INDIANA FFA ORGANIZATION
Discovery Degree Public Speaking LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EVENT
I. DESCRIPTION: Discovery FFA members present a speech written on an agricultural topic to a panel of judges, who then ask the contestant a series of questions about the topic of their speech.
II. OBJECTIVE: Students will be able to: 1. Speak comfortably and effectively in front of people 2. Develop quick thinking skills by answering impromptu questions 3. Convey facts and opinions about the agriculture industry
III. GENERAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EVENT RULES: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
FFA Official Dress is required for this event. While official dress is required, proper safety apparel is allowed. Each chapter is entitled to one entry in each district Leadership Development Event. Each district is entitled to one entry in each state Leadership Development Event. The first place entry at the district event will advance to the state event. In the event that the first place entry is unavailable for the state event, the second place entry will advance; the district may continue down the list until an available entry is found. 6. All students must be active FFA members in good standing in order to compete. In order to be an active member in good standing, a student must: Be enrolled in at least one agricultural education course during the school year, Attend meetings, strive for degrees of membership, and participate in other organized activities of the chapter, Pay all current state and national dues, and Display conduct consistent with the ideals and purposes of the National FFA Organization. More information on active membership is available here. 7. Participants using personal electronic communication devices, other than those approved by the event officials, during the course of the event are subject to disqualification. 8. The use of live animals is strictly prohibited. 9. The use of weapons is prohibited. The list includes, but is not limited to guns, knives, bullets, bows, and arrows. 10. Individuals are permanently ineligible to compete in this event after winning the state competition. 11. This Leadership Development Event is open only to those FFA members in their 7-8th grade years of high school.
IV. GUIDELINES: 1. At the predetermined deadline, participants in district state event will submit four copies of the member’s official speech. 2. At the predetermined deadline, participants in state event will submit six copies of the member’s official speech.
3. Speeches Format must be: a. Double spaced b. 8.5" X 11" paper c. 1” margin d. 12 point font e. Using serif font (times new roman, cambria, etc) or sans font (ariel, Calibri etc) f. Following current APA style guide for developing references list and in text citations. 4. Copies should include a completed cover page that includes a. Name b. School and District c. Contest name “Discovery Degree Prepared Public Speaking” d. Speech title e. Date of contest 5. Contestants should choose their own subjects. Any current subject related to agriculture and is of state and/or national interest will be acceptable. FFA will be considered an agriculture topic. 6. The information from each speech can be secured from any source. Students must include reference list with their speech. 7. The speech must be original and must be the result of the students own efforts. 4. Speeches must be at least three minutes in length and not over five minutes. Deduction of 5 points for every 15 seconds or fraction thereof less than 3 minutes or over 5 minutes will be subtracted from the final score. 5. Each contestant will then be allowed three additional minutes to respond to questions which will be asked by the judges. At the end of 3 minutes the timekeeper will call time and the contestant should immediately stop. 6. Event official will randomly determine the speaking order. Contestants will be permitted to use notes while speaking but deductions in scoring may be made for this practice if it detracts from the effectiveness of the presentation. 7. NO props are to be used. 8. Required attire for this LDE is Official Dress with or without the FFA jacket.
V. TIEBREAKERS:
Ties will be broken based on the greatest number of low ranks. Participant’s low ranks will be counted and the participant with the greatest number of low ranks will be declared the winner. If a tie still exists, then the event superintendent will rank the participant’s response to questions. The participant with the greatest number of low ranks from the response to questions will be declared the winner. If a tie still exists then the participant’s raw scores will be totaled. The participant with the greatest total of raw points will be declared the winner.