Competition Guidelines

General Guidelines

The Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA) competition consists of three parts:

            

             ● A five minute Prepared Speech.

             ● A two minute Impromptu Speech

             ● A two minute Interview.  The Interview is only conducted at state and national final

                 level and is non-assessed.

The LJPSA is not debating, elocution or acting. The Award is concerned with the speaker’s use of language to convey a message or a point of view to an interested audience. 

Choice of words, intonation, articulation, pace and pausing are all-important in communicating the message.  Anything which hinders the transmission of meaning should be avoided, for example:

 

Unnecessary and inappropriate gestures,

Affected pronunciation,

Over use of dramatics,

Unnecessary movement around the stage,

Irrelevant humour, and

Mannerisms which divert attention from the subject of the speech.

Each contestant will be required to deliver two speeches:

Prepared Speech 

The prepared speech is to be of five (5) minutes duration on a topic of the contestant’s choosing, criteria on any subject relating to the ideals of voluntary service, social justice, sense of community, caring, personal sacrifice and/or personal effort.

 

The topic should have substance, which in the time available should be developed logically to a convincing conclusion. [Judges will be looking for knowledge of the subject matter, sincerity in the presentation of material, skilful development of the theme and the effective use of plain English. Originality is encouraged.]

A warning bell will be given at the end of four minutes, then at five minutes.

Impromptu Speech Criteria

The impromptu speech is to be of two (2) minutes duration with five (5) minutes preparation time. The topic chosen will be broad in nature, capable of a variety of interpretations to suit the experience and background of 12 to 14-year-olds. The same topic is given to each competitor.

The speech is intended to reveal a competitor’s ability to develop a pont of view on a general topic and to organize a presentation within limited preparation time.

Judges will be looking for clarity of thought, logical organization, sincerity and the effective use of plain English.

 

A warning bell is given at the end of 1 ½ minutes. 

Interview

 

The state and national finals will also include a non-assessed two minute interview based on information provided in the contestant’s personal profile.

Entrant Limits

 

Zone Finals. Schools/colleges are limited to two (2) entrants only. Schools are encouraged to conduct their own competition to select these representatives.

Speech Notes

 

Speech notes are not to be used by competitors in the presentation of their speeches. Cue or palm cards are permitted; however, their use is to be unobtrusive and should not affect the speaker’s visual engagement of the audience.

 

Microphones

 

Public speaking includes the ability to project the voice to an audience, therefore the use of a microphone is not allowed.

 

Lecterns

                                                                                                                                                 Lecterns create a physical barrier between the speaker and the audience and detract from the presentation , therefore the use of lectern is not allowed.

 

Prizes

 

All contestants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

 

All state finalists will receive a Certificate of Commendation and book prize, and the state winners will each receive individual trophies.

 

National finalists will each be awarded a medallion recording their participation in the event. The winner will be presented with the perpetual trophy, to be held by the students school/college for one year, and will receive a certificate and cash prize of $500.

 

The runner-up and 3rd place-getter at the national final will each receive a certificate and cash prize of $200 and $100 respectively.