The Spectacular Vernacular
A Public Speaking Contest - April 26th and 27th, 2013
Thank you to this year's competitors, judges, time keepers, organizers and attendees!
We are happy to announce this year's Spectacular Vernacular winners:
Dan Lastra - 1st Place Extemp
Savannah Sanburg - 1st Place Oratory
Dipendra Singh - 1st Place Water Oratory
Erik Gallion - 2nd Place Extemp
LaSalle Smith - 2nd Place Oratory
Thank you to our co-sponsor, One World One Water, and to our two guest judges for the water oratory category, author Stephen Grace of the book Dam Nation and MSU Denver alumnae Jane Weinberg. Thank you also to Black Jack Pizza for their generous donation of pizzas to feed our competitors and judges. We're looking forward to next year!
Spectacular Vernacular Information:
What: A public speaking contest with three categories, original oratory, extemporaneous, and a special oratory category focused on water issues. A contestant can compete in both oratory and extemp categories.
When: Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th
Who: Any Metro student who has completed or is currently enrolled in SPE 1010 Public Speaking
First Prize Oratory and Extemp: $100 cash and an award plaque in each category
Second Prize Oratory and Extemp: $50 cash and an award plaque in each category
First Prize Water Issues Oratory: $100 cash and an award plaque
Original Oratory Category: Competitors may present speeches that are designed to do one or more of the following: advocate, persuade, convince, inspire, evoke, motivate, commemorate, celebrate, eulogize, or entertain. Although competitors select their own topic, they are encouraged to focus on topics such as embracing diversity, freedom of speech, war and peace, civility in communication, civic engagement, multi-cultural sensitivity, environmental advocacy, social justice, and personal space in an age of digital discourse. We discourage speeches that involve dramatic reading or rendition of material from poems, songs, or existing speeches. This is NOT a dramatic or oral interpretation event. The speech MUST be the speaker's original work.
The speaker's first speech will be given sometime on Friday, April 26th (time to be determined during registration). The competitor will deliver their oratory in a round with four other contestants. If he or she places first, that person will move on to the second round, also on Friday. The top-scoring speakers will move on to the semi-final and final rounds on Saturday, April 27th.
Visual aids and power points are not allowed. Use of notes is highly discouraged. Speakers must use the same speech throughout the tournament. The speech should be 8-10 minutes long.
Extemporaneous Category: Outside of oratory, extemporaneous speaking is the most common type of individual speaking in competitive tournaments across the country. Competitors will draw three topics from a "hat" containing 50 topics that are both timely and timeless. The speaker selects one of the three topics. The competitor will be given 30 minutes to prepare an 8-10 minute speech. Competitors are encouraged to bring a laptop to assist them in researching their topic.
The speaker's first speech will be given sometime Friday (to be determined during registration). The person speaks in her or his round with four other contestants. If she or he places first, that person will move on to the second round, also on Friday. The best speakers will move onto the semi-final and final rounds on Saturday, April 27. Visual aids and power points are not allowed. Use of notes is highly discouraged. Speakers must use the same extemp speech throughout the tournament.
Judging Criteria: There will be one judge in each of the preliminary rounds and three judges in each semi-final round. Each of the two final rounds will have seven judges. Although judges will be using ballots to determine points for each speaker, as a general rule speeches will be evaluated based on an equal weighing of content and delivery.
