Ideally, teams in the open event should consist of four speakers and competitive teams must consist of three speakers. If only three speakers in a grade are willing to speak in the open event, a three-member team is permissible. In this instance, the three-member team must:

• Speak for the full fifteen minute allocation
• With the chair playing the conventional chair’s role and delivering a full speech

Once he or she has introduced the team, the chair elaborates briefly on how the team will address the topic. It is the chair’s role to link each of the speakers and to integrate the team’s speeches. The chair is also responsible for demonstrating to the audience the logical connection between the viewpoints or aspects presented by each team member. Essentially, the chair synthesises the team’s message and brings together the various separate speeches into one coherent message. Finally, the chair concludes the team’s core message.

Each speaker presents a different aspect of the topic or elaborates on another part of the topic. Speakers should develop the problem or issue in some way and add to the depth and interest of the message in a balanced and cohesive fashion. Three independent or insular speeches will not convey a united or cohesive message to the audience.

The chair sits in the first seat to the right of the team and the speakers sit in their order of speaking.

When team members stand up to deliver a speech they are required to stand in front of their own seat or to take no more than one or two steps forward. A speaker should always be careful not to mask other speakers.

Before the session each team is required to complete and hand to the master of ceremonies an information card.

Speakers are required to speak, not perform dramatically. Songs, choral verse and other gimmicks are not permitted.

Whether you are a speaker or a teacher in charge of public speaking we can provide assistance with regard to the skills required for preparing and delivering speeches. SDCSA offers training workshops specifically designed to help in this regard.

Teachers must make certain that the correct topics for juniors (grades 7, 8 and 9) and seniors (grades 10, 11 and 12) respectively are given to the appropriate grades. Proof of source material must be supplied to the adjudicator. Topics will be available on the website from October 2017.

We recommend that experienced speakers participate in this section. Topics for the SDCSA Trophy Team and Guild Trophy Individual Speaker are own choice.