Communication Arts

1. Participants must be enrolled 4-H members. Enrollment is verified in 4honline.
    
2. No live animals of any type will be allowed in the district/state 4-H Communication Arts events for any of the categories.
    
3. No guns, functional bows, other shooting equipment or live ammunition may be brought as props for any category in the Communication Arts events.
    
4. No copyrighted materials allowed. Public Domain or Creative Commons materials must be credited if utilized. The topic, content and language of your speech should be appropriate for an audience with an age range of 5 to 85. Many topics, language and content may not be appropriate for the youngest members of the audience. When preparing your selection, remember that the appropriateness of the piece will be part of the judging process. If you have questions about the appropriateness of your topic, check with your county Extension agent prior to the event.
    
5. If a religious reading or topic is used, it should remain neutral and avoid influencing the religious beliefs of your audience. A reading or presentation that specifically supports one religion, such as Christianity, not only has religious purpose, but it has the obvious effect of promoting one religion versus others and can create a barrier for participation among other groups. If you have questions regarding the reading or presentation of a religious text, check with the Extension agent in your county prior to the event.
    
6. Questions may be asked by the judges as part of the evaluation in some categories.
    
7. A participant may enter a maximum of two presentations in the district or state event (if qualified).
    
8. General times for presentations unless otherwise specified: Junior division is two to 10 minutes; Senior division is four to 10 minutes. Ribbon placings for presentations over or under the required time limits will be at the judges’ discretion.
    
9. Individual and team presentations in the same category will be judged and given awards separately.
    
10. Teams are always two participants except in dramatic presentations. Two to four youth may team to do dramatic presentations. Team members should be in the same age division, but having a junior with a senior is permissible. If all team members are not in the same age division, they will compete in the senior division. However, the team members are not eligible to advance beyond district (no EYC trip or no state competition).
     
11. Individuals and teams will be evaluated on the same criteria, except teams must have significant participation from both (all) members.
     
12.  Only events that are connected to National Contests will be placed with 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. All other contests will be awarded participation or award of excellence and comments on areas of excellence or improvement.

Costumes in Dramatic Presentation and Commercial categories, will be part of the official scoring or evaluation. For all other categories, participants should dress the part for which they are presenting. If the presentation does not specifically call for a costume, participants should be dressed neatly and appropriately for the event with a 4-H Communication Arts t-shirt or a shirt/blouse with the 4-H emblem prominently displayed on the front. Dark jeans/slacks/skirts are recommended.

Demonstrations are presentations that show how to do something, how to make something or how something works and may display a finished product. This can include food demonstrations and/or general demonstrations. When choosing a topic, remember you will demonstrate “live” in front of the judges and an audience. 

• Junior division demonstrations are two to 10 minutes in length.
• Senior division demonstrations are four to 10 minutes in length. 
• Time starts with the first words and ends when the presenter asks for questions.
• Judges will ask public questions.
• PowerPoint or other electronic “posters” are not permitted.
• A 4-H member may enter once in this category, either as an individual or in a team of two. Each team member must have a speaking role.

Illustrated talks are similar to demonstrations in that they involve visual aids. Charts, posters, figures or real objects are used to explain an idea or procedure. No electronic visual presentations allowed. The presenter explains how something works or how to do something but does not show the working object or demonstrate the process during the presentation. 

• Junior division presentations are two to 10 minutes in length.
• Senior division presentations are four to 10 minutes in length. 
• Time starts with the first words and ends when the presenter asks for questions.
• Judges will ask public questions.
• Charts and posters may be freehand or in printed format. No PowerPoint allowed.
• A 4-H member may enter once in this category, either as an individual or in a team of two. Each team member must have a speaking role.

Each category of Speech is judged separately.

A Prepared Speech is composed by the presenter. Quotations may be included; however, they should not be more than 10% of a speech. Notes may be used for reference, but reading from notes is discouraged. Singing, visuals or costumes are not permitted. 

• Time limits are two to 10 minutes for junior division participants and four to 10 minutes for senior division participants. 
• Judges will not ask public questions. 
• No charts, props or other visual aids are permitted. 
• A 4-H member may enter once in this category as an individual. 
• No teams are allowed.

An Impromptu Speech is a short speech given without advanced preparation from a topic drawn by the participants when they enter the room. After participants receive their topic, they are given a note card and have 15 minutes to prepare. Topics will be on 4-H themes in which only the topic is provided or will be a news/magazine article provided at the time of the draw. Different age divisions may have different topics.

• Time limits are one to five minutes for junior division and two to five minutes for senior division. 
• Judges will not ask public questions.
• No charts, props or other visual aids are permitted.
• A 4-H member may enter once in this category as an individual. 
• No teams are allowed.

Interpretive readings are oral presentations of works taken from any published source, including poetry, fiction, children’s literature, news articles, speeches, letters and journals. Interpretive readings are readings, not memorized speeches. The presenter should be familiar with the piece but present it as being read. The purpose of the interpretive reading is to communicate the author’s thoughts expressively through voice. Simple gestures with hands and facial expressions are allowed. No whole body movement. (See Dramatic Presentation.)

The presentation begins with a brief introduction about the selection and includes the source and the author. The introduction may explain the reason for the selection. The reading is presented with a manuscript, placed on clean cardstock paper, in hand. This requires keeping some eye contact with the audience and evoking a mood and vocal expression. A summary or conclusion is not necessary. All interpretative readings, whether humorous or serious, will be judged together. 

When selecting your reading, please consider that some topics acceptable for high school competitions are not appropriate for 4-H audiences (age 5 to 85).

• Junior division presentations are two to 10 minutes in length.
• Senior division presentations are four to 10 minutes in length.
• Judges will not ask public questions.
• Visual aids and props are not permitted.
• A 4-H member may enter once in this category, either as an individual or in a team of two. Each team member must have a speaking role.

Dramatic presentations are based on an original or published piece performed in a creative, inspiring or thought-provoking manner. The presenter combines words and actions to put across the material to entertain or educate the audience, or both. 

The presentation begins with a brief introduction to set the stage for the performance. The introduction should include the source and author of the material, and an explanation of why it was selected. 

Presenters may write their own material or use published material that is designed for dramatic presentation by one person or a team of four or fewer. A costume, makeup or props are part of the performance and will be part of the evaluation. A summary or conclusion is not necessary. Notes are allowed but should not distract from the performance. An individual or team of not more than four may do a dramatic presentation.

• Junior division presentations are two to 10 minutes in length.
• Senior division presentations are four to 10 minutes in length.
• Judges will not ask public questions.
• Visual aids, props, costumes and makeup are permitted and part of the evaluation.
• A 4-H member may enter once in this category, either as an individual or in a team of two to four. Each team member must have a speaking role.

Commercials are presentations to convince an audience to buy an idea or product, or join 4-H. The product may be real or fictional. Participants can use posters, flip charts, diagrams or objects. Brand names must be concealed. Commercials must include an introduction or opening statement, a body and a closing statement. Commercials are one to four minutes for all ages.

Broadcasting presenters prepare a radio or television segment that may be read from a script. The broadcast may be a newscast with four to five items of about 30 to 45 seconds each or a more in-depth story addressing a topic. Participants introduce themselves in the following manner: “This is ____________ reporting.” Radio presentations will be given behind a screen to simulate they are from a radio. 

• Broadcasting or commercials may be a 4-H promotion topic. 
• Judges will not ask public questions.
• Visual aids, props or costumes are permitted and encouraged for non-radio presentations.
• A 4-H member may enter once in this category, either as an individual or in a team of two. Each team member must have a speaking role.

Participants may create a video, website or presentation from software of their choice on any topic. Participants should introduce their presentation. The introduction may include why the topic was chosen, what program or procedure was used and what they learned. 

Bring all electronic presentations on an external drive.

If website design requires special plug-ins, include links to download them. Participants will be judged on content, appearance and design, technical performance, and the oral presentation of their website.

Participants creating a video or other software presentation may use their choice of original or public domain music. No copyrighted music allowed. The introduction may include a description of video production techniques. The majority of video footage or still photography must be the work of the presenters. Participants will be judged on creativity, flow of the video or presentation, technical performance and presentation of the product.  

• Junior division presentations are two to 10 minutes in length. 
• Senior division presentations are four to 10 minutes in length.
• Time starts with the first words and ends when the presenter asks for questions.
• Judges will ask public questions.
• A 4-H member may enter once in this category, either as an individual or a team of two.
• Each team member must have a speaking role.

This is a noncompetitive category for Cloverbud members to experience public presentations. They may do a recitation or a short presentation similar to the other categories for 4-H members with no minimum time limit. All presenters will receive equal recognition. 

Recitations provide young participants with an opportunity to make presentations without the task of finding or writing material. Recitation of the 4-H Pledge, Pledge of Allegiance or other simple verse is appropriate. 

This category will not be offered at the state event.

This category is for youth entrepreneurs. Youth who have started a business are encouraged to enter this category to inform and sell their idea. The category will combine aspects of illustrated talks, demonstration and mass media. 

Provide a quick overview of your business or product. Include how you came up with the idea, costs for the product, profit margin, and where and how you will market the business or product. Establish the need for the business or item and make a pitch to sell it.

• Junior division presentations are two to 12 minutes in length.
• Senior division presentations are five to 15 minutes in length.
• Time starts with the first words and ends when the presenter asks for questions.
• Judges will ask public questions. Presenters must have at least one sample or prototype of their product or a detailed diagram,
• storyboard, brochure or flyer for show or demonstration.
• A 4-H member may enter once in this category, either as an individual or in a team of two. Each team member must have a speaking role.

• Introduction – This is where you capture the audience’s attention with a relevant story, quote, challenge or other interesting remarks and then explain what the presentation will be about.
• Body – This is where you provide key information, present a step-by-step procedure, explain key points as you go along, and show your product.
• Summary – This where you restate the purpose of your presentation and give a brief summary of the steps.
  Ask for questions (if appropriate for category).
• Closing statement – This statement completes the presentation and gives the audience the cue the presentation is complete and they can acknowledge and show appreciation.

Make sure your visuals are:

•  Are attractive. 
• Are readable from the farthest distance they will be viewed. 
• Highlight important points. 
• Are simple and neat.
• Are easy to use.

• Project your voice and speak up. Voice projection is not shouting, and you can do it without straining.
• Try to sound like yourself. Use a conversational tone with familiar words.
• Speak at a comfortable pace so everyone can hear and understand your entire presentation.
• Enunciate (pronounce clearly) all vowels and consonants.
• Don’t slur your words. Practice pronouncing the d’s, t’s and ing’s on the end of words.
• When rehearsing a presentation, have someone stand near the back of the room to give you feedback on your projection and delivery, as well as content.
• Maintain eye contact with your audience. Try to memorize your opening and closing statements so you can maintain steady eye contact.
• Try recording yourself during practice to evaluate your mannerisms, eye contact, voice, tone, etc. Try to memorize your opening and closing statements.

Specific criteria and point value may vary with the category to provide an appropriate evaluation. All aspects of preparing your presentation are important. However, a larger value always will be placed on the delivery and presentation.

Communication Arts Google Drive