Extemporaneous Speaking
What to Expect
You will learn how to set up tubs, how to format an extemporaneous speech, and how to prepare for the world of extemporaneous speaking. Be prepared to give lots and lots of speeches, many in a start/stop format. We will also work on breath control, vocal quality, volume and pacing to improve your stylistic speaking. Finally, be prepared to take notes. You will be provided several opportunities to have a more thorough understanding of multiple common topic areas for extemporaneous speaking, both domestic and foreign through lectures and symposiums. As you register, please feel free to send topic area discussion ideas. The week will be packed and busy, but fun and memorable.
Director's Statement
The extemporaneous speaking camp is designed to build the skills necessary to excel in extemporaneous speaking events and other individual events. The Mean Green Comet Debate Institute focuses on building speaking and research skills while building a solid base of presentation skills that judges expect. Lectures and speaking activities are designed to immerse students in the many common topic areas. The use of guided symposiums emphasizes the importance of practice, strategy and process. At the end of the session students will be ready to prep multiple topic areas and have the confidence to give speeches on topics that they might not be familiar with.
Divisions, Date and Pricing
| Session | Dates | Residential (Room and Meals) |
Commuter (Meals Only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extemporaneous Speaking | July 10 - July 17 | $1050 | $700 |
Division Director
Rhonda Smith
Debate Coach, Plano West Senior High School
Rhonda coaches at Plano West Senior High School. Her team has placed multiple times in nationally recognized tournaments as well as state and local level tournaments. She has coached extemporaneous speaking champions at both the state and national levels, including The Montgomery Bell Round Robin, The Harvard National tournament, TFA State and UIL State. She is active in the speech and debate community in Texas through both the Texas Forensics Association and the University Interscholastic League. In her spare time, she enjoys farming and ranching with her family at their home in Melissa.
Division Staff
Ashwin Desai
Team Captain, Plano West Senior High School
Ashwin is currently one of the team captains at Plano West and will be attending the University of Texas this fall! Between Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking (IX and USX), and Informative Speaking, Ashwin is a 9-time local champion, 8-time state qualifier (CD, IX, and USX) and a 3-time national qualifier (IX and USX). In extemporaneous speaking, he has placed 4th at the University of Texas, 16th at the Tournament of Champions, and 9th at the Capitol City Round Robin. In Congressional Debate, he placed 6th at the TFA State Senate (2015). In Impromptu Speaking, he was the TFA State Champion in 2018! He has also dabbled in Public Forum Debate and Big Questions Debate. Ashwin looks forward to working with the students this July!
Neal White
Debate Coach, Plano Senior High School
Neal coaches at Plano Senior High School and Clark High School. His teams have placed multiple times in nationally recognized tournaments as well as state and local level tournaments. He has coached extemporaneous speaking finalists at both the state and national levels, including The NSDA National Tournament, The Harvard National tournament, TFA State and UIL State. He is active in the speech and debate community in Texas through both the Texas Forensics Association and his National Speech and Debate Association Committee. In his spare time, he enjoys working out, watching baseball, listening to and writing about music, and spending time with his family at their apartment in Grapevine.
Danielle Maldonado
Danielle is a former speech and debate competitor from La Vernia High School. She was a 6-time TFA State qualifier (USX, IX, DA), 5-time UIL State competitor (CX, Informative), and 2-time national qualifier (IX). She has competed several times at the Tournament of Champions and the Capitol City Round Robin, and in 2017 was an octofinalist in IX at nationals. She now judges at many of these tournaments. Danielle is currently a physics and astronomy double major at the University of Texas at Austin. She is always excited for an opportunity to give back to the speech and debate community.
Uzair Alpial
Team Captain, Plan West High School
A competitor in Extemporaneous Speaking and Congressional Debate, he is a 9-time local champion, 7-time state qualifier (IX, USX, and CD) and a two-time national qualifier (IX and USX). In extemporaneous speaking, he has qualified for both of the Tournament of Champions, placed sixth at the University of Texas Longhorn Classic, 15th at the Glennbrooks National Tournament, 4th at the Capital City Round Robin, 7th at the Harvard National Forensics Tournament, 7th at TFA State in IX, 3rd in UIL State for Persuasive Speaking, and recently finished his speech career by becoming the national champion in International Extemporaneous Speaking at the 2018 NSDA National Tournament. He looks forward to working with bright and enthusiastic students!
Enroll Now
MGCDI enrollment is open! Follow the link above to Market Place and reserve your spot in our 2019 summer program. The final deadline for all registration is June 1, 2019.