Equine Extension @ Colorado State University

Public Speaking Rules

Eligibility Rules for State 4-H Conference

This is an individual contest.
Each county or area is invited to enter one contestant.
Participants may be selected by any procedure which a county deems appropriate.
Contestants must be enrolled in 4-H in the county or area they represent.
Contestant must be at least 14 years of age but not yet have reached their 19th birthday on January 1 of the current year.
Contestants must not have participated in any postsecondary (university, college, junior college or technical school) competitive public speaking contest. Neither can a contestant be a member of a postsecondary team undergoing training in preparation for such an event.

Contest Rules
1. The subject matter must pertain to the horse industry. Speeches not appropriately related to the horse industry can be disqualified at the discretion of the judge(s).

2. No visual aids may be used.

3. Contestants may use notes. However, excessive use of notes may be counted against the contestant. This will be at the discretion of the judges.

4. A public address system will not be used, but a podium will be provided.

5. During the competition the contestants may introduce themselves by name, county and speech topic.

6. Speeches should be 7 to 10 minutes in length. One point will be deducted from the total score
for each minute or fraction of a minute under 7 minutes or over 10 minutes by each of three
judges for a 3 points per minute total deduction.

7. Contestants should cite their major reference materials at the end of the competition. This time
will not be counted in the allotted time.

8. Only the judge(s) may ask questions of the contestant. Question time will not be counted in
the allotted time. Contestant should repeat the question, then answer it.

9. Contestant order will be determined by a random drawing conducted the morning prior to the contest. Superintendent may, in special circumstances, alter the contest order.

10.Ties will be broken by first the judges’ accumulated delivery score. Second by the judges’ accumulated organization score and third on content and accuracy scores.

11.For educational purposes, the management may videotape all speeches with individual consent.

12.Judges will consider the questions listed under each section. Points on the scorecard will be as
follows:

A. Introduction 10 points

1. Did the introduction serve to create interest in the subject?
2. Was introduction short and to the point?

B. Organization 25 points

1. Were the main points easy to follow?
2. Were the main points arranged in the best order?
3. Were sentences short and easy to understand?
4. Was speech interesting?

C. Content and Accuracy 25 points

1. Were facts and information accurate?
2. Was there enough information concerning the subject?
3. Was credit given to sources of information, if appropriate?
4. Was content appropriately related to the horse industry?

D. Stage Presence 10 points

1. Was speaker neat and appropriately dressed?
2. Was the speaker friendly?
3. Did speaker talk directly to audience?
4. Did speaker look at audience?
5. Was posture erect, but not stiff?
6. Did speaker refrain from leaning on podium?
7. Did speaker seem relaxed and at ease?

E. Delivery 15 points

1. Did speaker have appropriate voice control?
2. Were all words pronounced correctly?
3. Did speaker’s facial expressions reflect the mood of the speech?
4. If notes were used, was it done without detracting from the speech?
5. Did speaker seem to choose words at the time they were spoken? (Avoid a memorized
or read-type delivery).

F. General 5 points

1. Did speaker convey to the audience a sense of wanting to communicate?
2. Did speech reflect the thoughts and personality of the speaker?

G. Conclusion 10 points

1. Was the conclusion short and interesting?
2. Did the conclusion properly wrap up the speech?
3. Could the speaker handle questions easily?

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