you think of ethics, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of words and phrases such
as ethical behavior, professional ethics, ethics boards, or code of ethics. Ethics in general is the
study of principles relating to right and wrong conduct. At its heart, it refers to the concept of
having morally acceptable values and behaviors in society. When you align your behaviors
and actions with these values, you engage in ethical behavior.

ETHICAL BEHAVIOR IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

Why would you need to even consider ethics in public speaking? First and foremost, your
audience not only needs to believe in your words and message, but they need to trust you as
the message giver. To engage in unethical behavior when speaking only erodes that trust.

Ethical speakers do not deceive their audience. It can also be stated that ethical speakers do not
distort or warp facts, or worse yet, disguise opinions as facts to argue their thesis or make their
point.

Acknowledging and responding to conflicts of interest is also regarded as ethical public

speaking behavior. There may be times when you may be asked to speak on behalf of a certain
topic in which you have a professional interest or may benefit financially. In those instances,
the ethical speaker will either excuse him or herself from speaking. If unable to do so, he or she
may simply disclose the nature of the conflict of interest so that everyone is on the same page.

The study of ethics, then, is incredibly important to any student of public speaking, as the
most effective public speakers are those who practice ethical behavior in their speeches.

To speak ethically is to use your original speech content. If you use any substantiating facts
or passages from another, you must give appropriate attribution or credit to them. Ethical
speakers do not plagiarize their material or try to pass off words and ideas from others as their
own.

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WHY STUDY ETHICS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING?

 To maintain your credibility and reputation.

 To present a fair and accurate argument of your thesis.

 To provide honest facts with integrity and without deception or distortion.

 To abide by shared or common moral values and beliefs.

 To establish trust with your audience.

RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN SPEAKING

Effective speakers engage in ethical goals, fully prepare their speeches, practice honesty, and
avoid abusive language.

1. Ethical Goals

Consider why you’re speaking. Are you trying to persuade your audience to adopt a certain
viewpoint or consider a new idea? If so, you’ll want to make sure that you lead your audience
to that belief point in an ethical manner. You don’t want to use tactics like intimidation.
Additionally, have the responsibility and professionalism to know whether or not you have a
conflict of interest on a given topic or with a certain audience or venue. Recuse yourself–provide
your audience with a full disclosure of the said conflict of interest, and adjust your speech
accordingly.

2. Full Preparation

Effective speakers are those who take the time to fully prepare their speeches, from the speech
writing process to the delivery of the speech to the very clothes they wear for the speech. If you
don’t prepare, it will show and ultimately affect your credibility as a speaker to your audience
and colleagues. Respect your audience by taking thorough time to write, edit, review, and
rehearse your speech before presenting.

3. Honesty

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Honesty is an extension of the ethical goals of your speech. Don’t resort to falsehoods or opinions
presented as facts to make your case. Come from a place of authenticity instead of deception.
Your credibility can become damaged when it is revealed you have either lied or even just
slightly bent the truth in your speeches.

4. Non-Abusive Language

Just as one shouldn’t intimidate his or her audience, one should refrain from abusive language
when speaking in public. This means attacking your audience verbally, or, in a debate-style
setting, even verbally attacking your opponent. Don’t resort to name-calling or bullying;
rather, make your case through the use of compelling facts and anecdotes that can be
substantiated.

THE ART OF LISTENING

You may not always be the speech presenter or speaker. Many times, you’ll be in the audience
yourself. Active listening is a skill that can make you a more effective speaker in the long
run.

Active Listening is the art of not only hearing what a speaker has to say but it’s about being
an engaged, and attentive listener who can paraphrase what has already been said. Develop a
practice of active listening to be an effective listener, and the following are the rules to follow
to become an effective listener;

1. Courtesy

Being an active listener not only makes you a more engaged audience member but quite
simply, it’s polite. If you expect people to pay attention to your words when it’s your turn to
speak, they expect the same from you. There are several other courteous behaviors that an active
listener should practice which include;

 Look at the presenter.

 Do not text or chat on your phone while they speak.

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  Remain quiet.

 If taking notes, either on paper or via a laptop or tablet, do so unobtrusively.

2. Attention

Active listening refers to the practice of not just hearing someone, but listening and paying
attention to what they have to say. Intrinsic to active listening is the ability to feedback on
what has been said by the speaker, often in the form of paraphrasing. As an audience member,
you might not have the opportunity to verbalize this feedback at the moment; however, a true
active listener can summarize after the speech.

3. Open-Mindedness

You may not necessarily agree with everything that is being said. It’s important to come to the
presentation with an open mind that is, to at least listen with respect and courtesy to ideas that
may conflict with your personal beliefs and values. Again, if you expect others to be open and
receptive to your ideas, you must extend that same courtesy to others.

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CHAPTER 3: GENERAL FORMAT OF A SPEECH

Well as you might have been told in your English lessons in high school, a speech has an
introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Well, when it comes to public speaking it's no different,
(and sorry for those who thought it would be). However, the important thing to note in public
speaking is how you organize your speech to reflect the format of a speech.

After looking at the format of a speech, we must study the art of organizing our speeches. To
effectively organize your speech, firstly you need to know the format of a speech which you do
now, then you need to know what is in each part of the speech, which you also know by now.

A simple way to organize your speech is to;

 Tell us what you are going to tell you (introduction)

 Tell us what you want to tell us (body)

 Tell us what you have told us (conclusion)

To organize your speech is to follow the format of a speech and know what you are going to say
in each part of your speech. And this calls for the art of rehearsing your speech.

THE INTRODUCTION

Always start your speech with an attention grabber that hooks your audience into your speech.
There are several ways of starting your speech, but the following are the three best ways of
starting your speech;

 The third-best way to start your speech is by using a rhetorical question. These are
questions that don’t necessarily need an answer but rather ignite a feeling of concern
to the audience. (How many of us have stared in the face of death? Well, I have). You
may decide to start your speech like that.

 The second best way to start your speech is by using facts that are directly related to
your topic. (If you are talking about climate change, you may decide to start your

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 speech with a fact such as; “if we as the people would cut carbon emission by 3% yearly,
we would reduce the rate of global warming by half” ).
 The best way to start your speech is with a story, which directly or indirectly talks about
your topic, and an idea of what your body will be. You may tell various stories as you
start your speech, but the most powerful stories are “personal stories” from your
experiences and memories. Though there are many other stories to tell as well. The way
you decide to start your speech is greatly dependent on the topic or the task at hand and
don’t be fooled, not every topic will require you to start your speech using a story just
because it's the best way to start your speech.

Your Introduction should also be relevant to the topic or task presented to you. It becomes
disturbing to have your introduction about racism and at the end of the day; your topic is
Climate Change and its impact.

After knowing all that, you will need a preview statement that links your introduction to your
body. (For instance, after that story, allow us to dive into the African life of poverty and its
impacts.)

THE BODY

I like to organize my speech into three basic ideas. These ideas are not mere arguments but are
supported by logical reasoning, and original thought, as well as evidence, in the form of facts,
statistics, examples, illustrations, or even impacts. Well if it were up to me I would organize
the body of my speech on Poverty in Africa in the following ways;

Idea 1; Problem Analysis (identify the problem, and why and how it’s a problem)

Idea 2; solution Analysis (how best can you solve the problem effectively and efficiently)

Idea 3; Benefit Analysis (what benefits will your audience receive if they choose your solution
to the problem)

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It should be noted that various speech types have different ways of organizing the body and
the above organization is specifically for a persuasive speech which is the most common type
of speech delivered all over the world today.

THE CONCLUSION

 Leave a Lasting Impression Concluding Your Speech. The conclusion of your speech
summarizes your main points and purpose while leaving a lasting impression on your
audience.

 If your body is the meat and potatoes of your speech, then the conclusion is the icing on
the cake. Your conclusion is delivered at the end of the speech and is often what most
people remember immediately after your speech has ended.

 As important as your introduction is for grabbing the audience’s attention, the

conclusion is doubly important as it leaves the audience with a lasting impression.

 Use your conclusion as an opportunity to summarize the main points of your speech.

 Don’t repeat your main points word for word; rather, paraphrase the key themes and
arguments you have just presented.

 Consider ending your speech with an additional anecdote or quotation that captures the
theme of your speech.

 Don’t introduce any new points or supportive evidence into your conclusion as it will
confuse your audience.

 Use trigger phrases such as “in conclusion” or “in summary” to prepare your audience
for the end of your speech. (If necessary)

 Write your conclusion at the same time as the introduction (after you write the body)
so that the introduction and conclusion complement one another.

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SPEECH REHEARSALS

To rehearse your speech, you need to look at each part of your speech, that is the introduction,
body, and conclusion.

After establishing what will be in each part of your speech then you can go through your speech
over and over again (rehearse). This is not to cram your speech but rather to get you familiar
with your speech and boost your confidence when you are on stage. This also helps you to be
flexible and be able to change your speech depending on the interference that may arise when
on stage.

You can also rehearse your speech individually, what do I mean here? You can rehearse your
introduction alone, your idea 1, 2, or 3 on your body alone, as well as the conclusion
independently, so that you know your speech from all angles.

Here is a link https://youtu.be/W4raWBJLP-U to a video on speech rehearsals by DARREN

TAY 2016 WORLD PUBLIC SPEECH WINNER

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CHAPTER 4: CREATIVITY IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

So, what’s the hardest part of giving a speech? I think that the most difficult thing to do is to
create a great speech; one that your audience is going to want to listen over and over again if
possible. All of us want to create a great speech; it’s just that we don’t quite know how to go
about doing this. It turns out that what we really should be working on is our creativity. The
more creative you are, the better the speech you will produce. In creativity in public speaking we
will be looking at the following:

WHAT IS BRAIN TRAINING?

Our brains have several different ways of thinking about the world that we live in. One way is
called the logical thinking method, this is when we take in the information that is available to
us and try to solve problems with it. Good examples of this are crossword puzzles and games
like chess. What brain training focuses on is the creative side of your thoughts. Boosting your
ability to think creatively can help in your cognitive development and many see it as a critical
skill for our modern times.

The good news about boosting our creative side is that we all already have a creative side. We
were born creative. Unfortunately, as we grow up, we tend to suppress our creativity. This
means that we now have to relearn how to think creatively. Becoming more creative will take
time; however, as you work at it you will start to see an immediate impact on your thinking.
Ultimately, being creative is all about having a lot of ideas. Not all of them will be great, but
if you have enough creative ideas then you will boost your chances of eventually having a
really good idea.

HOW TO BECOME MORE CREATIVE?

Deciding that you want to become more creative is a great first step. One of the hallmarks of
creative thought is the ability to make connections between two things that other people were
not able to connect. When we perform tasks for the first time, we are at our most creative as we
figure out how to do something. However, after that, we settle into a habit of how to do something

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and it can be difficult to create new ways of doing things. Take the time to think about the
things that you do and then try to make new connections that could change how you do them.

We often look at challenges that we are facing from one perspective; our own. If we want to get
good at this creative thinking, then we’re going to have to teach ourselves how to look at things
from different perspectives. The perspectives that we need to consider are objectivity, emotion,
caution, positivity, creativity, and control. When you are thinking about how to solve a
problem, don’t reject any of the perspectives that you use. Yes, some of the outcomes may seem
silly, but there can be insights in all of them.

The final thing that you can do to become more creative is to use your imagination. Although
this is easy to say, it can often be the hardest thing to do. However, this is what will cause you
to have the biggest breakthroughs in your creativity. One way to go about exercising your
imagination is to start asking more questions to generate more imaginative ideas.

Since you can’t be sure when you’ll have an imaginative idea, you probably want to keep a
notebook within your reach at all times so that you can write down your creative ideas when
they occur to you.

WHAT DOES CREATIVITY IN PUBLIC SPEAKING MEAN FOR ME?

When we agree to give a speech, what we are agreeing to is creating a speech we believe our
audience will want to hear. What this means for us as speakers is that we need to be creative
and create speeches that will be appealing to our audiences. This sounds like a good thing, but
how can we become more creative?

To become more creative, we need to do brain training. This involves taking the time to make
connections between things that we might not have made connections before. We also have to
teach ourselves how to look at challenges from the various and different perspectives.
Ultimately, to become more creative, we need to learn to use our imagination by asking
ourselves more “what if” questions.

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Anyone can write a speech. However, it’s only creative people who can write a speech that will
grab and hold onto an audience’s attention. This is what we want to be able to do. To become
better speech writers, we need to work on boosting our creativity. If we can become more creative,
then we’ll become better speakers eventually.

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CHAPTER 5: CRITICAL THINKING IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING

All humans think. Did you know this? Everyone whether they seem to or not, thinks. You are
thinking right now at this moment, as you read these words. But what do you think is the real
question here? Yes, there is the biology of thinking or a process that is going on in your brain
as chemicals are being activated or deactivated as a result of your thinking. However, beyond
biology, how do you think, and what do you think? What do you think about exactly?

Can you think through a problem, or does it seem like thinking through a problem is the
problem? Do you think that there are people who are just naturally good thinkers, like Albert
Einstein? The fact is that almost everyone can learn how to think like Albert Einstein. (I believe
you are asking how?) Yes, some people pick up thinking quite easily, but everyone can learn
how to think like Albert Einstein. This is because everyone has within him/her new thoughts
that could turn into discoveries that are just as amazing as Albert Einstein’s discoveries.

However, good thinking is hard work. Learning to think clearly and carefully takes training,
patience, and practice. Thinking carefully with clarity, depth, precision, accuracy, and logic
is thinking critically. Critical thinking is the process of thinking clearly with accuracy and
precision, of thinking carefully with logic and depth, and of thinking open-mindedly, by
examining various points of view and acknowledging assumptions and biases within a given
viewpoint. The point is that everyone can learn how to think critically if they take the time to
learn.

Someone with critical thinking skills can;

 Understand the links between ideas.

 Determine the importance and relevance of arguments and ideas.

 Recognize, build, and appraise arguments

 Identify inconsistency and errors in reasoning

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  Approach problems consistently and systematically.

 Reflect on the justifications of their assumptions, beliefs, and values.

Critical thinking is thinking about things in certain ways to arrive at the best possible
solution in the circumstances that the thinker is aware of. (In everyday language, it is a way
of thinking about whatever is presently occupying your mind to come up with the best possible
conclusion.)

TOOLS OF CRITICAL THINKING

The tools of critical thinking are questions; which questions are directed to solving a particular
problem identified by your mind. This is seen when particular thoughts often occupy your
mind. There are four main types of critical thinking tools (questions) and these are; getting
the facts, evaluating the facts, drawing a conclusion using logic, and evaluating a conclusion.

The tools for obtaining the facts

 Who?

 What?

 Where?

 When?

 How?

The tools for evaluating the facts

 Is the fact relevant or significant?

 Is the fact substantial, crucial, and applicable?

 Does it support the conclusion?

The tools for drawing a conclusion

 Is the conclusion valid or consistent with other information?

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  Are there any logical flaws in the conclusion?

The tools for evaluating conclusions

 Is the conclusion fair and reasonable?

 Does my conclusion have the necessary depth and breadth?

PILLARS OF CRITICAL THINKING

Pillars, even from ancient times were regarded as support structures that held up a structure;
beautiful or not. Therefore, critical thinking also needs these support structures to correctly
direct the wildest thoughts we may have in our minds to come up with a discovery, solve a
problem, or logically draw up a conclusion from a particular study. We’ll explore four pillars
of critical but they are never limited to only that, so feel free to make research for it is fit enough
to make research. This is because we are studying “critical thinking” in the first place.

These pillars of critical thinking (many may also refer to as skills that develop critical
thinking) include;

 Analysis as a pillar of critical thinking is the ability to carefully examine something,

whether it is a problem, a set of data, text, or information collected. People with
analytical skills can clearly examine information, understand what it means, and go
ahead to properly explain to others the implications of that information.
 Interpretation as a pillar of critical thinking draws us to interference, which is a
conclusion one comes up to by analyzing data. It looks at facts and then makes
conclusions from those facts. An interpretation is interference from a specific point of
view. When it comes to public speaking and critical thinking, you need to have a point
of view; what you are seeing, what your mind is occupied by, or what topic of discussion
is set before you. Please note people have different interpretations but the evidence for
their interpretation is only seen in the conclusions they come up with and that’s why
interpretation and interference must be logical.

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  Evaluation in critical thinking simply means that you shouldn’t automatically
accept what you are reading as being valid, true, acceptable, or even correct. But what
should you do is the question? You should instead gather the evidence; and analyze all
aspects rationally and objectively with an open mind to reach your conclusions.
 Self-direction or what I call the final pillar but not the least of them. This is where a
learner personally takes the initiative to determine his needs and what objectives or
resources will see him meet those needs. This pillar calls for discipline and it needs one
to seek solutions to the problems surrounding him, as well as make a decision.

HOW CRITICAL THINKING HELPS A PUBLIC SPEAKER

 Make research. Before delivering a speech, a critical thinker is in the best position to do
research using the various tools of critical thinking, come up with the necessary facts,
assess them, and use them to make their speeches the very best.

 Identify inconsistencies in the various sources of information by evaluating the facts

and conclusions logically. When a speaker can do this he is in the position to develop
bias-free ideas supported by logic which can be clearly understood by this audience.

 Speech organization. Critical thinkers always develop ideas that are from original
thought, but also logically flowing thus making their speeches easy to follow since the
body of their speech is clear with each idea supporting another.

 Further development of their ideas and arguments. Everyone can develop ideas in their
speeches, but critical thinkers go the extra mile to establish links between those ideas
and the facts around them. This makes their ideas and eventually, their speeches stand
out.

 Problem solving. Critical thinkers are in a position to develop credible solutions to

global crises by analyzing the situations and drawing conclusions on how to solve
such challenges. And this is emulated in their speeches when they deliver them.

 Critical thinkers are always up to date with information since they are always asking
questions every time they interface with any information, topic, or task before them.

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 This makes it easier for them to come up with speeches anytime they are called upon
thus no fear for impromptu speeches whatsoever.

 Enhancing creativity. There’s a thin line between creativity and critical thinking.
This is because to successfully brain train, you need to employ the various tools of
critical thinking, and the more you practice, the better you become at being creative
and innovative when delivering your speeches.

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CHAPTER 6: THE ART OF STORYTELLING

WHAT IS A STORY?

We cannot dive into the discussion of storytelling without the understanding of what a story
is, as well as the basic components of a story. Stories have been told from ancient times, and
one may claim that stories are as old as man, and even the gods or God (depending on one’s
beliefs). Well, we all come to an understanding, “that anything that holds account of existence
(life itself) is regarded as a story, whether it’s a lie, myth, or true.” (as long as it holds accounts
of existence of a person, a place, or a thing).

Stories take different forms, and can also be told or expressed in different ways ranging from
narratives, novels, tales, epics, and poems, among others. From the epic of Gilgamesh (the oldest
story ever told) to the tale of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, through the stories of
civilization to the modern stories of man, and even the stories that predict our future. All these
have a different makeup.

ELEMENTS OF A STORY

There are three (3) key elements that make up each story, and yes there are many others that
you may explore as you read and make discoveries, but these 3 should be present that is;
character, setting, and plot.

 The characters, are people in a story, often 2 main characters, a hero and a villain. The
hero trying to save the day and the villain is always trying to destroy it.

 The setting, this is where your story is taking place, the environment that shapes your
characters and determines how they live.

 The plot, this examines how the story unfolds, and the events that take place in your
story. It may cover the themes, points of view, and also the style in which you tell the
story, which finally brings us to storytelling.

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WHAT IS STORYTELLING?

After getting the knowledge of what a story is, let’s look at storytelling; which is the skill, and
the art of telling or writing a story (it’s that simple) . Storytelling allows the presentation of
difficult and boring content in an easy form, as well as showing a new point of view in
different life situations to easily relate and keep the audience engaged and live in your speech
or presentation.

In storytelling, we use; metaphors, memories, narration, and analogies, as we go ahead to

introduce a hero, main plot, and a lasting dramatic question to your audience, to provoke them
to innovative thinking and engagement.

 Metaphors, which are regarded as representations or symbolic of something else. This

comes in handy when we are describing our characters and also a place e.g. David’s
heart is gold, my village is paradise, he is a pig, etc.

 Memories, these have been the basis of telling stories over the years since we tell the truth
about ourselves, and people close to us. This is because it contains real experiences e.g.
in 2018, I experienced a breakdown that almost ended my life. These memories always
trigger the emotions of the audience.

 Narration, this is where a person telling a particular story has control over it. He or she
can do anything with the story while telling it, it may be a story about him/her or
someone else. Most stories we have come to know about have been narrated to us by
others who have been there physically to experience these events or they have also been
told the stories.

 Analogies, these help to simplify one’s story, they make it easier for the audience to
understand your story, and when used they help to simplify a complicated point. E.g.
a story about a pen to explain the value of education and knowledge.

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WHAT STORY TO TELL?

As a public speaker the moment you step on stage, you have the power to either connect to your
audience or lose them completely. And what power is that? Well, it’s the power of storytelling…

Do you want to capture the attention of your audience? If yes, then you should consider telling,
stories. Any kind of story, sad, dramatic, funny, or educational among others. At this point
as a public speaker, you should tell your audience stories that enhance their imagination,
creativity as well as their inspiration.

There are many stories one may tell to capture the attention of the audience, but let’s look at
the ones below which include; personal stories, inspirational stories, a story of warning, and a
fable.

 Personal stories, these are some of the most powerful stories to tell your audience, this
is because they are true, real, and developed from one’s experiences. They always open a
personal connection between the speaker and the audience. The audience often responds
with empathy because the speaker openly shares emotions, trying moments, life-
changing moments, and also overcoming obstacles they faced. This gives the audience
the meaning of the stories and is often life-changing for the audience. That’s the power
of a personal story.

 Inspiration stories, or motivation stories are told to motivate or inspire an audience.

These stories aim to transform the audience from a negative point of view to a positive
one. Inspiration stories are often personal stories ranging from J.K Rowing Harvard
University, and Will Smith's The Pursuit of Happiness among others. They are often
told to change the listeners in any aspect, e.g. the elephant rope for belief, a pound of
butter for honesty, control your temper for anger, etc.

 Stories of warning, these often start with a question that the audience best
understands or relates to. This may be about climate change, feminism, poverty, etc.

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 depending on what you are meant to talk about in your speech. Stories of warning are
similar to informative stories and teaching stories a speaker may use to give warning
of later consequences to the audience for their actions. For example, a story of how
industrialization may later lead to climatic changes and hence global warming.

 A fable is a story that teaches a lesson or conveys a moral, it is aimed to teach a moral
lesson. A fable though fictional, features animals, legendary creatures, plants,
inanimate objects, or forces of nature that illustrate and lead to a particular moral
lesson. The fable is one of the oldest and most lasting methods of both written and oral
storytelling. In Africa, fables are mostly used when instilling morals among children
and young adults. To most adults, fables are not ideal in storytelling since its
outdated and often unrealistic.

IMPORTANCE OF STORYTELLING IN PUBLIC SPEAKING.

 Storytelling is a critical component of effective public speaking. It creates relevance for

the audience providing additional detail and mental visuals that bring to life otherwise
dull, remote, or complex topics. Helping your audience to remember your statements or
speech for later recall.

 Stories are effective teaching tools because they illustrate causal relationships that
people might not have recognized before and they highlight resourceful ways in which
people have solved problems. Additionally, stories help to motivate our audiences to act
since the best stories captivate the audiences’ attention whose emotions can be
inextricably tied to those of the story’s characters and even the narrators themselves.

 Storytelling relies so much on words, stories offer a tremendous source of language

experience. Storytelling also enhances language learning through understanding the
stories, the vocabulary, and the language patterns inherent to folktales. Therefore,
storytelling helps a speaker (narrator) to develop expressive language in speech and

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 written composition, it also promotes receptive language development i.e. reading and
listening comprehension. As well as comprehension in listening and memory.

 Often the audience consists of people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and values.
After listening to the stories (often personal) of the speakers during a presentation,
they always feel connected to the speakers. Hence storytelling promotes a feeling of
well-being and relaxation, increases willingness to communicate thoughts and
feelings, and encourages the use of imagination and creativity by the audience.

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CHAPTER 7: THE ADJUDICATION CORNER

EXPECTATIONS OF A SPEECH ADJUDICATOR

1. Objective Evaluation

The primary responsibility of an adjudicator is to objectively evaluate the speakers’ speeches

based on predetermined criteria indicated in this guide for the UNSA SPEECH TRACK. Strive
to assess each aspect fairly, avoiding personal biases at all costs. Always Focus on the
established judging criteria and provide assessments based on performance rather than
personal preferences.

2. Maintaining Integrity

Uphold the integrity of the adjudication process by ensuring impartiality and fairness.
Demonstrate a commitment to recognizing merit and excellence without external influences.
Always own your judgment and justify it based on the judging criteria and scoring rubric.
Be aware of potential biases and consciously approach each performance with an open mind.

3. Blind Judging (Where applicable)

If possible, consider blind judging to enhance fairness. Evaluate performances without

knowledge of the speakers’ identities, ensuring judgments are solely based on the merits of the
speech.

4. Maintain Consistent Evaluation Standards

Establish consistent evaluation standards and apply them uniformly across all performances.
Avoid favoritism or inconsistency in judgment, maintaining a level playing field for all
participants. This calls for Regular review and refined judging criteria to ensure clarity and
consistency before a round.

5. Acknowledging Subjectivity

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Recognize the inherent subjectivity in speech evaluation. Your subjective nature will play in
while adjudicating, for instance, accents of a speaker, and personal relationships that may
affect your quality as an adjudicator for this particular tournament. However, adhere to the
objective criteria, and acknowledge that personal preferences and interpretations play a role in
judging. With this always embrace the diversity of speech styles that each speaker may come
up with which may or may not be appealing to you as a judge. This calls for you to always
have the judging criteria at the back of your mind.

6. Objective Anchors

Ground subjective impressions with objective anchors. Reference specific elements from the
judging criteria to justify assessments, providing participants with transparent insights into
the evaluation process. Always link your subjective impressions to objective criteria, enhancing
the transparency of the adjudication.

GIVING FEEDBACK TO SPEAKERS

1. Constructive Critique

Offer constructive critique that highlights both strengths and areas for improvement. Provide
actionable feedback that speakers can use for growth and refinement. Frame feedback
positively and encouragingly, emphasizing development opportunities. Always start with a
speaker’s strength thereafter critique their performance in line with the criteria considered and
where improvements are needed.

2. Personal Feedback

Where applicable, provide personalized feedback that addresses the unique aspects of each
speech. Recognize individual strengths and offer tailored guidance based on the speaker’s
potential areas that need improvement. Acknowledge the distinctive qualities of a speaker and
provide feedback that resonates with their unique performance.

3. General Constructive Feedback

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Include general constructive feedback that applies broadly to various speeches. Offer insights
into common challenges and effective strategies for improvement that can benefit all speakers.
Balance personal feedback with general observations, creating a comprehensive resource for
speakers seeking to refine their speeches for the subsequent rounds and engagements.

ADJUDICATOR’S PERSONAL GROWTH AND REFLECTION

Continuous Learning

As an adjudicator, commit to continuous learning. Stay informed about evolving public

speaking trends, techniques, and judging criteria to provide informed and relevant feedback.
Attend workshops, engage with the various speech communities, and stay open to expanding
your understanding of the art of public speaking.

Reflective Practice

Engage in reflective practice to refine your judging approach. Assess your own biases, evaluate
the effectiveness of your feedback, and seek opportunities for professional growth as an
adjudicator. This involves applying for various tournaments as a judge or even a speaker to
build the experience that comes with diversity. Regularly reflect on your adjudication
experiences, adjusting your approach based on lessons learned and evolving insights.

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JUDGING CRITERIA AND RUBRIC

CRITERIA EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD FAIR

CONTENT /50 50 36 – 47 21 – 33 0 – 18

Speech development (structure and 20 14 – 19 9 – 13 0–8

organization

Effectiveness (achievement of the 15 11 – 14 6 – 10 0–5

purpose)

Speech value (ideas, logic, and original 15 11 – 14 6 – 10 0–5

thought)

DELIVERY /30 30 22 – 28 12 – 20 0 – 10

Voice (flexibility, volume, and tone) 10 7–9 4–6 0–3

Manner (directness, assurance, and 10 7–9 4–6 0–3

enthusiasm)

Non-verbal gestures (Pauses and paces 10 7–9 4–6 0–3

relate to the speech and mastery of the
stage)

LANGUAGE /20 20 14 – 18 8 – 12 0–6

Appropriateness (speech purpose, and 10 7–9 4–6 0–3

relevancy to the audience)

Correctness (word selection, 10 7–9 4–6 0–3

punctuation, and grammar)

TOTAL /100 100 72 – 93 41 – 65 0 – 34

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UNSA PUBLIC SPEAKING BALLOT

Name of speaker: ……………………………………………………………………………………………...…...

CRITERIA SCORES REMARKS

CONTENT /50
(Excellent = 50)
(Very Good = 36 – 47)
(Good = 21 – 33)
(Fair = 0 – 18)

DELIVERY /30
(Excellent = 30)
(Very Good = 22 – 28)
(Good = 12 – 20)
(Fair = 0 – 10)

LANGUAGE /20
(Excellent = 20)
(Very Good = 14 – 18)
(Good = 8 – 12)
(Fair = 0 – 6)

TOTAL MARKS /100

(Excellent = 100)
(Very Good = 72 – 93)
(Good = 41 – 65)
(Fair = 0 – 34)

COMMENTS ON SPEAKER;

Adjudicator name: ……………………………………………… Signature: …………………

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PUBLIC SPEECH ADJUDICATION GUIDELINES

GRADING THE CONTENT /50

1. Speech development is the way the speaker puts ideas together so that the audience can
understand them. The speech is structured around a purpose and this structure must include
an introduction, body, and conclusion.

A good speech immediately engages the audience’s attention and then moves forward toward
a body about a particular topic or purpose for the speech and, thereafter to a significant
conclusion.

This development of the speech structure is supported by relevant examples and illustrations,
facts, and figures delivered with such smoothness that they blend into the framework of the
speech to present the audience with a unified whole.

2. Effectiveness is measured by the audience’s reception of the speech, but a large is your
subjective judgment of how the speech came across. As an adjudicator, you should ask yourself
questions such as;

 “Was I able to determine the speaker’s purpose?” “Did the speaker relate directly to that
purpose (in this case the task/ topic given to them)?”

 “Was the audience’s interest held by the speaker?”

 “Was the speech subject appropriate for this particular audience?” (In this case the
adjudicators are considered the audience)

3. Speech value, this justifies the act of speaking. The speaker has a responsibility to say
something meaningful and original to the audience. The listeners should feel the speaker has
contributed to their thinking. The ideas in the speech should be important ones, logical, and of
original thought, which makes each speaker unique from another. (The speaker in an attempt
to have a high speech value should always answer the two questions in the body of his speech,

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that is; the why and how question for each idea brought forth. They should also consider having
illustrations, examples, and statistics that support their ideas.)

GRADING THE MODE OF DELIVERY /30

1. Voice, is the sound that carries the message. It should be flexible, moving from one pitch level
to another for emphasis, and should also have a variety of rates and volume. The voice also
entails the pauses, the pace, and the suspense created by the speaker’s voice when delivering
their speech. (A good voice can be heard and the words are easily understood.)

2. Manner is the indirect revelation of the speaker’s real self as the speech is delivered. The
speaker should speak with enthusiasm and assurance, showing interest in the topic of
discussion, the audience, and confidence in their reactions.

3. Non-verbal gestures adapted by a speaker are also critical. Pauses and paces relate to the
speech, the speaker has mastery of the stage and is confident and poised. Can make eye contact
and has good timing skills. (For the case of online tournaments where audio may be used, this
aspect of the mode of delivery can be omitted and the judges are advised to consider the voice
and manner to grade the speaker.)

GRADING THE LANGUAGE /20

1. Appropriateness of language refers to the choice of words that relate to the speech purpose and
the particular audience hearing the speech. Language should promote a clear understanding of
thoughts and should fit the occasion precisely.

2. Correctness of language ensures that attention will be directed towards what the speaker
says, and not how it is said. Proper use of grammar and correct pronunciation will show that
the speaker is the master of the words being used in his or her speech. (Language doesn’t include
accents of a speaker, therefore judges shouldn’t award high marks to a speaker who has an
appealing accent, but should consider the correctness of their language amidst the appealing
or non-appealing accent.

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THE END!