Scroll down for descriptions of public speaking and performance of literature categories.
2024-25 Topics #
Extemporaneous Speech #
Theme A: Media & Artificial Intelligence
- How is artificial intelligence impacting how people consume news?
- To what extent is artificial intelligence impacting the film industry?
- How should a person’s media presence be utilized in the hiring process?
- How has the changing nature of media impacted dynamics of elections?
Theme B: Sports and Recreation
- To what extent, if any, should amateur Olympic athletes be paid or sponsored for training and participation?
- Are enough safety measures in place to address traumatic brain injuries in middle and high school athletics?
- To what extent is turf or grass better for football and soccer?
- To what extent do spectator sports events help a local economy?
Theme C: Environmental Issues
- How well do Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) policies regulate wildlife population?
- What lessons, if any, can forestry experts learn from the Menominee Nation (incorporated as the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin)?
- To what extent have green industries in Wisconsin been successful?
- What measures, if any, should the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) implement to safeguard the environment for hunting and fishing?
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.
Pro-Con #
Select one question and develop two contrasting speeches of up to four minutes apiece:
- Resolved, artificial intelligence will positively impact the future of work and/or education.
- Resolved, that personal media presence should be utilized in the hiring process.
- Resolved, amateur Olympic athletes should be paid or sponsored for training and participation.
- Resolved, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) should enact additional policies to safeguard the environment for hunting and fishing.
- Resolved, the changing nature of media has negatively 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
Category Descriptions #
Brief descriptions are not a substitute for full rules. Please consult the Middle Level Speech Handbook on the Middle Level 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 | 4 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 | 6 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. | |
| 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. | |
| News Reporting | 10 min. | 1-3 students develop a newscast surrounding current events, suitable for TV or radio, reading from a manuscript. | |
| Persuasive Speech | 8 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. | |
| Pro-Con (Pilot) | Two X 4 min. | Present two speeches of up to 4. min. with contrasting viewpoints on one of the prescribed annual questions provided by WISDAA. | |
| Special Occasion | 4 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 | Genres | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Original Oratory | 8 min. | / | Speech | The contestant presents a speech originally delivered by someone else. |
| Play Acting | 10 min. | Single play (dramatic literature) | 2-7 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. | |
| Readers Theatre | 10 min. | Any genre | 2-7 readers compile and present a script with symbolic interpretation such that the audience imagines action being described rather than witnessing it being performed. | |
| Solo Acting | 8 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. |
