Scroll down for descriptions of public speaking and performance of literature categories, as well as details of differences between categories and rules among various Speech associations.
2024-25 Topics #
Moments in History #
Choose one or both time periods:
- 1840-1900 and/or
- 1940-1949
Examples of areas students might consider: politics, military action, historic sites, monuments, natural disasters, ethnology, legends, folklore, science, inventions, medicine, arts, entertainment, geography, transportation, sports, religion, heroes, villains, personalities, significant speeches, fashion, and fads.
Public Address #
Choose one topic question:
- To what extent will artificial intelligence impact the future of work and/or education?
- To what extent, if any, should a personal media presence be utilized in the hiring process?
- To what extent, if any, should amateur Olympic athletes be paid or sponsored for training and participation?
- What measures, if any, should the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) implement to safeguard the environment for hunting and fishing?
- How has the changing nature of media impacted dynamics of elections?
Special Occasion #
Choose one occasion:
- Welcome speech to a summer camp
- Villain monologue
- Motivational speech from a coach or advisor
- Scholarship speech
Storytelling #
Prepare a story for each topic area. Each topic area number corresponds to the round to which that topic will be assigned at festivals (e.g., Round 2 = story of advocacy/allyship). Students get to choose which topic to perform at State.
- Unlikely heroes
- Pourquoi tale (origin story or why something is)
- Story involving a clothing accessory
Category Descriptions #
Brief descriptions are not a substitute for full rules. Please download the WISDAA Speech Handbook on the Speech Contests page.
Public Speaking #
Students write original speeches, and may use one 4″ x 6″ note card, where students are encouraged to outline or include speaking points, rather than word-for-word manuscripts (so they can engage better with audiences).
| Max. Time | Max. Time | Visuals | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expository Speech | 5 min. | Present a speech with a narrow enough topic to be developed adequately in the time provided to share knowledge, educate and/or raise awareness. | |
| Extemporaneous Speech | 7 min. | 30 minutes prior to speaking, the contestant will select a question from which to phrase a direct and clear answer and support it with evidence and reasoning. | |
| Impromptu Speech | 5 min. | Spontaneously provide a direct response to the prompt drawn with an original, well-organized and imaginative interpretation, supported by personal examples. | |
| Informative/Demonstration Speech | 10 min. | 1-2 speakers offer new information, fresh perspective, and/or instruction to allow an audience to gain knowledge and understanding of a topic and/or process. | |
| Moments in History | 6 min. | Explore an historical topic within prescribed topics, using such sources as archival records, diaries, personal interviews, letters, newspapers, etc. | |
| Oratory Speech | 10 min. | Persuade with compelling language by offering a solution to a problem; to take action in response to a situation; or potentially reinforce and strengthen attitudes. | |
| Public Address | 8 min. | Selecting from prescribed topics, contribute to public dialog on a contemporary issue by presenting a well-informed speech (or two brief pro-con speeches within the 8-min. time limit) directly responding to a question about that issue. | |
| Special Occasion | 6 min. | Responding to a prescribed topic area, deliver a speech appropriate to a specific occasion and its probable audience by entertaining, persuading, or informing. |
Performance of Literature #
Contestants interpret literature to convey the human existence, exploring psychology of characters, to mine the artistry of language, and/or cultivate arguments surrounding themes/issues. Key: Book = performed from manuscript; Brain = memorized.
| Category | Max. Time | Mode | Original | Quality | Genres | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farrago | 10 min. | Variety (poetry, short stories, speeches, essays, drama, songs, novels) | Material from a variety of literary genres address a central theme. | |||
| Group Interpretive Reading | 12 min. | Any except drama | 2-5 readers compile and present a script with symbolic interpretation such that the audience imagines action being described rather than witnessing it being performed. | |||
| Play Acting | 12 min. | Single play (dramatic literature) | 2-5 performers act a scene or cutting from a single play with emphasis on character development, ensemble, and appropriate physical movement. | |||
| Poetry Reading | 8 min. | Poetry, verse, song lyrics | One or more poems center on a theme or emotion; delivery mines the artistry of language. | |||
| Prose Reading | 8 min. | Short stories, cuttings from novels, drama, essays, nonfiction | One or more works of prose — including short stories, cutting from novels, drama, essays, or other non-fiction work — center on a specific theme or emotion. | |||
| Radio News Reporting | 5 min. | Provided script of news, sports, weather, and a commercial. | 30 minutes prior to reading, the contestant organizes from a variety of types of news as well as a commercial, a precise newscast cut and edited to 5 minutes. | |||
| Solo Acting Humorous/Serious | 10 min. | Any genre | The contestant convincingly acts characterization(s) to transport the audience to the world of the material peformed. | |||
| Storytelling | 8 min. | Any genre; most often, narrative prose | Chronicle and perform events in a coherent, unified, clear, and interesting manner, while seated and conveying a sense of audience for one of the prescribed topic areas. |
Wisconsin Speech Category Differences #
Summary of rules differences between the WISDAA, Wisconsin Forensic Coaches’ Association (WFCA), National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA), and National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL).
| Category | WISDAA* | WFCA | NSDA | NCFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Informative/ Demonstration (WISDAA); Informative (WFCA, NSDA) | One 4x 6 note card allowed; Second person may have shared speaking role. | Labeled as “Informative.” | Prohibits food. | Not offered. |
| Duo Interpretation | Not offered; may adapt from Group Interp. or Play Acting. | May come from any published source including online. | Restrictive guidelines for source material. | Restrictive guidelines for source material. |
| Expository | One 4x 6 note card allowed. | Notes allowed. | Supplemental event at National Tournament. | Not offered. |
| Extemporaneous | One 4x 6 note card allowed. | One 4x 6 note card allowed. | No notes allowed when speaking (unless pilot used). International and United States categories. | No notes allowed when speaking. |
| Farrago (Wis.) Program of Oral Interp. (NSDA) | Contestants presenting a transitionless program must announce as such. | Adaptations should be for continuity; gender/pronoun changes or to avoid potentially offensive language. Lines attributed to one character may not be attributed to another. Platform movement should be minimal and non-intrusive to performance. Manuscript may be memorized and/or used as a prop. | Restrictive guidelines for source material. | Not offered. |
| Group Interpretive Reading | Time limit: 12 minutes; chairs/stools/ reading stands allowed. | Time limit: 10 minutes; see manuscript in Farrago. | Not offered. Two-person performance may adapt to Duo if memorized. | Not offered. |
| Impromptu | Time limit: 5 minutes. One 4x 6 note card allowed. | Time limit: 5 minutes. One 4x 6 note card allowed. | Offered as 7-min. supplemental at National Tournament. No notes (unless pilot used). | Not offered. |
| Moments in History | Topic areas developed in cooperation with WFCA. One 4x 6 note card allowed. | Topic areas developed in cooperation with WISDAA. Notes allowed. | Not offered. | Not offered. |
| Oral Interp. of Literature | Not offered. | Manuscript may be used as a prop. | Not offered. | Specific rules govern movement. |
| Oratorical Declamation | Non-Original Oratory for middle level contests only. | Not offered; some invitationals offer NCFL version. | Not offered. | For 9th and 10th grade students only. |
| Oratory | One 4x 6 note card allowed. | Must be memorized. | Must be memorized. | Must be memorized. |
| Play Acting | Time limit: 12 minutes; must be from a single work of drama. | Time limit: 10 minutes; see adaptations in Farrago. | Not offered. Two-person play may adapt to Duo. | Not offered. Two-person play may be adapted to Duo. |
| Poetry Interp/Reading Prose Interp/Reading | Contestants presenting a transitionless program must announce as such. | See adaptations/platform movement/manuscript in Farrago. | Each offered as 5-min. supplemental event at National Tournament. | Not offered; see Oral Interp. of Literature. |
| Public Address | Utilizes annual topic areas; speakers may utilize option for NSDA’s Pro-Con format. | No longer offered. May adapt to Oratory. | See event of Pro-Con Challenge (supplemental event at National Tournament). | Not offered. |
| Radio | Specific point deduction framework for timing. | Same as WISDAA, except point framework. | Not offered. | Not offered. |
| Solo Acting Humorous (Wis.) Humorous Interp (NSDA), Dramatic Perf. (NCFL) | Single stationary chair allowed. | Different evaluation criteria for humorous/serious. See adaptations in Farrago. | Restrictive guidelines for source material. | Single category – mixed humorous/serious contestants. |
| Solo Acting Serious (Wis.) Dramatic Interp (NSDA), Dramatic Perf. (NCFL) |
Single stationary chair allowed. |
Different evaluation criteria for humorous/serious. See adaptations in Farrago. | Restrictive guidelines for source material. | Single category – mixed humorous/serious contestants. |
| Special Occasion | Topic areas developed in cooperation with WFCA. | Topic areas developed in cooperation with WISDAA. | Not offered. | Not offered. |
| Storytelling | 3 topic areas developed in cooperation with WFCA. | 3 topic areas developed in cooperation with WISDAA. Allowance for multiple stories. | Offered as 5-min. supplemental event at National Tournament. | Not offered. |
* In WISDAA all manuscripts in interpretive categories and note cards in speech categories must be paper (and not digital devices). WISDAA also allows students to utilize a speaker stand, if they provide it.
