Welcome to the Logos Speech and Debate Society site.
The purpose of LSDS is to provide a constructive environment where leadership, communication, and
public speaking skills will be developed. LSDS will seek to use words and logic to address issues of
importance, "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (1 Cor 10:5).
(Logos is Greek for the "Word" or the "Logic" and is identified with Jesus in John 1)
LSDS meetings and events will follow these general guidelines:
- LSDS meets shall start promptly, follow the agenda, and adjourn on time. LSDS respects the
valuable time of participants.
- LSDS meets will be recorded, providing a wider audience and opportunity to review past speeches
and meetings members could not attend.
- LSDS members shall always provide honest, constructive evaluation of other members, seeking to
help them perform better in real-life situations.
- LSDS members shall learn and practice formal parliamentarian style based on Robert's Rules of
Order.
- LSDS meets shall have a timekeeper providing 60, 30, 10 and 0 second warning to each speaker.
- LSDS members shall always speak from the podium and shall preface every speech with an address
to the audience: "LSD Members and welcome guests, ..."
LSDS Regular Meeting Agenda, 8:00 PM Fridays
00:00 - call to order
00:15 - confirmation of participants and agenda
00:30 - reading of club mission
01:00 - address from the chair
02:30 - joke of the day
03:00 - impromptu speeches
12:00 - formal speech
22:00 - formal speech evaluation
27:00 - club business
30:00 - meeting adjourned
LSDS Guide Manual
Download this 21Page
PDF guide for detailed role descriptions, tips, and guidelines.
LSDS Speech Guidelines
Impromptu speeches are 1 minute speeches based on an assigned topic (without preparation) to help you
learn to think quickly on your feet.
Formal speeches can be 3, 5, 7 or 10 minutes in length and will give opportunity to present some topic,
with an evaluation of your overall presentation and speaking technique.
LSDS Introductions
When introducing a speaker, first list his qualifications and attributes. Finish by introducing his name:
"Please welcome MR. Jones". For example:
Our next speaker is a member of MENSA, a graduate of ABC college, and the founder of the Darwinian
Frogs debating club. He has authored several books on the sociology of amphibians, and is distinguished
as a philanthropist. Would you please welcome to our conference today Mr. A. Jones.
LSDS Toast format
During a wedding or other formal dinner toasts are often given. The correct format for the toast is:
Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise. [pause] Raise your glasses and join me in a toast... [pause]. To
tasty, green amphibians! [audience responds, 'To tasty, green amphibians!' all toast glasses and drink
heartily] Please be seated. [optional: "Back to you Chair"]
LSDS Evaluations
Evaluation provides participants with valuable feedback to improve their style, presentation, and overall
communication skills. Areas of consideration include:
- body language - smile, show confidence, posture, eye contact, movement of head/feet/hands
- use of language - voice level, variability, strength of voice, fluency of speech, errors in speech
- use of rhetoric - use words and word-devices to capture the attention, emotion and mind of your
audience
- present your theme logically - introduce theme, develop your theme, summarize and conclude
Recovery from errors and misstatements during a speech.
We all make unnoticed mistakes while speaking and only good preparation, and slow, concentrated
delivery can solve that. However, when we do notice an error during a speech, we need to recover from it
gracefully. Do not pause, stumble, lose confidence, or otherwise draw attention to your mistake. If your
mistake is not serious leave it and keep on talking. Or you may wish to simply repeat your sentence or
phrase using the correct word without adjusting pace. If you make a mistake which is the opposite
meaning of what you intended, and it's not obvious to the audience, it may be necessary to pause, and use
a "bridge word or phrase" to correct yourself. For example you may use "Rather, ." or "I should say,
." or "That should be, ." If you are quick, you may be able to pick up on the humour of your
misstatement, integrating it smoothly into your speech. Your misstatement may serve for contrasting
your point. If you said "The bird is NOT colourful" you can recover by saying, "NO, in fact the bird was
very colourful"
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