Foreign and Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking (FX and DX)

Brief Description:

Each student is given a speaker number, which determines when the student will be speaking.  There will be 7-minute intervals between each speaker.  The extemp draw leader calls each speaker to draw three topics and choose one of the three.  If the student is in domestic extemp, he or she will have a topic concerning the United States.  If he or she is in foreign extemp, he or she will receive a topic that deals with foreign countries.  Each speaker is allowed 30 minutes prep time.  During this time, the student researches his or her topic and prepares a speech over the drawn topic.  When the 30 minutes has been used, the extemp leader will ask him or her to go to his or her room to speak.  In each room, a judge will be waiting and each speaker will deliver his or her speech and leave the room.

What to Expect:

All extempers are allowed to use index cards (3x5) with notes on it during the first two rounds.  Good speeches should have several quotes, and these quotes should be accompanied by their sources (i.e. this quote from Time magazine, Jan 2, 20072).  In addition, the judge should note how well the student answered the question.  Finally, the judge should note other factors such as, hand gestures, movement, and pronunciation, and base decisions accordingly.  Delivery and material covered during the speech should both be taken into consideration when judging.

Keeping Time:

The time limit for each speech is 7 minutes with a 30 second grace period.  If there is no timekeeper provided, just keep time to the best of your ability.  In addition, you should try to give time signals.  When time is up, please inform the speaker, either verbally or through hand signals (a raised fist is the time for time is up).

Note:

You should not have to wait more than 5 minutes for the next speaker and please do not allow the speakers to speak out of order.

Please remember to sign all of the ballots.