Speech - Seattle Academy
Source: http://www.seattleacademy.org/academics/student-academic-teams/speech
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:18
Speech - Seattle Academy
The Hub
Speech
The Seattle Academy Speech Team offers the opportunity for students to be part of a competitive and supportive team, regardless of experience level. Starting in high school, students have the option to participate in Speech either through a course elective that allows students to prepare and practice during the academic day, or participating in extracurricular planning and competitions. The elective course is not a requirement to participate and compete with the team. While the Speech Team isn’t open to Middle School students, all 7th grade students take a Rhetoric course which exposes them to skills and strategies used on the team. As determined by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, Speech includes the following eight events:
-Dramatic Interpretation
-Duo Interpretation
-Extemporaneous Speaking
-Expository Speaking
-Humorous Interpretation
-Impromptu Speaking
-Program of Oral Interpretation (Prose and Poetry)
-Original Oratory (Persuasive)
Our Speech Team & Debate Team share a simple philosophy: success is the growth of every member in an environment where each individual victory is enjoyed by all. We will always bring a strong team to competitions, but our primary goal is that each member is able to be happy with the wins, and supportive with the losses. We achieve this goal through hard work and dedication from every team competitor. Our team members are challenged to leave their comfort zones, express themselves, and model excellence for SAAS.
MEET THE SPEECH FACULTY
Washington State District 2 League and Competitions
National Speech and Debate Association
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by SAAS Speech and Debate (@saasspeechanddebate)
Season Expectations
Speech tournaments occur at local high schools and colleges, as well as national settings, generally on Saturdays. The season begins in mid-October and generally lasts until March. Two meets is the minimum requirement for participation, either in the class or extra-curricular. There is no fee for local competition. National competition may include airfare paid for by the competitor.
Print List Element
Calendar RSS Feeds
June
13
,
2026
National Speech and Debate Trip Departs
all day
Richmond, VA
Learn More
about National Speech and Debate Trip Departs
June
20
,
2026
National Speech and Debate Trip Returns
all day
Richmond, VA
Learn More
about National Speech and Debate Trip Returns
2009-1st Place, Expository, National Individual Events Tournament of Champions
2001-2nd place WA 3A State tournament
2002-3A WA State Team Champions
2003-3A WA State Team Champions
2007-3rd place WA 3A State tournament
2008-3A WA State Team Champions
2009-3A WA State Team Champions
2010-3A WA State Team Champions
2011-3A WA State Team Champions
2012-3A WA State Team Champions
2013-3A WA State Team Champions
2014-3A WA State Team Champions
2015-3A WA State Team Champions
2016-3A WA State Team Champions
2017-3rd place WA 3A State tournament
2018-3rd place WA 3A State tournament
2023, 2nd Place, Informative Speaking - WA 3A State Tournament
2024, 2nd Place Informative Speaking - WA 3A State Tournament
2024, 2nd Place - Dramatic Interpretation - WA 3A State Tournament
2024, 5th place, National Individual Events Tournament of Champions
2024, 6th Place - University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions
The above list also includes 25 individual Washington event state champions, numerous
finalists (top seven in the state) and, most important, over 450 kids who have found their
voices.
Do I have to be in the Speech class to be on the team?
How many tournaments are there, and when are they?
What kinds of speeches do the students do?
Does it cost anything to be on the Speech Team?
Can parents/guardians come watch?
Yes. Students are required to take the two-trimester Speech class to participate on the team. This allows them to get the majority of their research and writing time during class. Additionally, students in the class are required to compete in two tournaments during the season (Oct. - February). This means that they can be and often are also competitive athletes who practice their sports every day; employees and interns outside of school; volunteers in their communities; actors at SAAS and elsewhere; Robotics team leaders; etc. We want our students to know that being a national-level competitor in Speech at SAAS does not mean you have to choose only that. We do this by offering Speech as an elective, which allows for research, writing, and presenting to happen during class time. Students also have homework for this class and work hard to research, write, and practice their speeches at home. If a student has already completed the class, they can continue to participate on the Speech team in later seasons, with the expectation that they research and write independently. They will also need to attend all Speech & Debate club meetings and be in regular communication via email or in person with the Speech & Debate coach prior to each tournament.
Speech is unlike being on a sports team in that you pick and choose which meets you want to go to and sign up for them in advance on the board in the Speech Room.
A tournament will generally occur on Saturday (speech events and debate together) for most of the day. We do leave early and sometimes come back late, depending on the location of the tournament.
Here's a brief rundown. If you ever have questions beyond this, your first stop will be your Speech Captain.
Original Oratory
– 8-10 minutes on persuasive topic of student’s choice, student-written, memorized.
Informative Speaking
- 7 minutes on an informative topic of student's choice, student-written, memorized.
Dramatic/Humorous Interp
- 8-10 minutes from an interpreted text (screenplay, stage play, TV show, etc.), memorized, student playing all parts.
Dual Interpretation
– Two-person version of Dramatic/Humorous Interpretation.
Extemporaneous
– Student has the choice of two current event topics. Then is given 30 minutes to prepare a 5 to 7 minute speech, researched from the team’s files constructed throughout the year.
Impromptu
- Student has the choice of three broad topics and has 6 minutes to both prepare and speak on one.
SAAS covers the fees for each tournament, but we do ask the students to pay any hotel or airfare costs in the event of a long-distance “away” meet.
Absolutely! Parents/guardians are welcomed and downright encouraged to come and visit tournaments and watch rounds! As long as you bring us snacks. Seriously, tournaments can get long and kids need to either bring food with them or have money for buying food at the concession areas provided as most tournaments do not allow students to leave the campus.
Additionally, we always need volunteer judges. We do not have much of a judging pool, and we generally have to provide one judge for every 3 or 4 kids who come to a tournament. You can learn everything you need to know to get started in about an hour, and we will teach you!
The Hub
Speech
The Seattle Academy Speech Team offers the opportunity for students to be part of a competitive and supportive team, regardless of experience level. Starting in high school, students have the option to participate in Speech either through a course elective that allows students to prepare and practice during the academic day, or participating in extracurricular planning and competitions. The elective course is not a requirement to participate and compete with the team. While the Speech Team isn’t open to Middle School students, all 7th grade students take a Rhetoric course which exposes them to skills and strategies used on the team. As determined by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, Speech includes the following eight events:
-Dramatic Interpretation
-Duo Interpretation
-Extemporaneous Speaking
-Expository Speaking
-Humorous Interpretation
-Impromptu Speaking
-Program of Oral Interpretation (Prose and Poetry)
-Original Oratory (Persuasive)
Our Speech Team & Debate Team share a simple philosophy: success is the growth of every member in an environment where each individual victory is enjoyed by all. We will always bring a strong team to competitions, but our primary goal is that each member is able to be happy with the wins, and supportive with the losses. We achieve this goal through hard work and dedication from every team competitor. Our team members are challenged to leave their comfort zones, express themselves, and model excellence for SAAS.
MEET THE SPEECH FACULTY
Washington State District 2 League and Competitions
National Speech and Debate Association
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by SAAS Speech and Debate (@saasspeechanddebate)
Season Expectations
Speech tournaments occur at local high schools and colleges, as well as national settings, generally on Saturdays. The season begins in mid-October and generally lasts until March. Two meets is the minimum requirement for participation, either in the class or extra-curricular. There is no fee for local competition. National competition may include airfare paid for by the competitor.
Print List Element
Calendar RSS Feeds
June
13
,
2026
National Speech and Debate Trip Departs
all day
Richmond, VA
Learn More
about National Speech and Debate Trip Departs
June
20
,
2026
National Speech and Debate Trip Returns
all day
Richmond, VA
Learn More
about National Speech and Debate Trip Returns
2009-1st Place, Expository, National Individual Events Tournament of Champions
2001-2nd place WA 3A State tournament
2002-3A WA State Team Champions
2003-3A WA State Team Champions
2007-3rd place WA 3A State tournament
2008-3A WA State Team Champions
2009-3A WA State Team Champions
2010-3A WA State Team Champions
2011-3A WA State Team Champions
2012-3A WA State Team Champions
2013-3A WA State Team Champions
2014-3A WA State Team Champions
2015-3A WA State Team Champions
2016-3A WA State Team Champions
2017-3rd place WA 3A State tournament
2018-3rd place WA 3A State tournament
2023, 2nd Place, Informative Speaking - WA 3A State Tournament
2024, 2nd Place Informative Speaking - WA 3A State Tournament
2024, 2nd Place - Dramatic Interpretation - WA 3A State Tournament
2024, 5th place, National Individual Events Tournament of Champions
2024, 6th Place - University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions
The above list also includes 25 individual Washington event state champions, numerous
finalists (top seven in the state) and, most important, over 450 kids who have found their
voices.
Do I have to be in the Speech class to be on the team?
How many tournaments are there, and when are they?
What kinds of speeches do the students do?
Does it cost anything to be on the Speech Team?
Can parents/guardians come watch?
Yes. Students are required to take the two-trimester Speech class to participate on the team. This allows them to get the majority of their research and writing time during class. Additionally, students in the class are required to compete in two tournaments during the season (Oct. - February). This means that they can be and often are also competitive athletes who practice their sports every day; employees and interns outside of school; volunteers in their communities; actors at SAAS and elsewhere; Robotics team leaders; etc. We want our students to know that being a national-level competitor in Speech at SAAS does not mean you have to choose only that. We do this by offering Speech as an elective, which allows for research, writing, and presenting to happen during class time. Students also have homework for this class and work hard to research, write, and practice their speeches at home. If a student has already completed the class, they can continue to participate on the Speech team in later seasons, with the expectation that they research and write independently. They will also need to attend all Speech & Debate club meetings and be in regular communication via email or in person with the Speech & Debate coach prior to each tournament.
Speech is unlike being on a sports team in that you pick and choose which meets you want to go to and sign up for them in advance on the board in the Speech Room.
A tournament will generally occur on Saturday (speech events and debate together) for most of the day. We do leave early and sometimes come back late, depending on the location of the tournament.
Here's a brief rundown. If you ever have questions beyond this, your first stop will be your Speech Captain.
Original Oratory
– 8-10 minutes on persuasive topic of student’s choice, student-written, memorized.
Informative Speaking
- 7 minutes on an informative topic of student's choice, student-written, memorized.
Dramatic/Humorous Interp
- 8-10 minutes from an interpreted text (screenplay, stage play, TV show, etc.), memorized, student playing all parts.
Dual Interpretation
– Two-person version of Dramatic/Humorous Interpretation.
Extemporaneous
– Student has the choice of two current event topics. Then is given 30 minutes to prepare a 5 to 7 minute speech, researched from the team’s files constructed throughout the year.
Impromptu
- Student has the choice of three broad topics and has 6 minutes to both prepare and speak on one.
SAAS covers the fees for each tournament, but we do ask the students to pay any hotel or airfare costs in the event of a long-distance “away” meet.
Absolutely! Parents/guardians are welcomed and downright encouraged to come and visit tournaments and watch rounds! As long as you bring us snacks. Seriously, tournaments can get long and kids need to either bring food with them or have money for buying food at the concession areas provided as most tournaments do not allow students to leave the campus.
Additionally, we always need volunteer judges. We do not have much of a judging pool, and we generally have to provide one judge for every 3 or 4 kids who come to a tournament. You can learn everything you need to know to get started in about an hour, and we will teach you!