KENNEDY

Dear Coaches and Competitors,

We are excited to welcome you to the 2025 Kennedy Middle School Speech Tournament, as we enter our thirteenth year of hosting this annual middle school tournament!
We sincerely believe that it is more important than ever to cultivate the voices of the next generation through this great activity. The 2025 Kennedy Middle School Speech Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 12th, 2025, and will be hosted in person at Kennedy Middle School. Our tournament will be hosted by the Kennedy Middle School Speech Team; it will be organized, judged, and run by experienced members, captains, and coaches from the award-winning Monta Vista Speech Team (ranked 10th in CA; top 3 titles at Berkeley, Stanford, and James Logan Invitationals).

Please read below for important details pertaining to the tournament. We look forward to hosting you, and to a lively weekend of passionate speaking. Best of luck to your team; we can’t wait to see you in April!

Tournament Format

Entirely In-Person. All preliminary and elimination rounds will be held synchronously in classrooms.
Three preliminary rounds. The tournament will host three preliminary rounds, breaking to finals.

Events and Rules

The Kennedy tournament will be offering 7 events: Dramatic Interpretation (DI), Humorous Interpretation (HI), Duo Interpretation (DUO), Oratorical Interpretation/Declamation (OI), Original Oratory (OO), Spontaneous Argumentation (SPAR), and Impromptu (IMP). Rules and guidelines for each event are provided below. Please note that we reserve the right to collapse events based on the number of entries.
No student will be penalized for being undertime, but may be ranked down in a round if the length of the speech detracts from the quality of performance.

Dramatic Interpretation (DI)
A piece of published work that is written by someone else (books, plays, movies are all accepted), with multiple different characters, and performed like a one-person play. Generally a more dramatic script that includes serious plots and tragic events.

Timing: A 10 minute speech; 30 second grace period
Rules/Regulations: Performers may only use their own bodies, and any use of props will result in a penalty within the round. Students may not consult the script during their speech and will be penalized at the judge’s discretion if caught doing so.

Humorous Interpretation (HI)
A piece of published work that is written by someone else (books, plays, movies are all accepted), with multiple different characters, and performed like a one-person play. Generally a more humorous script that includes jokes, silly gags, and fast-paced action.

Timing: A 10 minute speech; 30 second grace period
Rules/Regulations: Performers may only use their own bodies, and any use of props will result in a penalty within the round. Students may not consult the script during their speech and will be penalized at the judge’s discretion if caught doing so.

Duo Interpretation (DUO)
A piece of published work that is written by someone else (books, plays, movies are all accepted), with multiple different characters, and performed like a two-person play. Can be dramatic, comedic, or a combination of both.

Timing: A 10 minute speech; 30 second grace period
Rules/Regulations: Performers may only use their own bodies, and any use of props will result in a penalty within the round. Students may not touch their partner or make eye contact with their partner. Students may not consult the script during their speech and will be penalized at the judge’s discretion if caught doing so.

Oratorical Interpretation/Declamation (OI)
A published speech written by someone else that was actually delivered in a public forum. You must analyze and understand the goals and motivation of the original speaker, and interpret the speech with a new voice for a new audience. Remember: it is not an impersonation, it is an interpretation.

Timing: A 10 minute speech; 30 second grace period.
Rules/Regulations::
- No combining separate speeches.
- Include an introduction with the name of the author, the title of the oration, if any, and the name of the source where the oration was published. You also need to include the place and date of the original delivery.
- You may add a maximum of 150 words, including the introduction and any transitions. The editing and/or delivery must not change the author’s intent.
- Students may not consult the script during their speech and will be penalized at the judge’s discretion if caught doing so.
- Performers may only use their own bodies, and any use of props will result in a penalty within the round.

Adapted from the 2013 CHSSA OI guidelines.

Original Oratory (OO)
A self-written, persuasive speech on a topic of the speaker’s choosing. Competitors craft an argument using the foundations of rhetoric, including utilization of evidence, logic, and emotional appeals. Topics range widely, but should be informative or persuasive in nature and call for the audience to resolve the issue. The speech must be delivered from memory.
Competitors may also present an Original Advocacy (OA) speech, which is a persuasive speech about a societal issue that calls on the government/Congress to solve the issue. If a competitor chooses to do this, they are responsible for notifying their judges in each round that their speech is an OA.

Timing: A 10 minute speech; 30 second grace period
Rules/Regulations: All direct quotations and primary sources must be cited verbally within the body of the speech (up to 150 quoted words). Use of another person’s words or ideas without crediting them is plagiarism and is strictly forbidden. No props, audio, or visual aids may be used. Profanity, obscene content, and vulgar language are strictly prohibited. The speech must be written entirely by the speaker, though quotes from verbally cited sources may be included. Students may request time signals from the judge, but are responsible for ensuring that their performance is within the aforementioned time guidelines.

Impromptu (IMP)
A spontaneous event in which competitors construct a speech given random topics, which can range from objects around the house to current events. Competitors will generally be offering analysis and commentary on social phenomena and tendencies, but have the creative liberty to present their given topic in a manner of their choosing.

Timing: 2 minutes of preparation for a 5 minute speech; 30 second grace period (up to 5:30).
Rules/Regulations: Notes may be taken during prep time, but cannot be used or consulted by the competitor while speaking. Competitors are not allowed to consult outside resources or materials (i.e. previously taken notes, Internet, etc.) during preparation or while speaking. No props can be used. Competitors are welcome to ask judges for time signals, but are ultimately responsible for ensuring that their speeches are within the timing guidelines above. Competitors are also welcome to time themselves for their reference, though the judge’s time is official.
Topic Categories:
- Concrete: Physical, tangible objects
- Abstract: Intangible items (eg. emotions, ideas)
- Quotes: A quotation from a text or speech
- Current Events: Important events that are happening in the world, likely an article headline

Fines
Please note that the Kennedy Tournament will be instituting a drop fee. Students who do not show up for a round or cancel last minute after registering will be charged a $30 drop fee.

Judging Policy
Teams are not required to provide any judges. Students will be receiving high-quality feedback from experienced captains and varsity members of the Monta Vista Speech team.
Parent chaperones will be provided by Kennedy Middle School. Parent chaperones will be present in each room to monitor behavior; therefore, you do not need to provide additional parent chaperones. GSA coaches will still be chaperoning at the tournament.

Divisions

The Kennedy Middle School Speech Tournament will be a middle school only tournament, and there will be no distinction between novice/varsity competitors for each event. All middle school competitors (grades six through eight) are welcome to compete.
All competitors must be in middle school. Competitors must be in either sixth, seventh, or eighth grade. No high schoolers will be allowed to compete.

Dates and Deadlines

Fri, 3/18 - Registration Deadline
- After this date, any drops made will not be provided refunds.
Fri, 3/25 - Drop Deadline (please email Nadia at [email protected])
- Drops after this date will be charged a $30 drop fee.
Sat, 4/12 - Tournament Day

Observer Policy

While the Kennedy Tournament is an excellent opportunity for competitors to showcase their own skills, it also provides the opportunity for parents to observe their child’s progress in public speaking and for students to spectate final rounds and learn from fellow speakers.
Parents and coaches will be allowed to spectate during all preliminary and final rounds.
Competitors will be allowed to spectate during final rounds. Competitors are highly encouraged to spectate.

Double-Entry

Double-entry is allowed with all events. Competitors are allowed to double-enter in any combination of the events offered: Original Oratory, Oratorical Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Spontaneous Argumentation and Impromptu.
No triple-entry allowed. In the interest of ensuring the tournament runs on schedule, competitors are not permitted to enter in three or more events. Competitors may enter in up to two events.
Competitors are responsible for getting to their rounds on time. If a competitor is double-entered, they should ask to go first for the event they plan to do first. Judges will be made aware of expected double-entries and will accommodate accordingly.

Liability Form/Waivers
The link below contains the liability form required for every competitor attending the tournament. Please make sure to sign it before you proceed with the registration.
Tournament Waiver [REQUIRED]

Food Purchase
Given that our tournament will be run the entire day on the Kennedy Middle School campus, we will be offering meals (including pizza, chips, fruit, and water) to all competitors for $5 each. Each competitor can purchase up to 3 meals. Payments must be made prior to the tournament via a TBD online food form. Check back later for the link.

Equity Statement/Etiquette Expectations
Competitors are expected to be on their best behavior, and failure to meet our expectations may result in follow-up with school administrations and subsequent disciplinary action. All competitors are expected to follow standard Speech tournament etiquette, including but not limited to showing support to teammates and competitors, being respectful to judges and competitors, and being punctual to rounds.
We have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination of any kind. We expect all competitors, coaches, judges, and staff to make a commitment to providing a safe environment for all students to compete.

KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL SPEECH TOURNAMENT

12 April 2025

Information

Entry Price

Schedule - PST

Drop Fee

Contact Info

Registration Form

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Check our home page for the schedule!

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