Gustavus Adolphus College

• Event Category: Public Address
• Time Limit: 10 Minutes
• Delivery Style: Memorized

After Dinner Speaking

An original speech by the student designed to entertain the audience. The speech may be either informative or persuasive in nature. It is important to remember, however, that every A.D.S. must have a serious thesis (informative or persuasive) and cannot merely represent "stand-up" comedy. After dinner speeches must contain all of the elements of good public speeches. Humor in after dinner speaking should be in good taste and the speaker should keep his or her audience in mind when devising jokes, puns and one-liners. Multiple sources should be used and cited during the speech. Minimal notes are permitted, but memorized delivery is preferred. 10 minute time limit.

Competitors are reminded of the AFA-NIET General Rule 6-k, which states: "Coaches and/or students must have available at the District and National NIET tournaments copies of all interpretive and original events used at the tournaments." Further, the AFA Code of Ethics states that, "Competitors are expected to bring to the tournament a copy of the original inclusive text along with the student's script."

The after dinner speech should have two goals: First and foremost, it should seek to entertain the immediate audience. Secondly, it should either seek to persuade the immediate audience to alter their existing beliefs, values, attitudes or behaviors; or, alternatively, to inform the audience about a significant, noteworthy or important topic. The speech should conform to all standards of good public speaking. As such, the speech should be well organized, containing an attention-getter, a thesis statement, a rationale for the topic chosen (or a statement of the serious point of the speech), a preview of the topic that will be covered, a body that fully explicates the themes identified in the preview, a summary and review of the main points and an appropriate conclusion. Visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the speaker's message.

Humor should be in good taste and relevant to the topic at hand. The speech should be free of lapses in memory or breaks in fluency, and credit should be given for speaking without notes. Gestures should either reinforce the humorous content of the speech, or appear natural and un-motivated. Poor enunciation or incorrect grammar should be penalized unless justified by the subject matter of the speech. The speaker should avoid humor that stigmatizes, vilifies of disparages particular individuals or groups. In general, speakers should strive for humor that either produces relief on the part of the audience; that demonstrates an incongruity or violates an audience's expectations; or that displays the superiority of either the speaker, the audience or both. Self-deprecating humor may also be employed. Speakers should strive for a varied vocal delivery style that accentuates the humorous content of the speech.

Effective language should be utilized. In addition, the nonverbal components should be effectively demonstrated, such as direct and communicative eye contact, and good posture and poise. Speeches ranging from 8 to 10 minutes in length are recommended. Deviations from the proscribed time limit should be punished according to the severity of the infraction.

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After-dinner speaking is an old and cherished genre of public address. Just because they entertain does not mean they speeches avoid serious topics. Many famous A.D.S.'s have tackled the most serious issues of their day. For example, Grady's "The New South" is one of history's finest after dinner speeches and it dealt with the serious topic of reconstruction assistance for the war-ravaged South. Because it often emphasizes physical comedy, A.D.S. is ideal for speakers who value performance as well as public speaking.