The Speech and Debate NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) District Competition was on March 12-14th. Several students from Fair Grove High School competed.
Colton Hicks (12) competed in the events of Storytelling, Informative Speaking, and Prose Reading. Hicks explained, “Storytelling is a kids book that is performed in a chair and it’s eight minutes in length. Informative Speaking is a ten minutes event and it has informative boards that provide a visual aid in your performance and it is written yourself. Prose reading is a cutting from a book or monologue that you read from a binder for eight minutes maximum.”
Hicks stated that before performing, he prepared by choosing a good event for him. After deciding the event, he found good pieces to present, and began adding movement to help him perform.
Hicks explained his favorite memory, “My favorite memory is the awards ceremonies where we just get to watch and support our competitors, and our team, as well as receiving awards ourselves.”
Maggie Johnson (9) competed in HI or Humorous Interpretation. The event is essentially Johnson narrating or retelling a ten minute story that she believes is funny. Johnson prepared for this event by doing a high level of practicing.
Johnson stated her favorite experience, “My favorite experience was probably any time that we left a tournament and we got food. We would eat and talk and make jokes.”
Xaila Neighbors (10) competed in Dramatic Interpretation, Prose, and Improv Duet Acting. Dramatic Interpretation is a ten minute speech about a dramatic event or story. Prose is an eight minute speech that is read out of a binder. Improv Duet Acting is five minutes of improvisation between two people. Neighbors explained that she practiced as much as she could and tried to take in all the advice that she was given. Neighbors stated, “I love when we go to eat after a long day at the schools.”
Alyssa Wade (12) competed in Original Oratory and Dramatic Interpretation. Original Oratory was Wade’s main event where she wrote, memorized, and performed a persuasive speech. Wade added that Dramatic Interpretation is not her usual event, but she was filling in for someone else. Wade prepared for Original Oratory by practicing a lot and making sure her facts were still up to date.
The Speech and Debate Team’s season has now concluded, but the memories and experiences the members have received will continue on to the next season.
