Secondary Campus

Eligible Grades: Grades 7-12

Teams: High School and Middle School

Season Dates: November through April

What is Speech?

Speech is a competitive fine arts activity sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), where students perform or present pieces across various categories that assess skills in rhetoric, interpretation, performance, research, and creativity. 

Every year, students can select from thirteen categories in various fields.

• Public Address / Persuasive / Informative (Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, Great Speeches, Extemporaneous Speaking) 
• Interpretation / Performance (Drama, Prose, Poetry, Humorous Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Creative Expression, Extemporaneous Reading, Storytelling)
• Discussion / Limited Prep (Discussion, Storytelling, Extemporaneous Reading)

Each category has its own rules regarding time limits, use of scripts or memorization, allowable aids, and the type of content (original versus published). 

Why Join Speech at PACT?

• Build Critical Skills: In addition to performance, speech helps students enhance research, writing, persuasion, analysis, and presentation skills—valuable abilities for academics, leadership, and future careers.
• Find Your Voice & Confidence: Whether you enjoy telling stories, crafting arguments, or bringing characters to life, speech provides a platform to express ideas clearly and with impact.
• Experience a Wide Range of Expression: With 13 categories covering public speaking and interpretation, students can explore various styles or focus intently on what resonates with them.
• Peer Community & Support: Being part of a speech team encourages camaraderie, teamwork, and mutual support through the highs and lows of performance.

What Students Will Experience

• Category Selection & Coaching: The speech coach will help each student choose the category that best matches their strengths—whether they prefer writing and research (Original Oratory, Informative) or performance and interpretation (Drama, Poetry, Duo).
• Script & Material Preparation: Students will gather published works or create original compositions following MSHSL rules, and practice crafting intros, cuts, transitions, and delivering content in a meaningful way.
• Performance & Interpretation Training: Focuses on voice, diction, pacing, character choices, body language, and interpretive expression, depending on the category.
• Competition Structure: Students will compete in invitational meets, then move on to MSHSL subsections, sections, and, for qualifiers, state tournaments.
• Team & Individual Growth: While speech is often an individual effort, developing a strong team remains important. Points earned through individual placements contribute to the team standings and recognition.

Lettering Requirements

A letter will be earned by any team member who:

1.  Competes in SIX or more weekly tournaments,
2.  Misses no more than ONE scheduled practice (without rescheduling ahead of time)
3.  And contributes to team success in THREE or more of these ways:

• Earns team points 2x (i.e., finishes top six at a tournament 2x)
• Competes at the section tournament
• Advances to the state tournament
• Practices 1 on 1 with another team member 5x
• Helps plan a midseason team retreat day or end-of-season team showcase event