Laurel Highlands High School Speech League
Memorandum
To: Coaches writing Extemporaneous and Commentary topics
From: The Executive Committee
Subject: Extemporaneous speaking and Commentary topics for tournaments.
Please be certain that three days prior to the scheduled tournament you have in the hands of chairperson the extemporaneous speaking and commentary topics. Please be sure they are in a sealed envelope.
Extemporaneous
Write 11 topics from the following categories (we grouped two together so the students get to practice all areas during the regular meets). Extemporaneous topics are written in question form!
*Write 6 questions for Current Supreme Court and 5 questions for European Issues. (Please number them 1-11).
*Make three copies of the 11 questions, cut into 1 inch slips of paper (1 question per inch or slip), and place in a sealed envelope.
*Write 6 questions for International Zones of Conflict and 5 questions for Africa. (Please number 1-11).
*Make three copies of the 11 questions cut into 1 inch slips of paper (1 question per inch or slip), and place in a sealed envelope.
*Write 6 questions for The American Dream and 5 questions for Oil and Water Issues. (Please number 1-11).
*Make three copies of the 11 questions cut into 1 inch slips of paper (1 question per inch or slip), and place in a sealed envelope.
Commentary
Write 11 topics from the following categories (we grouped two together so the students get to practice all areas during the regular meets). Commentary topics are words or phrases. Remember that commentary topics are NOT questions.
*Write 6 topics for Sports and 5 topics for Problems of Technology (Please number 1-11).
*Make three copies of the 11 topics, cut them into 1 inch slips (1 question per inch or slip), and place in a sealed envelope.
*Write 6 topics for The Age of Women and 5 topics for American Consumerism (Please number 1-11).
*Make three copies of the 11 topics, cut them into 1 inch slips of paper and place in a sealed envelope.
*Write 6 topics for R.I.P Obituaries Since 01/01/2010 and 5 topics for United States of Anger and Demonization (Please number 1-11)
*Make three copies of the 11 topics, cut them into 1 inch slips of paper, and place in a sealed envelope.
Remember to mail the topics to the PERSON not necessarily the school where the meet is being held. Some of the chairpeople are at other schools.
If you would like to see any examples, email Missy Livermore at
If you have any questions, get in touch with me (Traci) or the chairperson of the meet.