Informative Speaking
This contest is all about watching the clock and knowing your material. You’ll draw a current event and have 30 minutes to
comb through files you’ve collected throughout the year. Then you’ll present a speech that informs your audience on all
aspects of the current event you’ve researched.
The purpose of informative speaking is to stimulate an active interest in current affairs at the state, national and
international levels, and to teach the student to present extemporaneously in a clear and impartial manner the
facts about a subject as they appear in the best available sources of information. This contest is an exercise in clear
thinking and informing the public on the issues and concerns of the American people. The objective is to present
information in an interesting way, and an attempt should not be made to change the listener’s mind beyond
presenting the information.
Persuasive Speaking
Similar to informative speaking, in this contest you have 30 minutes to review your research files on a particular current
event and come to a conclusion to argue about that topic. The goal of your speech is not just to present relevant
information, but to convince your audience that your position is solid.
This contest trains students to analyze a current issue, determine a point of view, and organize and deliver a
speech that seeks to persuade listeners. The objective is to reinforce the views of listeners who already believe as
the speaker does, but even more so, to bring those of neutral or opposing views around to the speaker’s beliefs or
proposed course of action. This contest should especially appeal to those who have a strong argumentative urge
and who wish to advocate reforms or outline solutions to current problems.