Each year Soundview holds the Declamation Contest as a performance opportunity for our students, and to help hone their skills in memorization and public speaking. Students may choose not just poetry, but also famous speeches, monologues from movies or plays, or other appropriate material.

About the rules

• Students must deliver their piece entirely from memory.
• No work that has been delivered in the last two years is eligible for selection in this year's contest.
• Students are given the option to perform a piece that they had done previously in drama class.
• Costumes are not allowed.
• Judges will award each participant a score from 1 to 95 points, based on the rubric below. The average of these three scores will be added to a difficulty rating from 1 to 7 points. The sum of these numbers will determine the winner.
• In the event of a tie, the student with the higher difficulty rating will be the winner. If there is still a tie, the student with the higher average score in the "speaking ability" category will be the winner, then the student with the higher "comprehension and preparation" contest will be the winner. If there is still a tie, then the three judges will confer and vote a winner.

Rubric

Introduction (5 points)
Do you share with your audience the title?
Do you share with your audience the author?
Do you introduce yourself?
Do you describe the source and context, as possible?

Pacing (10 points)
Is your rate of speech appropriate?
Do you never rush, nor go too slowly?

Speaking Ability (30 points)
Is your speech crisp, clear, and articulate?
Do you stand confidently yet relaxed, free from nervous habits?
Do you make eye contact, and engage your audience?
Is your volume appropriate, and always audible?

Comprehension and Preparation (50 points)
Do you have your piece memorized?
Does if feel appropriate emotion from you?
Does your presentation move me?
Do I feel like you understand the context of your material?
Does it seem like you have rehearsed and made conscious choices?