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Public AddressIndividual
Expository Speaking
A five-minute original informative speech — Informative's compact sibling. Clarity, economy, and audience interest with half the runway.
Time
5 minutes (30-second grace)
Prep
N/A (prepared)
Format
Individual
Round structure
Hook & thesis
Earn attention in 30 seconds and state exactly what the audience will learn.
Two or three tight points
Each point: claim, explanation, vivid example. No detours — five minutes forgives nothing.
Callback close
Return to the hook and leave one memorable takeaway.
What judges look for
- A topic the judge didn't know they cared about
- Ruthless economy — every sentence earns its slot
- Clear organization with signposts
- Accurate, well-chosen support
- Energy that makes information feel like discovery
Ballot criteria
Topic & clarityCritical
Interesting, appropriately scoped, clearly explained.
OrganizationHigh
Structure and signposting within five minutes.
SupportHigh
Accurate research and examples.
DeliveryHigh
Engagement and pacing.
Practice tips
- Write at 130 wpm for ~600 words; cut 10% for breathing room.
- Explain your topic to a friend in 60 seconds — that's your outline.
- Drill transitions; short speeches live or die on flow.
- Time every run; the grace period is not a target.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a 10-minute topic and sprinting through it
- Data dumps without explanation
- A persuasive speech wearing an informative costume
- Flat delivery that undersells an interesting topic
Drills for this event
ClarityEconomyStructureEngagement