Speech contest helps make an impressive resume
Wes Mayle
Issue date: 11/4/08 Section: News
At the eighteenth annual Augusta State University Speech Contest, students will have a chance to not only compete in public speaking, but also they can improve their resume with little time spent.
"I think it's really important when you get to be a junior or senior to have some stuff on your resume that you've done at school," said Mary McLaughlin, instructor in communications. "The speech contest is like three hours of your time, and you're done, and you can put it on your resume. So, it's a really easy in-and-out kind of resume builder. Plus, it improves your public speaking skills."
The speech contest is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20. It is free an open to any undergraduate Augusta State student.
McLaughlin said that often students, because of work or other responsibilities, don't have a chance to get involved in campus activities, but the contest provides a nice opportunity.
The contest will include many different categories of public speaking.
For the informative speaking event, contestants have to deliver an original speech between six and nine minutes in length. According to the Department of Communications and Professional Writing's brochure for the contest, the intent of the informative speech is to explain, describe or demonstrate.
The persuasive speaking event also contains a six to nine minute speech, but the intent of the speech is to initiate, reinforce, influence or to change beliefs.
The impromptu speaking event involves a three to five minute speech in which students aren't given more than three minutes of preparation time after receiving a topic. Contestants for the event will draw three topics and will be able to choose one to speak on.
The fourth event is oral interpretation. Students will get a chance to compete in this event in the following ways:
Poetry interpretive reading, in which contestants read published poetry.
Prose interpretive reading, where students read a selection from a published novel or short story.
Dramatic interpretive reading, where students read from a published play and portray the characters.
Dramatic duo reading, in which a group of two students read a selection from a published play. Each contestant in this category will play one character.
The deadline for registration is Nov. 17, and can be turned in to Leza Witherington in the Department of Communications and Professional Writing in Allgood Hall Room E122. The winner of the contest will receive $50, while the second and third place winners will receive $30 and $20, respectively.
According to McLaughlin, students who do well in the contest may leave school with something to show to prospective employers.
"Employers are impressed with people who have the ability to make presentations," she said.
"I think it's really important when you get to be a junior or senior to have some stuff on your resume that you've done at school," said Mary McLaughlin, instructor in communications. "The speech contest is like three hours of your time, and you're done, and you can put it on your resume. So, it's a really easy in-and-out kind of resume builder. Plus, it improves your public speaking skills."
The speech contest is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20. It is free an open to any undergraduate Augusta State student.
McLaughlin said that often students, because of work or other responsibilities, don't have a chance to get involved in campus activities, but the contest provides a nice opportunity.
The contest will include many different categories of public speaking.
For the informative speaking event, contestants have to deliver an original speech between six and nine minutes in length. According to the Department of Communications and Professional Writing's brochure for the contest, the intent of the informative speech is to explain, describe or demonstrate.
The persuasive speaking event also contains a six to nine minute speech, but the intent of the speech is to initiate, reinforce, influence or to change beliefs.
The impromptu speaking event involves a three to five minute speech in which students aren't given more than three minutes of preparation time after receiving a topic. Contestants for the event will draw three topics and will be able to choose one to speak on.
The fourth event is oral interpretation. Students will get a chance to compete in this event in the following ways:
Poetry interpretive reading, in which contestants read published poetry.
Prose interpretive reading, where students read a selection from a published novel or short story.
Dramatic interpretive reading, where students read from a published play and portray the characters.
Dramatic duo reading, in which a group of two students read a selection from a published play. Each contestant in this category will play one character.
The deadline for registration is Nov. 17, and can be turned in to Leza Witherington in the Department of Communications and Professional Writing in Allgood Hall Room E122. The winner of the contest will receive $50, while the second and third place winners will receive $30 and $20, respectively.
According to McLaughlin, students who do well in the contest may leave school with something to show to prospective employers.
"Employers are impressed with people who have the ability to make presentations," she said.
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