Sophia Kaounas of Brookings, SD, has qualified to compete in the American Forensics Association Nationals in Phoenix, AZ.

2014 Feb 17

Sophia Kaounas, a student at Ripon College from Brookings, SD, has qualified to compete in the American Forensic Association (AFA) Nationals in Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu. Nationals are held in Phoenix, Arizona, April 4-7, 2014.

Extemporaneous Speaking, or extemp, is a speech with little preparation. Extemp is a mainstay at most speech competitions. At the beginning of any round of extemp, competitors are usually giventhree questions relating to current events, and asked to prepare a speech on the current event of their choosing. The competitors have a preparation period, usually referred to as "prep time," during which they use periodicals they brought to the tournament to prepare the speech. This "prep time" is usually thirty minutes, and at the end of this time, competitors must present their speech without the aid of notes. Extemp speeches range from four to seven minutes in length.

In Improptu, competitors are given a topic or "prompt," usually a single word or phrase that may be a person, thing, well-known saying, a less well-known quotation, current event, or an object. They then compose a speech based on the prompt. Impromptu speeches generally run about four (the minimum required speaking time at most tournaments) to six minutes in length, with anywhere from 15 seconds to five minutes of "prep time." However, at many other tournaments, there is neither a set limit to how much time you may use to prep nor a minimum to how long one speaks. Judging typically focuses on overall speaking ability (enunciation, pace, vocal variety, etc.), creativeness (pre-made or "canned" speeches are generally frowned upon), and overall balance of the speech (points of roughly equal length, appropriate length of intro, conclusion, etc.). In many states, impromptu speaking is often a contest combining wit and humor with actual insight; speeches should be funny but also must deliver a point.

To qualify for Nationals, one must be at least a part-time student at a two or four-year college and must final in three legs (or separate tournaments) in a category at the AFA competitions with eight or less points.

Kaounas is the child of Kostas and Hui Kaounas of Brookings, SD.