Centennial Middle School Speech Team
The Centennial Middle School Speech Team end-of-year Finals results
The team took 2nd place in the 2023 finals!
Special thanks to this year’s Captains – Addie Cramer and McKenna Stone!
Congrats to next year’s Captains – Brennan Carlson and Britta Clapp!
Click the photos below to view in a larger gallery.
SCHEDULE
Activity buses for speech team practices may or may not be available.
DECEMBER PRACTICE:
All practices in the middle school auditorium
- 5th - 3:00 pm to 4:40 pm
- 9th - 3:00 pm to 4:40 pm
- 13th - 3:00 pm to 4:40 pm
- 16th - 3:00 pm to 4:40 pm
- 20th - 3:00 pm to 4:40 pm
JANUARY MEETS: SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
- 5th - speech meet 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Minnetonka middle school West
- 12th - speech meet 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm add Minnetonka middle school East
- 17th - speech meet 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm AT CENTENNIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
- 24th - speech meet 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm add Eden Prairie middle school
2022-2023 Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
- What is the future of the electric vehicle? Should Congress require that all new vehicles sold be electric by a set date?
- Should the United States supply and support Ukraine to the end of the Russian conflict?
- What is the future of “work” in the post-COVID world
- Should we be promoting or discouraging oil drilling in the United States?
- What should be done about the fentanyl crisis?
- Should the price of insulin (or other life-sustaining drugs) be regulated by the government for affordability or should pharmaceutical companies be allowed to set the price?
- Should the U.S. Government require social media companies to address the recent rise in racist and antisemitic rhetoric? If yes, how? If no, why not?
- Should the United States stay on Daylight Saving time, Standard Time, or continue to switch between the two?
Storytelling
Extemp Reading:
ONLY THESE 8 CATEGORIES FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
FROM THE BOOK
There is No Long Distance Now by Naomi Shihab Nye, Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins), 2011.
- Somebody Needs to Be Punished
- Easter Bonnet
- Enough
- We Like You For Your Flaws
- My Gospel
- New Man
- Mary Alvarez is Ninety Today
- There is No Long Distance Now
Speech Information
- LOG INTO PARENT PORTAL TO REGISTER FOR SPEECH NOW!
- Parent Portal Registration is Now Open! Click here for instructions.
- Students will pick a category from the list below. They will stick with that speech for ALL 4 of the meets. They don’t change it.
- The student researches and writes their own speech OR finds a speech already written. Depending on the category they choose. Some categories require you to write your own, (I.E. Informative, Original Oratory, Great Speeches... ) some require you to find an already-written piece, (I.E. Drama, Poetry, Duets...)and some require you to prepare for up to 12 speeches, and one of those will be randomly drawn before your speech, and you will have thirty minutes to prepare. (I.E. Extemp Categories, Storytelling).
- The best course is to think about what it is you want to say or do, and then figure out what category it fits into. If you want to do a dramatic reading, or if you want to give a speech on global warming, or if you love the challenge of being ready to do a speech with a quick turnaround and being well versed in a lot of different information....but think first about what you want to do.
- They need to try and have picked a category before the first class. If they need help Mr. Webster will help them through it in the first meeting, but they have to come back to the next meeting prepared with their chosen category and the material ready. Please make the effort to have your category and speech material before the first meeting.
- The speeches need to be printed out or handwritten and affixed to a black piece of construction paper that they hold.
- They read from the printouts at the meets, yes, but the more familiar they are with the piece the higher the points – eye contact is essential! Off book is the best! But being really familiar with the piece and making eye contact is important!
- At the meets, they will perform their piece twice for two different judges. They are given a score. If their score is good they will ribbon! Ribbons scores are superior/excellent and good. Only Superior gets ribbons.
- The students see all the judges' sheets and comments for them to work on.
- They are scored on -
- Introduction – (They need to write an introduction which is judged and graded separately from the piece)
- Audience contact
- Voice – control/clarity/diction/projection/expression
- Blocked movement –(If applicable)
- Characterization – (if applicable)
- Eye contact
- Posture/gestures
- Total effectiveness
- In January they go to the meets. That schedule is posted on the "Speech" main page.
- They will get out of school, usually around 1:30/2:00, on the days of meets. They get on a bus, go compete, and back to Centennial around 8:00.
- Speeches need to be printed or written out and mounted on black construction paper.
- Speeches are 4-7 Minutes in length.
- Dress to impress!

2023 Centennial Middle School Speech Team
The categories:
- Creative Expression
- The speaker presents an original, creative piece. They are judged on writing as well as delivery.
- Duo Interpretation or duets
- A pair of speakers present a piece together. Body contact is not allowed and speakers are only allowed eye contact with each other. during the introduction and transitions. This can be a two-person scene from a play – dramatic or humorous.
- Extemporaneous Reading
- The speaker draws three "cuttings" (a portion of a story) from a selection of around twenty short stories before the meet begins. The speaker chooses one of the three to read and is given thirty minutes to practice it and memorize and introduction. The selections are provided ahead of time, at the beginning of the speech season. The speaker must be prepared to do ANY of them they may draw on the day of the meet.
- Extemporaneous Speaking
- Same as above but focuses on current events. The topics are provided ahead of time, at the beginning of the speech season. The speaker draws three national or international current event questions and is given thirty minutes to prepare a seven-minute maximum speech on the drawn topic of their choice.
- Great Speeches
- The speaker presents on a historically great speech, including an analysis and sections of the original speech.
- Humorous Interpretation
- The speaker presents a humorous selection from a play, prose, or poem.
- Informative Speaking
- The speaker presents an original, unbiased speech on the topic of their choice with the purpose to inform. They are also permitted to use posters or other visual aids to enhance their presentation.
- Original Oratory
- The speaker presents an original speech with the purpose of persuading the audience.
- Serious Interpretation of Drama
- The speaker presents a serious monologue or selection from a play.
- Serious Interpretation of Poetry
- The speaker presents a serious poem, selection of poems, or portion of a poem.
- Serious Interpretation of Prose
- The speaker presents a serious selection from a novel or short story.
- Storytelling
- The speaker draws three from a selection of fifteen folk tales, and presents their interpretation of it. The selections are provided ahead of time, at the beginning of the speech season.