CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL JUNIOR DOUGLAS CAMPBELL PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITORS

What do the triangle of death, "I Know All" epidemic, death of reading, "sharenting," circuses, death of orcas due to a pipeline, education in Equatorial Guinea, and child and family services all have in common? These were the topics for persuasive speeches presented by Balmoral Hall students in Sunday's Junior Douglas Campbell Public Speaking Competition at Gray Academy. Our students employed the persuasive techniques of ethos, pathos, and logos in combination with detailed research and creative writing to convince the audience that there is a problem to be solved with an inventive plausible solution to reduce the impact of growing concern. Next, the challengers switched directions and displayed their ability to craft a five-minute speech, with only two minutes of preparation time, about topics including random words, phrases, and ideas in the impromptu speaking category. After four rounds of incredibly challenging competition, our students should be congratulated for their willingness to engage in speaking wittily, creatively, and critically in a public forum; an act that causes a particular type of anxiety called glossophobia in 73% of the population, according to Institute of Mental Health. Next time you are challenged to step out of your comfort zone, look to the junior public speaking team from Balmoral Hall School for advice!

 

Our competitors were Asmara, Megan, Katia, Anneliese, Emma, Raghed, and Janet, along with top competitor for Balmoral Hall School, Jozi, who will represent Manitoba at Junior High Speech Nationals in Vancouver, B.C.

 

Special thanks to the parents of our competitors, Debate Prefect Lindsay Cogan, and Head Girl Lauren Burns for volunteering as judges on February 23, 2020.