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Public AddressIndividual
Declamation
Deliver a speech someone else wrote and delivered publicly. A re-interpretation, not an impression — borrowed words that must land as your own. A foundational event for novices and middle schoolers.
Time
10 minutes maximum (30-second grace)
Prep
N/A (prepared)
Format
Individual
Round structure
Introduction
Name the speech, the original speaker, and the context — then tell the judge why it still matters.
The speech
A cutting of the original that preserves its argument and arc within the time limit.
Build to the landing
Great declamations escalate: pace, intensity, and stakes should rise toward the original's strongest moment.
What judges look for
- Natural delivery, not an impression of the original speaker
- Understanding of the speech's argument, shown through emphasis
- A cutting that keeps the logic intact
- Clean memorization under pressure
- Vocal and physical variety that serves the text
Ballot criteria
Selection & cuttingHigh
Speech choice, fit, and a cutting that preserves logic.
InterpretationCritical
Understanding shown through emphasis and pacing.
DeliveryCritical
Natural, varied, connected to the audience.
MemorizationMedium
Fluency without visible retrieval.
Practice tips
- Pick a speech whose emotional range matches yours — reach is a next-season goal.
- Study the original context deeply, then deliberately stop imitating the original delivery.
- Mark the argument's beats in the margin and rehearse transitions between them.
- Run the final third twice as often as the opening — endings win rounds.
Common mistakes
- Monotone recitation that proves memorization but nothing else
- Imitating the original speaker's accent or cadence
- Cutting that guts the speech's logic
- Over-dramatizing an essentially informational speech
Drills for this event
DeliveryText interpretationMemorizationCutting