ECRCHS Speech and Debate

In this spontaneous event, the speaker prepares the speech in the judge’s presence. The topics vary by round, from brief quotations to current events, to personalities, to single-word abstracts. From the time you are handed your choice of 3 topics, you have 2 minutes to prepare the speech. Prep time begins as soon as you are handed the topics. The maximum speaking time is 5 minutes, and no notes may be used during the speech. Unless there is a timer in the room, the judge gives time signals, usually at 2 mins, 3, 4, 4:30, and a 10 second countdown using finger signals, not vocal cues. Experienced Impromptu speakers will go right to the wire! There is no minimum time in this event, but length is rewarded. The speech may be humorous or serious and will be judged on content, organization, adherence to topic, and delivery.